The Wolves Skittles Team Homepage - part of the Torquay Skittles League

LATEST HEADLINES ! - 17 07 2009

BLACKTHORN LATEST

The Wolves do the impossible and hit a crazy 92 last leg to clinch a victory over the Misalots – then go on to victory against Diehards and Odd Pods!

Now we wait to see if it’s enough to put us into the play-offs...

In the first of the Wolves must win games, they played against local Torquay rivals the Misalots, who living up to their name gave the Wolves plenty of chances in the first 3 legs to pull away, but with the Wolves only managing to pull out a 7 pin lead halfway, it was only a matter of time before the Misalots struck back and built up a nice cushion going into the last leg, leaving the Wolves an all but impossible 90 leg to win. But strange things happen in skittles, and as the Wolves started knocking down spare after spare a glimmer of hope began to immerge, and after even more spares, Captain Mike Steer was only left needing a 6 to win, and hit a 7 to secure an amazing fight back!

But that was only the start – the Wolves now needing to win the last 2 home games as well. Next came the Odd Pods, who soon adapted to an alley half the length of their own! A nail biting game then ensued with both teams taking the lead, the Wolves rallied towards the end and left the Odd Pods with a difficult last leg total to win, but a double flopper and missed chances kept the Wolves in torment until the very end when the Wolves could celebrate another win.

Then it was on to the final match of the group stages against the Diehards, and yes yet another match that saw both teams take the lead, and then lose it with missed chances and unlucky scores – the Wolves first leg of 68 included 3 spares, which summed up the scores for the night. So yet once again the Wolves had to watch in anguish as the last leg began, and with only leaving the Diehards 70 to win, it looked like the wolves luck would now run out, but the low scoring continued, and with good chances missed, the Diehard’s anchor man needed a 16 spare to win, but under extreme pressure he picked up his spare chance, both teams then holding breath as the final ball of the game went down the alley – for a 14 spare. The Wolves win by ONE pin!

Big thanks to all the players and supporters from the Misalots, Odd Pods and Diehards for the best sportsmanship and warm welcomes, all teams bringing great credit to their respective leagues.

June 2009 - Played three-lost three, not the start that the Wolves wanted.

In the first game of the 2009 Blackthorn British championship, the Wolves travelled to the Dolphin Inn at Wellington to play the Odd Pods, playing on a traditional Wellington alley with huge balls, pins, and a very long alley with metal plate to hit as you throw, it was as expected that the Wolves lost by a big margin, going down 366 - 295, but it was a hugely enjoyable game against a welcoming friendly team, and great food after to take our minds off of the defeat! Mike Steer was top score with 44, with Tammy Davey and Jan Labdon just about managing to roll the balls down the alley to hit 28 each!

Steve Davey attempts to lift a pin at Wellington!

Steve Davey attempts to lift one of the giant pins at the Dolphin Inn, Wellington.

The Wolves second match saw them travel to St Thomas in Exeter, to take on the Diehards, in a close match the Wolves somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The Wolves led for most of the game until a poor 5th leg all of a sudden saw them needing a difficult 75 on the last leg to win, after a great start to the leg it looked as if the Wolves would win after all, but then a couple of low scores meant that the last three players needed to score 25 - but the next score was only a 4 and again it looked like ‘game over’ until Simon ‘Silky’ Steer stepped up to hit the third spare of the leg, and victory was back on, until Silky’s final ball whistled through the middle, taking out one pin for a 10 spare, leaving last man Mr T, needing a spare to win, but only hitting an 8 to lose by 2 pins 379-377. The Wolves say thank you to the Diehards for a warm welcome, and a game played in a fantastic sporting spirit at a great skittles venue. Simon ‘Silky’ Steer was top with 55, and pocket rocket Tammy Davey next with 52.

At last for our third game the Wolves played at home at the Sea Anglers Club Paignton, but against local Torquay league rivals the Misalots, who are made up of some of the top Torquay division 1 players and unfortunately they didn’t ‘misalot’ !
After taking an early lead the off form Wolves couldn’t keep up the pressure, and a couple of huge legs saw the Misalots pull out a big lead, and to go on and win by 439 – 384. Jan Labdon held the team together with a superb 67 for top score, Brother Mike Steer next with 54. Another enjoyable, entertaining game against our friends from the Torquay Skittles League.

The Dolphin Inn Alley

Wolves players check that there are actually pins at the other end of the alley - it's hard to tell as you throw so far away! We made a long journey to play against the Odd Pods, no, not the drive to Wellington, the walk down to the other end of the alley!

Wolves finish the season on a high !

