The Tattibogoes return to Front Pin action after a few years of not entering the competition was something of a non-contest. They breezed through to the next round with a six pin victory with a full leg and a half in hand.
The match started a little later than usual to allow some additional time for Marsh's Marauders captain to chase up his players. Apparently they were unaware of the fixture until that evening!
Anyway, with ten names chalked up, eight players present and two on their way to the Lads Club, the Marauders eventually started skittling and eight deliveries later they'd scored 34 pins. With their other two players still en-route the Bogoes took to the alley and were in front by the time Captain Ali cleared the frame with a very well taken 9. In the bottom half Statto became the first player to suffer a duck although he will point out that he actually did hit the front pin with his first ball but after spinning round it remained standing. Holly concluded the opening leg with a seventh 8 for Stuee to chalk up on the board and a total that meant that Marauders found themselves chasing 44 pins to level.
Contest over, Marauders latecomers completed their opening leg and after the second leg total was added up they were only 8 up with a full leg of skittling in hand for the Tatti's. Looking at the time, both captains came to an agreement that, to speed things up, Marsh's should continue to bowl until all their four legs were done and the Tatti's would then play until enough pins were felled to bring the game to a conclusion result wise. After senior board marker Stuee helped himself to the only spare of the night Cheeso's three immediately afterwards meant the total scores were level. With Statto's efforts showing little signs of improving he was pushed into the limelight to try to fell the winning pin. Failing miserably with his first attempt (in the third leg) he was given a final opportunity in the fourth leg. With everyone looking on, expecting to witness the Tatti's lowest ever individual score being broken, Statto's first and second balls were nowhere near their intended target. However, digging deep into his skittling resources that includes an averages winning season in 2001/02, he delivered his final ball of the night bang on and to everyone's surprise it floored the winning front pin and five more behind it. Well done Statto, Sanjay's record of achieving both the highest (47) and the lowest (3) front pin score remains intact.
Another good away win, this time by 15 pins, against Woodentops at The Barrels.....
A very good team effort in the second leg put them well in command and in the end was the main difference between the two sides. Cheeso played an absolute blinder with 41 whilst birthday boy Westy maintains his loft position at the top of the averages thanks to a 12 spare in the leg that made all the difference. Joining him on 29 was Boundy, an early celebration for his birthday a few days later.
For the benefit of those who asked afterwards, no the 69 pins felled by the top three isn't the worst on record. I can confirm that the lowest is 61 which was 'achieved' by Mick Wills (21) Benny (20) & Cheeso (20) in a Man v Man cup match on 19th October 2005 against Herefordians at the Volly. The lowest for a 'usual' top half player selection is 66, by Ali (23), Berti (20) & Gash Snr (23) way back in the first season on 5th February 1992, as it happens, also against Herefordians in the Man v Man cup (at the Legion Club).
The Tatti's overcame a strong challenge by their division 3 opponents Living on a Spare to win 3-1 in the KO cup and are now through to the quarter final.
Berti topped the scoring on 38 thanks to a first leg flopper 16 while captain Ali ended up just one pin behind him on 37 after finishing with a well taken 15 spare.
Despite recording their lowest home score of the season the Tatti's maintained their 100% start with a seven pins victory over Woodpeckers.
Ten wins from ten games looked on the cards straight from the off when Booby's flopper fourteen was followed up with a superb fifteen by Captain Ali. The top half recorded a 60, their best leg of the season so far however, Ali's spare turned out to be the final one of the night. With not even a sniff of an opportunity the Bogoes lead slipped away and the result hung in the balance. After three legs apiece Woodpeckers nugded a single pin in front but they then suffered their lowest leg of the game. The Tatti's returned to the alley needing 82 to win and they managed it with a player to spare.
Since performing his pre-match ritual Rob's fortune at the Snooker Centre has certainly turned but please spare a thought for Jonah who was last seen wandering the streets of Hereford bare footed.
The Tatti's kept three 100% records intact at the Lads Club with a decent performance to see off the challenge of Barton by eight pins, 327-319.
The win takes their league start onto 9 from 9 this season 14 from 14 against Barton and 3 from 3 on the Lads Club no.2 alley. Prycer, surprised to be in the starting line up after his misfortune in the previous game, made the most of the opportunitywith a very well taken and important 13 spare to end the opening leg followed up immediately afterwards with a good 8. In just a few minutes he surpassed his total in the game before and surged the Bogoes into a healthy lead. Benny soon joined the spare count with a 13 of his own and Cheeso added a 10 before the half way point. Although that was the end of the spares, the lead generated by then was sufficient for the Tatti's to see out the game and gain two more points. Happy birthday Stuee.
Another good performance by the Tatti's maintained their 100% record and bagged two more valuable points against 2015/16 champions Fire Brigade.
Jonah, sporting his new white trainers, starred with a wonderful 45 after felling a brace of spares in the first & second leg. Jonah's previous 40+ was in February 2017 which, as it happens, was also against Fire Brigade and contained a 17 spare.
Contest over, Marauders latecomers completed their opening leg and after the second leg total was added up they were only 8 up with a full leg of skittling in hand for the Tatti's. Looking at the time, both captains came to an agreement that, to speed things up, Marsh's should continue to bowl until all their four legs were done and the Tatti's would then play until enough pins were felled to bring the game to a conclusion result wise.
