WEEK 4 - Tuesday, 10/03/10.

Yes, you might have noticed that I did not mention who was rostered out.

That's because I found out on the previous night that Scotty could no longer play Tuesdays, meaning we would all need to commit to playing each week as much as we possibly could and that we would need to find a sub for the 3 weeks that Pick was in Las Vegas.

Meantime Pick rang me on the afternoon before the game with the great news that the tables were in, brand new milleniums, in situ and ready to play on.

We were overjoyed.

Nathan was on duty, but Ralph had left instructions for the pizza to be laid on and Nathan did a great job replacing a missing light on the 2nd table part way through the night.

Our opponents were Unfinished Biz. I liked most of the boys, but like most people, I didn't have much time for Chef. This clash had extra spice because Hooters and Chef had recently had a falling out. Both came with their partners and that issue never raised its head at all on the night.

Unfinished Biz were a very good side and gave us a 57.5 point start at the top and 10 (for Hooters) down the bottom.

In the first round Pick showed the way with a win, while both Diddy and CB lost narrowly in black ball games and the margin was back to 45.

Diddy picked up the sole win for the 2nd round and Pick lost in a black ball game with the margin reducing again to 35.

In the 3rd round we played out best games, winning 4 of the 5 with Hooters, Diddy, Pup and Pick all picking up crucial wins, bringing the margin back to 45.

However the 4th was a disaster, with no games won and only the single black ball loss for Pick, meaning the margin was just 14 going into the final round.

Diddy picked up a controversial win in the final round after Chef went in off (1 ball in hand), then reached into the pocket and while doing so, knocked a ball over the pocket away from that pocket (another ball in hand?) followed by Diddy placing the ball that was knocked away from the pocket back to its previous position (yet another ball in hand?). An argument ensued, with the final result being that Diddy played the ball in hand but Chef replaced the ball knocked away from the pocket in its knocked away position. When Chef gave away another ball in hand with Diddy on the black, he then swept the balls with his hand and forfeited the game.

In the final game, CB lost in a black ball game and we had scraped home with a win by the barest of margins.

Eastern Creek Cobras - 221.5 - Unfinished Biz 218.

While we only won 7 games, we won the encounter and the Chef was sent home with a tick in the loss column, which was all that mattered! Go Cobras!!












COBRA SCORECARD

FOR & AGAINST
(This Wk) Cumulative
5. Hooters: (-23) -23.
4. CB: (-24) +5.
3. Pup: (-14) +25.
2. Diddy: (+6) +44.
1. Pick: (-9) +73.

Opposition Adjusted Handicaps
[Hcp minus Opp Av]
Opp Av = +18.5.
5. Pick: (+20 minus +18.5) +1.5
4. CB: (+10 minus +18.5) -8.5
3. Diddy: (+2.5 minus +18.5) -16
2. Pup: (+2.5 minus +18.5) -16
1. Hooters: (-10 minus +18.5) -28.5

FOR & AGAINST (Opposition/Handicap Adjusted)
[F&A minus net OAH] This Week Only
5. CB: (-24 minus -8.5) -15.5.
4. Pick: (-9 minus +1.5) -10.5.
3. Pup: (-14 minus -16) +2.
2. Hooters: (-23 minus -28.5) +5.5.
1. Diddy: (+6 minus -16) +22

Next week we're away to LA Shooters.

WEEK 3 - Tuesday, 02/03/10, Scotty rostered out.

What a day.

It was my last day at work before 2 weeks off and I arrived at work just before 7am, with a plan in place to leave at 5pm, plenty of time to get to comp on time.

Things started ok, but there were constant interruptions and slowly the day went off course. At 2pm a 2 hour meeting turned into a 3.5 hr meeting, compounded by the fact that one of my staff resigned just prior to the meeting. This created a mountain of unforeseeable issues that couldn't wait because I wasn't going to be in for 2 weeks.

I finally left at 8pm, which by any stretch was a long day.

I'd been in touch with Pup to explain my predicament and he'd already picked up the folder and explained to the guys.

