Weber Cup - Tenpin Bowling

[luckyeddie]

We English cricket fans love to put it over the Aussies, but in other sports the big rivalry is with the USA. So it is with bowling - and for those who have Sky Sports, tune in to Sky Sports 3 for the annual Europe v USA Weber Cup. I'll try to keep you updated if anyone's interested. It's broadcast live from Barnsley Metrodome over the next few evenings, and started an hour ago.

The first game was between Tim Mack (USA) and Tomas Leandersson (Sweden) both had 'spare trouble' and only the more consistent striking of Tomas allowed him to make 210 and for Europe to take a 1-0 lead. Tim's performance looked somewhat nervous and out of character, because he is usually irrepressible on the lanes and bowls a huge shot. However, he is recovering from surgery on his shoulder, and that probably explains his tentative 189.

Europe 1 USA 0

Game 2 featured Europe's No 1, my old mate Paul Moor, making his debut in the competition taking on the USA skipper Bill 'The Joker' Hoffman. Left-hander Paul jumped all over Bill from the off, finding a great line down the outside of the lane and ripping the rack apart time and time again for a brilliant 258. Just two solid pins in frames during the middle of the game prevented Paul from marking his debut with a maximum. Bill's 223 was highly creditable with just two strikes fewer than Paul, but he just couldn't live with the man from Hull.

Europe 2 USA 0

 

[luckyeddie]

Game 3 saw another one of my old mates, Stuart 'Hubcap Stealing Scouser' Williams, making his own debut for Europe against David Haynes. Both players looked very nervous at the start but soon settled down. Haynes raced into an early lead with an early double, but both players missed relatively easy spares. At the half way stage, Haynes held a ten pin lead before he started really cooking with gas, producing a four bagger to seemingly take complete control. Williams held on by his fingertips but it looked all over. However, a dreadful miss in frame 9 by Haynes left Williams the narrowest of opportunities and he grabbed it with both hands, clearing every rack until the end of the game. Haynes had to strike with his first ball on frame 10, but a solid ten pin left Williams the winner by a single pin, 214 to 213.

Europe 3 USA 0

 

[steds]

but he just couldn't live with the man from Hull.

Could anyone? You'd need to be snorting summat to be able to bare living with a Yorkie.

 

[luckyeddie]

Chunky chrome-dome Jens Nickel of Germany, 'The Bremen Bruiser', 2005 World Tenpin Masters Champion, was next up for Europe against the excellent leftie and frequent visitor to these shores, Mike Mullin. Both men threw great shots in their opening frames, unlucky to leave corner pins, but Nickel inexplicably missed the ten pin to immediately go into arrears. Frame 2 and a mirror image of the first - Mullin nailing a spare and a very unhappy Nickel, seemingly struggling with his right knee, missing the ten pin again. Mullin made the most of the advantage of being a southpaw, finding a huge shot into the 1-2 pocket time and time again. Jens Nickel warmed to his task a little, finding a little more mobility on the approaches but the ten pin might have had a nail in it for the number of times it remained stubbornly upright. A succession of great shots down the outside took Mullin to the brink of victory, and this time there was to be no mistake by the Americans as once again Nickel left a solid ten pin. Mullin's excellent 246 was far too good for Nickel's 195, and America were finally up and running.

Europe 3 USA 1

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Is Tore Torgersen playing for Europe?

If not, I'll divert attention to Multan, Calgary and Oslo tomorrow.

 

[luckyeddie]

Is Tore Torgersen playing for Europe?

If not, I'll divert attention to Multan, Calgary and Oslo tomorrow.

No, mate.

First time he's missed out this year. The Weber Cup's in the evening, so you can always spit at Tomas. I mean, that's almost as good as cheering for Tore (who incidentally owes me a pint), isn't it?

 

[a massive zebra]

What is your high score Eddy? Are you a former player of some repute?

 

[steds]

If not, I'll divert attention to Multan, Calgary and Oslo tomorrow.

You don't follow the Flames, do you?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

No, mate.

First time he's missed out this year. The Weber Cup's in the evening, so you can always spit at Tomas. I mean, that's almost as good as cheering for Tore (who incidentally owes me a pint), isn't it?

Sorry, but there's speed skating from Calgary on in the evenings.

