Marco edge a classic

Marco Wanderers 472 Colliton Spares 470

Marco started their defence of the Section A title, with a hard fought two pin victory over the Collition Spares. Both teams showed rustiness in the first leg with scores of 55 to 58 giving the Spares a small advantage. The second leg saw both teams up their games with stick ups from Ian Penney (16) and skipper Chay Fox (15) leading Marco to a 71 leg. In reply a solid leg of 69 aided by Andy Aylott 14 left the Spares one up. A poor third leg of 57 by the home side opened the door for the Spares who again hit 69 with Andy hitting his second stick up of 15 to leave his side thirteen up. The fourth leg saw the Spares increase their advantage to fifteen pins after scores of 65 to 67. With the home side up against it they responded with an 80 leg with stick ups from Pete Bolton (15), Pogo (10) and Vaughan Penney (16) leading the way, however sensing they had a good chance of a victory the Spares hit back with a fine 72 leg with Doug Chalmers (15) and excellent back up scoring leaving them still seven pins up. Another big leg was needed by Marco, and helped by Pogo hitting the first 'flopper' of the season to record an 18, and Vaughan hitting his second stick up (14), they were able to put up a 78 leg to put further pressure on the visitors. The failure to record a stick up in the sixth leg proved costly for the Spares as they could only muster 58 and with it the match turned around with Marco now 13 up going into the last leg. The home side were looking for a big leg to secure victory but despite chances they could not muster a stick up themselves, but with solid scoring down the line a score of 66 was hit to leave the Spares 80 to win. After a 6,7,7 start Marco were beginning to think the match was their's, however Spares skipper Dave Trevett had other ideas and hit a flopper on his first ball on his way to a 17, and after Doug (15) hit his second stick up on the night, the last two players needed 18 to win. Try as the might the pins didn't fall kindly from their first balls and after recording 8 a piece, the win went to Marco by the narrowest of margins. Top score for Marco was Vaughan Penney 70 and for the Spares Doug Chalmers also hit 70.