Author: TC

Hustlers were at the Fox & Hounds, looking to avoid the double against Eagle Star A this week.

 

Despite Neil setting top score with our first 9 and 40 of the night, we opened with a stuttering leg and trailed by 3 pins as 2nd leg took over.  And it was looking good as Lewis opened with our first (and only) spare of the night.  In spite of blowing his chance of a 40, Tocknell Jr led the fightback to level the game at the midpoint.

Then the steadying hands of 3rd leg stepped up, with Gary equalling top score to lead us to a stonking 21 pin lead, despite Dan’s valiant attempt to gain control of Barry.  And so we handed over to the anchors, who would surely guide us to a well-deserved away win.  Indeed, they quickly started to pull further ahead, despite AS’ best efforts in achieving our lowest score of the night.  But then came the drama of the last hand, where we totalled a huge 10!  Fortunately, maths proved to be a dodgy subject for the Stars and we did just enough to hang on to a  rare victory.

We’re on the road again  next week, as we head out to Hatherley to take on the Telehoist boys.  Changes are afoot as we aim to make it 2 on the trot.

 

20/2/12 v Eagle Star A @ Fox & Hounds 

Neil	4	6	7	9	7	8	41	1
Mark	2	7	5	4	5	5	28	-5
Rob	7	8	6	4	6	7	37	1

1st leg total 107 v 110

Lewis	12	4	9	7	6	1	39	-4
Pete	5	6	6	8	3	7	35	9
Stu	5	4	5	5	7	7	33	-2

2nd leg total 107 v 104

TC	4	7	5	8	8	7	39	6
Dan	7	6	5	7	8	1	34	3
Gary	6	5	7	7	8	8	41	12

3rd leg total 114 v 93

AS	6	3	5	3	6	3	26	-14
Clive	7	6	7	7	6	6	39	4
JT	7	4	5	8	6	1	31	-3

4th leg total 96 v 109

Grand total 426 v 435

WON by 9

 

Hustlers returned to the Suffolk this week, looking to do the double over fellow Suffolk residents, Ullenwood CC.

 

1st leg got us going with a resounding thud as Lofty started a little trend with the night’s first beaver, helping to keep the score below 100 for the 1st time in 2012 and dropping 15 pins in the process.  We then witnessed a remarkable 2nd leg.  With Swayner unbelievably top scoring (with our only 40 of the night), we witnessed Barry the Brasilian Beaver change hands twice in a single handas Pete & Steve competed to gain control of our oldest mascot.  Despite that, they managed to be our only winning leg and see Pete somehow beat his man by 11 pins!

But the drama was still not over.  In a close battle, 3rd leg dropped 2 more pins, but witnessed compensate for losing Barry by gaining control of Mo the Meerkat with a classic "Hustlers’ spare".  And so it came down to the anchors once more.  But, despite being our highest scoring leg of the night, they dropped a further 4 pins to see us lose by 14, equalling our lowest home score of the season in the process.

Expect major changes next week as we head to the Fox & Hounds, looking to avoid the double against Eagle Star A.

20/2/12 v Ullenwood CC @ Suffolk

 

Lofty	7	0	6	5	7	6	31	-8
Jim	4	6	3	3	5	6	27	-11
Rob	4	8	8	8	3	6	37	4

1st leg total 95 v 110

Mark	8	8	3	5	9	8	41	4
Pete	0	7	5	8	7	9	36	11
Steve	0	7	5	5	6	7	30	-8

2nd leg total 107 v 100

TC	8	7	6	7	3	6	37	7
Rich	4	3	9s	5	6	5	32	-3
Gary	7	6	8	5	3	7	36	-6

3rd leg total 105 v 107

AS	7	5	7	7	5	7	38	2
Clive	7	6	8	4	5	6	36	0
JT	5	6	6	6	6	6	35	-6

4th leg total 109 v 112

Grand total 416 v 430

WON by -14

 

Away @ Parklands on Valentines Day, Hustlers were looking to avoid a massacre and do what the Robins couldn’t against the Gulls – win!