(and, besides, because Norway have such a weird sporting scene, we hate the Swedes at sports we're good at - i.e. winter sports, and like them at sports we're bad at - i.e summer sports)

 

[luckyeddie]

Tony Manna Jr from Omaha, Nebraska, was looking to make further inroads into Europe's lead when he came up against Lasse Lintila, the 'Ice Man' from Finland. Manna opened with a strike, but Lintila seemed to stick on the approaches as he went to release the ball. As a result he pitched forward, over-balanced and touched down over the delivery line, registering a foul. The reliable Manna took an early advantage but was unable to find successive strikes in the first half of the game to put much daylight between himself and Lintila. A decisive frame six saw Tony finally register a double, and the pressure seemed to tell on Lasse, a weak shot punching a hole to leave the 2-10, a split he failed to convert. Too late, Lasse Lintila found his line and finished with five successive strikes to end on 206, but Tony 'The Refrigerator' Manna was not going to make any mistake as he closed out with a 238.

Europe 3 USA 2

 

[nibbs]

come on USA

 

[luckyeddie]

What is your high score Eddy? Are you a former player of some repute?

300 (high 3-game series 790). I used to bowl on the national and international circuit, but I wasn't ranked much better than 50 in the UK. Won a few tournaments but not big ones.

The guy who won the second game, Paul Moor and I had a fantastic shoot-out in the British Final of the World Cup a few years ago. After 22 games I was first and he was second, both of us averaging 232, but I fell away badly and finished fifth.

 

[Kweek]

honoured to have a topic name called after me

 

[luckyeddie]

Each player in the Weber Cup having played a game apiece, it was time for the first 'Baker System' game. Each bowler bowls just two frames, the guy leading off also bowling frame six, the next playing frames 2 and 7 and so on.

Mike Mullin left an unconverted split for the USA but Paul Moor ripped the rack apart for Europe. David Haynes struck for the Yanks but Stu Williams's shot lacked a bit of pace, leaving a spare which he duly converted. Bill Hoffman got away with an ugly shot that stuck on his thumb, imitating Barnes Wallis but he at least converted his spare. Jens Nickel also produced an awful shot of his own, leaving the 3-4-7 split, but amazingly the big German converted. Tony Manna's strike gave USA a chance of a double and a big advantage, especially when Lintila only spared, then it was the turn of the captains. Tim Mack only carried six pins but converted with no difficulty before Tomas Leandersson came within a whisker of missing a simple 3-6 spare.

The second half of the game saw both teams willing to kill for strikes, and it was Mr Reliable, Paul Moor, who produced the goods for Europe again, but doubles were still few and far between - that is, until Bill Hoffman fired USA in front with a corker. When Tony Manna followed suit, Europe's early lead had evaporated. Lasse Lintila's great shot left a solid ten pin, and it was left to Tim Mack to apply the coup-de-grace. A spare left the door fractionally open, with Leandersson needing two strikes to beat the American 204, but the first ball broke early and punched straight through the nose leaving Europe way back on 183 and the teams deadlocked after round 1.

Europe 3 USA 3

 

[luckyeddie]

honoured to have a topic name called after me

Your surname's Cup?

 

[a massive zebra]

300 (high 3-game series 790). I used to bowl on the national and international circuit, but I wasn't ranked much better than 50 in the UK. Won a few tournaments but not big ones.

The guy who won the second game, Paul Moor and I had a fantastic shoot-out in the British Final of the World Cup a few years ago. After 22 games I was first and he was second, both of us averaging 232, but I fell away badly and finished fifth.

Wow thats pretty impressive Eddie I never knew that. It's an honour to have such a talented individual on these boards.

 

[luckyeddie]

Wow thats pretty impressive Eddie I never knew that. It's an honour to have such a talented individual on these boards.

Like I said before, you'll be surprised who is a member.

 

[Kweek]

Your surname's Cup?

yes Tarick Weber is the name. with who do i have the pleasure ?

 

[luckyeddie]

yes Tarick Weber is the name. with who do i have the pleasure ?

You can have the pleasure with whoever you wish, but leave me out of it

 

[Kweek]

you sure ?! im crap at bowling(ten-pin) more of a cricketer myself...you ?!