Opponents blown away in latest air rifle league match-ups
THE only truly competitive match in the Hinckley Air Rifle League came at Ashby Road Sports Club where the protagonists were both at home, as Ashby Road ‘B’ “travelled” to meet Ashby Road.
ARB had a reasonable first half as Neil Price’s 27 was followed by Craig Shuttleworth’s 28, Kim Baker’s 27, Martyn Wood’s 26 and Jon Storer’s 30. Ashby Road did nearly as well with the 28s of Richard White, Seamus Moore and Lorraine White being joined by the 26s of Innes Droomer and David White but this did leave ARB with a definite advantage at the half way point.
Sadly their second half couldn’t fully build on this as Mike Sansome’s 26 and Jeff Goodyer’s 28 took them to their 192 total.
Paul Holyland’s 27 gave last man Pete Finney the oppor- tunity to win the match with a last gasp 30 but unfortunately he failed to ring the bell with his final shot and so the match was drawn, Ashby Road also scoring 192.
With the visitors travelling with just six shooters the result of the match between Bedworth Ex Servicemen’s Club and their guests from the Hounds was never really in doubt.
Despite their numerical weakness the visitors still elected to go first on winning the toss but with their only notable scores being the 28s of Andrew Mitchell and Paul Huddlestone it was no surprise when their total ended up an unimpressive 181.
Bedworth beat this easily, averaging over two a shooter more, as they finished on a 199 score that included 30s from Jackie Bend, Bill Bend and Andrew Cryer; a James Bend 29; and the 27s of Robert Wagstaff and Kate Hartley.
The match between the Sporting Lions and the travelling New Plough wasn’t quite as one-sided but the winning margin was considerable nonetheless.
The home side’s first half was as outstanding as usual, consisting as it did of 30s from Glen Dainter and Karl Bunting, Todd Astill’s 29, Lee Johnson’s 28, and Melanie Jenkins’ 27.
This was in complete contrast to the Plough’s first half where the best they had to offer was a couple of 25s.
However the match’s complexion changed after the break where Taryn Cockerill’s 26 was the best the home side had to offer whilst the visitors counted Nigel Hill’s 29, John Bray’s 28, and the 27s of Paul Barwell and Tom Bray but the swing in fortunes wasn’t enough to change the result, the match finishing 194 to 185 in the home team’s favour.
Trojans held onto the League’s top spot thanks to an easy win over the visiting Smallshaws team.
The home side started slowly but soon picked up the pace so that Phil Hood’s 30; the 29s of Leigh Hall and Chris Sills; Rob Forman’s 28; Nigel Jackson’s 27; and the 26s of Dave Brown and Mark Smith combined to give them an admirable 195 total.
The visitors never came close to the required scoring level with the best scores in their 182 response being the 27s of Tom Williams and Bob West; and the 26s of Chris Slimm, Bob Wainwright and Jackie West.
Taylor & Ayre welcomed the Hinckley Phoenix for what proved to be the lowest scoring match of the week.
The visitors shot first and got off to an excellent start thanks to Barry Wright’s 29 but unfortunately nobody else in the half came close to emulating him, the nearest being the 26s of Roxy Ratheram and Karen Bown.
However T&A’s response was even worse with Giles Headley’s 29 being backed up by a solitary 26 from Aly Steele.
Unfortunately for the Phoenix’s hope of winning a first match of the season they actually did worse in the second half with Barry Robinson’s 27 and Geoff Herbert’s 26 taking them to a modest 184 total.
T&A managed to beat this with a little to spare as Paul Griffin’s 26, and the following 28s from Alison Smith and Darren Hicks took them to 187.
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