With Jim making a very welcome appearance,1st leg got off to a great start, with JimBob getting our only 9 of the night, Rob setting top score and the only leg not to lose to their men.  Pretty good going, I’d say, as they handed over a super 17-pin lead.  2nd leg soon set about frittering that away, being the only leg to be whitewashed as they dropped 9 pins, but still left us ahead at the midpoint.

3rd leg tried to make amends, with TC equalling top score, while Stu set our lowest score of the night.  With 2 pins dropped, it was down to the anchors to ensure a win was possible.  With fingers crossed, they struggled initially, but Clive’s equal top score and Andy’s 40 helped clock up the top leg score of the night and add an extra 7 pins to our margin of victory.

On that high, we look forward to doing the double over Ullenwood CC at home on Monday.

 14/2/12 v Strollers @ Parklands

 

 

Back at home this week, Hustlers took on bottom of the league Strollers, looking to complete a rare double.

 

 

1st leg set the standard with Lofty’s top spare helping him reach our top score for the 2nd week in a row, closely followed by Rob’s spareless 40.  Sandwiched between was Rich, registering our 1st beaver of the season, depriving JimBob of Barry the Brasilian Beaver’s company.  It was enough to squeeze out a 4-pin lead.  2nd leg saw Pete hit every score between 1 & 6 as he got our lowest score of the year.  Meanwhile, Dan got his maiden double of spare & 40, but it wasn’t quite enough as Strollers took the leg to level the game at the halfway point.

 3rd leg racked up our top total of the night, with just Mark missing out on a 40 – but he did make the most of it by wresting Mo the Meerkat from Gary’s grasp as he registered only our 3rd "Hustler spare" of the season.  With all 3 beating their men, they handed a 7-pin leg over to the anchors.  With a new line in celebratory dances, Andy got our 4th spare (an alley record for the ‘Slurs) & 6th 40 of the night.  But TC especially & Steve couldn’t keep up with him and we suffered a massive 17-pin loss on the leg to hand the game to Strollers.

It’s off to the Fox & Hounds @ Parklands next week as we try to avenge their victory at the Suffolk earlier in the season.

 

An optimistic set of Hustlers gathered at the Adam & Eve as they faced the Gamps.  Would the winning streak continue?

First leg set a tremendous target as they opened with three 9s and two spares in the first 3 hands, Lofty & Rob both getting high 40s to give us a 14-pin lead.  Second leg were a little more circumspect in approach, with just the invalid Lewis reaching 40 as they dropped 9 pins.
 
Third leg was our only all-40 leg with 9s from Gary & Clive, and Mark getting his maiden 40 of the season.  But they did drop a further pin to put a little more pressure on the anchors.  And what a great start as the anchors stretched the lead out over the first 3 hands.  But then the Gamps started applying their own pressure as they amassed pins over the last 3 hands, to leave it all to their anchor man to decide the result.  Unfortunately, he held his nerve and, with their lead’s 50 (the only one of the night), helped them edge the game.

We’re back @ Suffolk next week, so we hope familiar territory will restore our form.

30/1/12 v Gamps @ Adam & Eve

Marty	9	11	9	7	7	6	49	13
Stu	7	7	5	6	6	7	38	-4
Rob	11	7	9	6	8	5	46	5

1st leg total 133 v 119

Lewis	7	8	8	7	6	4	40	-1
JimBob	8	8	3	7	4	6	36	-8
Steve	5	5	7	7	6	9	39	0

2nd leg total 115 v 124

Gary	6	9	6	6	7	7	41	-1
Mark	7	6	7	8	6	7	41	-1
Clive	6	9	7	9	7	6	44	1

3rd leg total 126 v 127

Andy	7	8	7	8	6	8	44	-9
TC	6	7	8	6	7	8	42	0
JT	7	7	8	6	4	6	38	-2

4th leg total 124 v 135

Grand total 498 v 505

WON by -7

At home again, would abstinence win the night or could the Hustlers do the double against Temperance 12?