In the last game of the Torquay Skittles League 08/09 season, the Wolves beat inform Layabouts by 386-395, with both teams safe in the middle of the Division 1, players were playing just for fun (honest!) and in a game of 2 halves the Layabouts led by 16 pins after 3 legs, but the Wolves hit a couple big legs to romp home. Top scores went to the old masters - Ray Bond top with 58, and Terry Treleaven next with 55.

Final averages and Division 1 league table will appear when verified with the official website.

Disappointing end to the Wolves cup dreams…

The Wolves lost their quarter final cup match against Babbacombe CCA. In another very close match the Wolves won 2 of the first 3 legs but trailed by 7 pins at the halfway point, missed spare chances let Babbacombe increase their lead to 16 going into the final leg, but despite hitting their biggest score of the season the Wolves went down 420 – 436. A tense but enjoyable match was played in the best sporting traditions of the Torquay Skittles League, Babbacombe now face Division One champions the Willows in the Roy Perry Cup final.

Top score for the Wolves - ‘Silky’ Steer with 62 – his 2 vital spares the only Wolves spares in the last 2 legs, Bob Lucas was next with 57, with 4 other Wolves players getting into the 50s’.

Unbelievable score from Mike Steer see the Wolves give second place Tippers a run for thier money!

The Wolves great winning streak came to an end against second in the league Tippers. Despite a monster score of 82 and 5 spares from captain Mike Steer and one of the Wolves best scores of the season, nobody was able to really back him up, only 13 pins behind after 4 legs the Wolves sniffed an upset, but the Tippers responded with a big 84 fifth leg to grasp victory. Final score Wolves 413 – Tippers 447. Simon ‘MrT’ Treleaven’s second place score of 53 was only 29 pins less than Mike !

Mike's score of 82 could now see him end the season with the number one player average score in the league..one game to go

Yet another Victory as Wolves pip the Avengers at the post! 23 03 2009

Steve Davey was the hero of the night with a great 60 score with only 1 spare, leaving only 3 pins standing the whole game, the game was very close with both sides putting in alternate big legs to pull back pins, the B.L Avengers finally leaving the Wolves 62 to win – vital pins picked up by Steve Davey and Colin Evans after bad drops left Simon Steer to get an 8 to win, and under huge pressure ‘Silky’ Steer put down a great first ball and then picked up an 11 spare for a 58 score and to see the Wolves win by 4 pins! Final score Wolves 403 BL Avengers 399.

Terry Treleaven hits 3 floppers as the Wolves dig a hole for the Pits! 21 03 2009

The Wolves now look forward to another year of Division One skittles after a good win over the Pits at the Boots And Laces Alley, the match was jeopardised for a while because a child had put a pin down the ball shute and then put a ball down after to try and free it – losing that as well ! But replacements where found and the match got under way. The Pits are now in real relegation trouble. Terry Treleaven’s three 15 floppers gave him an impressive top score of 67, while Ray Bond and ‘Silky’ Steer both hit good 55’s. Final score – Pits 347 – Wolves 403.

The Wolves power ahead into the Cup Finals ! - 11 03 2009

Finding good form at last the Wolves beat an inform New Image team who are top of the third division. Missed spare chances hurt New Image while the Wolves put in strong legs to pull away, finally winning 415-374. The Wolves are now in the final four of the Roy Perry cup- to be played on the League Finals day on Saturday 28th March. Simon 'Mr T' Treleaven recovered from his New Year skittles blues to hit an impressive 63 for top score, with Terry Treleaven and Ray Bond hitting 54 each for joint second.

Defeat on Friday followed by Victory on Monday.... 04 03 2009

The Wolves went down 442 - 375 against top of the league inform Willows, the Willows hit 91 and 82 in the first 2 legs and it was game over from then on, the Wolves not helped by missing 4 regular players due to holidays and birthdays! But it was another story on the following Monday as a full strength Wolves did the double over the Torquay Reds to win at home 417 - 382, an 89 third leg with 4 spares doing the damage, three wins out of four games now make the Wolves odds on to avoid the drop! Phil Treleaven hit top score in both games with 62 and 60 to remind everyone of his former glory days!

Reserve Wolf Ryan steps in to help Wolves to a vital win ! 27 02 09

Ryan Davey one of the Wolves reserve players, playing in his first skittles match this season covered himself in glory - hitting the top score of 54 to help the Wolves beat Torquay Reds 368 - 364. In a close match on a difficult alley the Wolves managed to maintain a narrow lead throughout, leaving themselves only needing a 47 last leg to win the match. Ryan’s uncle, Simon ‘Silky’ Steer, and Granddad Mike Steer were next with 53 and 52!