[Dodger]

Well after the absolute drubbing the Aussie’s got last week at the World Series Lawn Bowls match (4 -0), they came back much to my surprise with another challenge, this time Ten Pin Bowling.

My first dilemma was picking the team, it was to be 3 man sides (only 6 per lane), how could I leave out Soupy or LOS?, Alec stepped in and offered to play, as his reasoning was it was only against Australia and although he had never played before he did have an appropriate hat (see pic 1)

It’s always a tough decision as a Captain of who to drop and how to tell them, I opted for a different course of action, I picked Denver, not because I knew if he was any good but he seemed much more bowling ball shape than Rex or Bernie and also that way I would not be showing any preference, as I know I will need them both in the up and coming darts world series challenge. Also decided not to say anything to either of them and perhaps they will not read this thread and never get to know!!!, good old easy way out!!

We decided on the best of three matches, combined team scores, so once again the World Series format has been set. Australia got off to their normal good start and England was lagging behind, Trent, who we later changed his name to ‘Spare’ was slamming spares ands strikes like it was going out of fashion. Duncan assured me not to worry as in his words ‘ Australia always go off at a pace and never last the distance, Dad!!’

No lion roaring this week but we all of a sudden noticed Loopy Loo’s shoes, see pic 4, this inspired us on and drove our game upwards and onwards. A tight first end (is that terminology right? Or am I still thinking of the LB bar?) but England scrapes through to a nice little win, 1 up 2 to go!! Think Trent had top score for the Aussie’s with about 147, so not bad.

Game two commenced and we noticed signs of tiring amongst the ozzie boys, Loo was doing some sort of waggling manoeuvre before powering the ball down the lane and Aaron was starting to throw bombs that Barns Wallace would have been proud of!! We were slightly concern with ‘Spare’ still hammering the pins down but once settled into our routine, a fair amount of banter when they appeared to be trying to concentrate and buying the beers as fast as we could, before their go, seemed to be giving us a slight edge, second game England 2 up!!!

We had learned from last week not to make the third leg a beer leg as they definitely raise their game when there is a bit of amber nectar to play for, but hold on, what’s happening????? England to a man go into overdrive, all three of us scored in excess of 120 and frankly it became like a stroll in the park, a stroll in Sydney Harbour Park, cos we now own it!!! 3 – up

Just a quick funny thing, later that evening we were all in Dingo’s bar, when a guy I met a few weeks back chatted to me and learned of the nights game, then called over to Trent, Loo and Aaron, calling them the Neils……………………took a while to sink in, England 7 Australia NIL.

We have been challenged all night on about every other sport they feel they have an edge over us with, ie 5 aside beach cricket, 7 aside beach rugby but we’ve settled on 5 aside pub darts, so we will have to get this arranged in the Offshore or Dogs Bolloxs or where ever

Wonder if they will be able to find 5 guys from Australia all called Neil??

Pic 1 - Alec offering his services, “come on dad its only Australia and I do have the hat!!”
Pic 2 – Trent & Denver, comparing beards
Pic 3 – Duncan & Dodger, in match mode
Pic 4 – Winning bowling shoes, compared to…….
Pic 5 – Loopy Loo’s nice little pink jobbies
Pic 6 – Aussie’s checking the scores, with Denver adjudicaterising
Pic 7 – 3 ‘Neils’, flanked by Denver & Duncs
Pic 8 – Later that night might have had one to many, or maybe just the Euphoria of victory made me snap happy.

Heh, you will never believe this!! down town later, I bumped in IJ’s skinny younger brother, crikey they are almost like twin look a likes, peas in a pod, I’ll tell ya!!