1st leg got off to a steady start, with JT setting the first of our 40s as they established a 9-pin lead.  2nd leg matched them score for score, with Steve equalling the top score of the night as they held the 12.
 
3rd leg broke the mould, with Lofty & Olive matching our top score.  But they met their match as the 12 pulled back 4 pins to leave the anchors to slug it out.  And a tight battle it proved to be.  TC notched up the only spare of the night but AS’s BYM proved to be the decisive difference between the teams as a final 5 pins were gained to edge the game by 10.
 
Next week it’s off to the Adam & Eve, where we will be looking for high scores & another win.

23/1/12 v Temperance 12 @ Suffolk Arms

Neil	8	1	8	7	5	5	34	0
Dan	6	8	7	6	2	5	34	2
JT	6	8	6	7	4	9	40	7

1st leg total 108 v 99

Pete	8	5	5	4	5	7	34	-3
Rich	8	7	5	3	4	7	34	-8
Steve	6	5	9	7	5	8	40	11

2nd leg total 108 v 108

Lofty	7	9	6	3	7	8	40	0
Stu	4	8	7	6	6	5	36	-6
Clive	6	8	6	8	6	6	40	2

3rd leg total 116 v 120

Andy	7	5	6	5	7	7	37	10
TC	3	12	7	3	6	4	35	-2
Rob	8	4	4	4	8	8	36	-3

4th leg total 108 v 103

Grand total 440 v 430

WON by 10

A decimated Hustlers began 2012 at home against table-topping Cannonballs Elite.  Would they be able to go 1 better than the "Rubies" did last Saturday against Spurs?

1st leg got off to a great start as Gary hit a glorious flattener (our 2nd of the season) on his way to our top score of the night, and Neil narrowly missing out on a 40.  2nd leg stuttered along, just doing enough to keep our lead at the halfway point.
 
3rd leg fared a little better, losing by 1 pin to hand over the narrowest of leads to the anchors.  And what a last leg it proved to be, especially the ‘Balls’ last hand flattener as they took the leg by a massive 35 pins to scrape the game!
 
Next week it’s off to Cheltenham CC, with Mr spence acting as Statto for the week.  How will it all go?

9/1/12 v Cannonballs Elite @ Suffolk

Gary	4	13	4	9	4	6	40	12
Neil	8	6	3	7	7	8	39	-10
Lewis	6	5	6	5	6	8	36	4

1st leg total 115 v 109

Steve	3	6	8	6	3	9	35	2
Dan	6	5	5	3	6	5	30	-5
Pete	6	5	8	8	6	2	35	-1

2nd leg total 100 v 104

TC	6	5	7	4	6	7	35	-2
Mark	6	8	5	5	6	8	38	2
AS	6	6	3	5	7	8	35	-1

3rd leg total 108 v 109

Clive	6	7	7	5	6	7	38	0
Rich	6	6	3	5	3	5	28	-15
JT	4	6	6	6	7	5	34	-20

4th leg total 100 v 135

Grand total 423 v 457

WON by -34

 

Back at home this week, Hustlers were looking to round off 2011 and the 1st half of the season with a win.  What would Santa bring them?

A clean slate from 1st leg, saw them set a 6-pin lead, with TC hitting our only spare & Lofty our 1st 40.  With Clive just missing out on a 40, 2nd leg stretched our lead by a further 3 pins to leave it tight at the halfway point.
 
Despite Gary getting our 2nd 40 of the night with a cracking 9, 3rd leg failed to break the ton, dropping a whopping 13 pins in the process to leave the anchors to pull the game back out of the hat.  And so we saw a seesaw leg ensue.  And with all 3 reaching 40 (& JT top scoring), it all came down to the vewry last hand.  With an epic score (& just Rob losing to his man), they showed great consistency to win the leg by 9 pins and hand us a very nice Christmas present indeed.

There’s no game now until 9 January, when we return to the Suffolk, looking to get the 2nd half of the seasons off to a winning start.