By 8pm our opponents wanted to forfeit me and the decision was made to substitute Marshall, CB' cousin. Thank goodness he was able to slot in and held us avoid a forfeit.

The Cobras got a start on the scoresheet. There was an error with Pick's handicap (he was down as 25 instead of 20) but the start should have been 12.5.

Pup, CB and Pick got wins in the first and on the scoresheet the Cobras were 16 up at the first break.

However only Hooters picked up a win in the 2nd and the score was only 1 up at the 2nd change.

Hooters, Pick and Marshall won their 3rd clashes to give the Cobras an 6 point buffer after 3 and when Pick, Pup and CB won their 4th round battles we took an 11 point margin into the final round.

Marshall, Pup, Hooters and Pick all won their final games and in the end the Cobras won comfortably.

However there was the issue of Pick's incorrect handicap. The scoresheet said Bidwell Boys 183 - Eastern Creek Cobras 207.5. The actual score was Bidwell Boys 183 - Eastern Creek Cobras 212.5.

I emailed DK after the match to see if we could change the score, which would affect the points we got for the win.












COBRA SCORECARD

After 3 rounds here's how the handicap adjusted for and against looks.

For & Against
(This Wk) Cumulative
5. Hooters: (-3) 0.
4. CB: (+5) +29.
3. Diddy: (DID NOT PLAY) +38.
2. Pup: (+7) +39.
1. Pick: (+15) +82.

Opposition Adjusted Handicaps
[Hcp minus Opp Av]
Opp Av = +11.
5. Pick: (+20minus+11) +9
4. CB: (+10minus+11) -1
3. Diddy: (+2.5minus+11) -8.5
2. Pup: (+2.5minus+4) -8.5
1. Hooters: (-10minus+11) -21

FOR & AGAINST (Opposition/Handicap Adjusted)
[F&A minus net OAH] This Week Only
5. Diddy: (DID NOT PLAY)
4. CB: (+5 minus -1) +6.
3. Pick: (+15 minus +9) +6.
2. Pup: (+7 minus -8.5) +15.5.
1. Hooters: (-3 minus -21) +18.

Next week we're home to Unfinished Biz and Hooters is rostered out.

WEEK 2 - Tuesday, 23/02/10, CB rostered out.

Pick and I had a few stressful moments leading up to our first home game, as dramas with the old tables meant we had no choice but to play on them for our first home game against the Grey Gums (yes, this is what the trees look like), a team I was not really familiar with.

On the up side Ralph did throw on great pizza, did provide the coins to feed the tables and did have the shirts ready. Pick did a fantastic job with the shirts. Diddy & Pup both coughed up the shirt fee on the night while CB who was rostered off, and Hooters & Scotty who were skint, can fix Pick up next week!

They were a better side than the novice Carousel side we played the week before, but we definitely had to take our opportunities as the crappy tables and some very dodgy rolls meant both teams were playing chance with any slow or soft shots.

We gave Grey Gums a start of 27.5 and ended the first round -23.5 after wins to Diddy, Pick and Scotty. The 2nd round was a perfect round - 5 wins - and we were 1.5 up going into the 3rd.

Diddy, Pick and Pup picked up wins in the 3rd increasing the margin to 9.5 points and again in the 4th, taking the margin to 14.5 and when Diddy, Pick and Scotty picked up wins in the last, the Cobras had their 2nd win in succession.

Eastern Creek Cobras - 222 - Grey Gums 195.5.

Highlights included Diddy's first ever haul of 5 straight wins on a game night and Pick still with a big fat zero in the games lost column! Go Cobras!!












