Impact of layoff evident in scores

THE FIRST competitive matches in the Hinckley Air Rifle League for 18 months were shot this week and it became clear that no team had been left unscathed by lengthy enforced layoff.

With a maximum match score of 210, it is generally held that anything over 200 is excellent, whilst anything in the 190s is good. By this criterion none of the teams involved this week managed to rise to the “good” level.

The most competitive match of the week came at the Greyhound where the Trojans home team shot first against the travelling Ashby Road ‘B’. The Trojans did reasonably well thanks to Rob Forman’s 26, and the 27s of Dave Brown and Phil Hood, but their guests did slightly better courtesy of Jon Storer’s 29, Mike Sansome’s 27, and Kim Baker’s 26. The Trojans’ second half started strongly with a 29 from Leigh Hall but the scoring tailed off after that with the next best scores being Chris Sills’ 27 and Mark Smith’s 26. Their 187 total looked beatable but despite 29 from Andrew Cryer the visitors finished four behind on 183.

The Sporting Lions, for many seasons one of the strongest teams in the league, faced their New Plough guests with just six shooters so could very easily have lost the encounter. As it was the visitors failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, setting a relatively low total of 180 despite Nigel Hill’s 28, the 27s of John Orton and John Bray, and Glen Foxon’s 26. Many of the individual scores from the Lions team were as high as ever, including the 30s of Todd Astill and Bill Bend, and the 28s of Glen Dainter and Karl Bunting, but they also had to count a couple of 25s. However, these were good enough that by making use of rule M24 to also count a 21 they managed to win their opening match with a team score of 187.

The lowest scoring match took place at Ashby Road Sports Club where the home team face the Hounds. The visitors got off to a strong start thanks to Claire Barnet’s 28 but the remainder of the first half struggled somewhat, the next best scores being a couple of 25s and Chris Allen’s 26. However, this was still better than Ashby Road’s effort who could only manage four 25s, although its worth noting that two of those came from Danielle and Gabrielle Finney in their competitive debuts. The Hounds added Paul Huddlestone’s 29 and Paul Griffin’s 27 in their second half, the resulting 183 proving too much for the home side who managed another 25 and a closing 29 from Pete Finney which took their total to 178.

The fourth scheduled match, between Smallshaws and Hinckley Phoenix, had to be postponed as the Phoenix team were missing six shooters due to illness and injury.