19/12/11 v Shadows @ Suffolk

TC	5	3	16	5	4	4	37	2
Mark	7	4	4	5	3	6	29	2
Mart	5	7	6	8	7	8	41	2

1st leg total 107 v 101

Pete	4	8	8	2	7	6	35	3
JimBob	7	3	7	5	3	4	29	-3
Clive	6	6	7	6	7	7	39	3

2nd leg total 103 v 100

Gary	5	7	8	8	6	9	43	4
Dan	7	6	4	6	3	2	28	-9
Steve	3	6	7	4	3	5	28	-8

3rd leg total 99 v 112

Rob	8	7	8	5	6	7	41	-1
Lewis	6	7	9	8	7	7	44	4
JT	9	8	8	6	7	8	46	6

4th leg total 131 v 122

Grand total 440 v 435

WON by 5

 

Hustlers ventured to the unknown as they faced the Flyers at Parklands in our last away game of 2011.  Could winning form be regained?

Despite Stavros’ best efforts, 1st leg got us off to a great start, with Statto setting our highest score of the night and Dan his highest of the season.  With Flyers failing to break the ton, we pulled out a 15-pin lead.  2nd leg soon set about that nd, with Swayner actually beating his man, somehow contrived to lose 11 pins, but still left us narrowly ahead at the halfway mark.

3rd leg went toe-to-toe in a tight scrap, with Lofty & Wallsy both getting 40 & Steve getting our lone spare of the night.  With just a single pin lost, it was down to the anchors to hold on to the lead.  And what a great anchor leg it was – unfortunately, they were playing for the flyers,.  Despite 40s from Lewis  & JT, Flyers just kept pulling pins and ultimately scraped home by a narrow 26 pins.

We’re back at home next week to take on the Shadows in our final game pf the year.

13/12 Flyers @ Parklands

TC	8	8	6	6	5	9	42	11
Dan	6	7	5	6	8	6	38	8
AS	4	6	5	6	5	6	32	-4

1st leg total 112 v 97

Pete	5	8	4	7	4	5	33	-6
Mark	6	8	4	5	6	6	35	4
Clive	7	7	7	8	4	5	38	-9

2nd leg total 106 v 117

Gary	7	8	6	6	4	2	33	-7
Mart	9	6	7	6	4	8	40	4
Steve	5	7	7	2	8	12	41	2

3rd leg total 114 v 115

Neil	7	4	6	2	3	3	25	-20
Lewis	6	6	8	9	8	4	41	-14
JT	7	5	7	6	9	8	42	5

4th leg total 108 v 137

Grand total 440 v 466

WON by -26

 

Hustlers went back on the road to face the Chosen Champs at the Churchdown Club.  Would their journey be worth the effort?

On a levelling alley, 1st leg got off to a slow start, attaining the lowest total of the night to trail by a mere 2 pins, despite TC getting top BYM of the night.  2nd leg seemed to cope better, especially with Steve getting our only 40 of the night (his dad must be a charm!), although they lost a further 4 pins.

3rd leg were much more consistent and, with AS getting our only spare, and both Lofty & JT just missing out on 40s, managed to pull back 5 pins to leave it very tight for the anchors.  A middling display saw the tension rise as the end of the game approached.  But the anchors couldn’t pull it out of the bag this week and actually lost a further 9 pins.

It’s back home next week as we face the Fishers
 

30/11/11 v Chosen Champs @ Churchdown Club

TC	5	6	8	6	7	3	35	6
Dan	2	5	5	7	6	6	32	-6
Clive	6	3	4	8	4	7	32	-2

1st leg total 99 v 101

Pete	7	4	4	2	7	6	30	-5
Mark	8	6	6	6	2	8	36	-3
Steve	6	7	8	9	7	7	44	4

2nd leg total 110 v 114

AS	6	11	4	2	5	8	36	-2
Mart	8	7	6	7	7	4	39	3
JT	4	7	8	8	7	5	39	4

3rd leg total 114 v 109

Lewis	8	4	7	5	2	7	33	-10
Neil	6	6	6	8	5	4	35	2
Rob	9	5	7	5	5	6	37	-1

4th leg total 105 v 114

Grand total 428 v 438

WON by -10