COBRA SCORECARD

For & Against
(This Wk) Cumulative
5. Hooters: (-9) +3
4. CB:(0) +24
3. Pup: (+9) +32
2. Diddy: (+26) +38
1. Pick: (+26) +67

Opposition Adjusted Handicaps
[Hcp minus Opp Av]
Opp Av = +4.
5. Pick: (+20 minus +4) +16
4. CB: (+10 minus +4) +6
3. Diddy: (+2.5 minus +4) -1.5
2. Pup: (+2.5 minus +4) -1.5
1. Hooters: (-10 minus +4) -14

FOR & AGAINST (Opposition/Handicap Adjusted)
[F&A minus net OAH] This Week Only
5. CB: (DID NOT PLAY).
4. Hooters: (-9 minus -14) +5.
3. Pick: (+26 minus +16) +10.
2. Pup: (+9 minus -1.5) +10.5.
1. Diddy: (+26 minus -1.5) +24.5.

Next week we're away to Bidwell Boys.

WEEK 1 - Tuesday, 16/02/10, Scotty out.

After some last minute adjustments to the roster (welcome CB), we kicked off against Ozzie's new Carousel Inn Hustlers (yes, the boys surely didn't look anything like this) at the Carousel Inn.

The outcome was never in doubt, given 3 of Ozzie's boys had never played competitive cue sports before, but we showed them the ropes and had a very enjoyable first hit out as a team.

All Cobras won at least 4 out of 5 games.

The highlights were 10-0 run outs from Pick in Round 3, CS in Round 5 and then Pup's first 10-0 in competition against Ozzie to finish the match.

Predictably Pick played a leading role, giving away a frugal 9 points in winning 5 games straight.

The margin was 38 points after Round 1, 55 points after Round 2, 78 points after Round 3, 85 points after Round 4 and a monster 127 at the end of the game.

Carousel Hustlers 121 - Eastern Creek Cobras - 248.












COBRA SCORECARD

FOR & AGAINST
5. Diddy: +12
4. Hooters: +12
3. Pup: +23
2. CB: +24
1. Pick: +41

Opposition Adjusted Handicaps
[Hcp minus Opp Av]
Opp Av = +8.
5. Pick: (+20 minus +8) +12
4. CB: (+10 minus +8) +2
3. Diddy: (+2.5 minus +8) -5.5
2. Pup: (+2.5 minus +8) -5.5
1. Hooters: (-10 minus +8) -18

FOR & AGAINST (Opposition/Handicap Adjusted)
[F&A minus net OAH]
5. Diddy: (+12 minus -5.5) +17.5.
4. CB: (+24 minus +2) +22.
3. Pup: (+23 minus -5.5) +28.5.
2. Pick: (+41 minus +12) +29.
1. Hooters: (+12 minus -18) +30.

Next week we're home at the Eastern Creek Tavern against Grey Gums and CS is rostered out.

LAS VEGAS 1 - DRAW

A couple of things about team rotation.

Please note that if you are unable to play at short notice we'll understand, but the draw will not be re-written, you'll simply play one less game than you were rostered to play.

If you're rostered off and don't have other plans, come along and support the team!

Our team roster for this season is Pick, Hooters, Pup, Diddy, CB & Scotty.

Here's our draw & roster:

16/02/10: Week 1 away vs Carousel Inn - Scotty out.
23/02/10: Week 2 home vs Grey Gums - CS out.
02/03/10: Week 3 away vs Bidwell Boys - Scotty out.
09/03/10: Week 4 home vs Unfinished Biz - Dux out.
16/03/10: Week 5 away vs LA Shooters - Dux out.
23/03/10: Week 6 home vs Vineyard - Dux out.
30/03/10: Week 7 away vs Top Pub - Dux out.
06/04/10: Week 8 away vs St Marys Brewhouse - Dux out.
13/04/10: Week 9 home vs Bidwell Boozers - Dux out.
20/04/10: Week 10 away vs Jack Daniels - CB out.
27/04/10: Week 11 home vs Grey Guns - Dux out.
04/05/10: Week 12 away vs Lucky Breaks - Dux out.
11/05/10: Week 13 home vs Lucky Commandos - Pup out.
18/05/10: Week 14 home vs Carousel Inn - CB out.
25/05/10: Week 15 away vs Grey Gums - *Pick out.
01/06/10: Week 16 home vs Bidwell Boys - *Pick out.
08/06/10: Week 17 away vs Unfinished Biz - *Pick out.
15/06/10: Week 18 home vs LA Shooters - Hooters out.
22/06/10: Week 19 away vs Vineyard - Diddy out.
29/06/10: Week 20 away vs Top Pub - Pup out.
03/07/10: Silver Cup (Diddy out)
04/07/10: Silver Cup (Diddy out)
10/07/10: Las Vegas Shootout
11/07/10: Las Vegas Shootout
17/07/10: Las Vegas Shootout
18/07/10: Las Vegas Shootout

* Las Vegas Trip (2009 winner)

Remember of the available players, the 5 with the best handicap adjusted for & against will go into any shootout. Weekly updates on this will be here on the blog.

COBRA HOUSE RULES

It's important to have some rules around how the team works.

BE COMPETITIVE. Remember we want to win games, so do your best. If all players are available, the top 5 players based on handicap-adjusted for and against will go through to any shootout.

BE SHARING. Any prizes etc. won at any shootout or team event will be split between all regular team members.

BE ORGANISED. Give your team mates as much warning as you can if you can't play and remember that the draw will not be re-written.

BE SUPPORTIVE. Even if you are not playing, you should support the team if you don't have other commitments. This applies to regular games but especially to shootouts.

BE POLITE. We can be competitive and still show good sportsmanship, so take pride in behaving politely to others and to each other.

BE PROUD. You're a Cobra! Wear your Cobra shirt on game day!

BE HAPPY. We do this for fun, so have fun!!

Eastern Creek Cobras

I'd been badgering Jase about finding us a venue with Milleniums or valleys, but I wasn't holding my breath.

The Lucky teams were locked in as were the teams at the Clock. The Plumpton was still not supporting a league team (what a waste of good tables), the Marayong Brewhouse had ripped out their Milleniums and so it went on.

So I was quite surprised when Jase and D.K. called me to say there were brand new Milleniums going into Eastern Creek - 2, possibly 3, and gave me the green light to try to get a gig there.

I first checked with Pick & TK to get a pulse on whether they were sweet to play out of Eastern Creek as it was furthest for them. They were fine. Pick also pointed out that Eastern Creek still worked with Cobras. So it was time to go and make that happen.

I soon found out that the place was run by 2 brothers. I spoke to Nathan on the phone on the phone but he confirmed that Ralph was the brother I needed to speak with.

We had a good chat on the phone, but Ralph wanted to have a chat in person. He wanted someone to come and clearly explain how it worked and what was required of the pub.

Pick was unavailable, so Pup and I fronted and Ralph was really pleasant and seemed quite interested. I took my league folder and Pup and I did a really good job of selling the league and how it works. We were really clear about registration costs and courtesy food/nibblies for home games. We confirmed that we were happy to chip in for uniforms ourselves and that we would pay the weekly costs etc. so the rego and the food were his only costs.

Ralph said he would need to discuss it with his brother & that as he was away during the week, he would call me on the weekend.

On Friday Pick rang me. He confirmed that he'd already gotten the shirts sorted - actually arrived - for a measly $21 per shirt! So each player only had to chip in $21 for a shirt - much cheaper than what we'd spent on our Cue-Tease uniforms the previous season. The only issue is that we'd gone ahead and put Eastern Creek Cobras on them. If they turned us down, we'd be in strife!

Rather than wait, I dropped into the pub on Saturday afternoon after learning Ralph would be there by checking in with Nathan the night before.

I felt strangely anxious but when Ralph and I finally started chatting, he set my concerns to rest.

He confirmed they had decided they would be going ahead and support our rego as their first team. He expressed some interest in the 2nd team deal and I said we might be able to help find a second team, but Ralph wanted to talk to a couple of locals who bring their own cues in first to see if they wanted to put in a 2nd team, so he said he'd let me know.

I rang Pick to give him the good news & he was rapt! I also rang DK and left a message for Pup, before texting the team.

We were now officially the Eastern Creek Cobras!