Round 10: Blackout 126 - Juniors 121

Brian Costelloe (4-5-08)

We knew from the moment the opposing line up was announced that we were to have a challenge on our hands. Our old prodigy top gun, Chewy (Matt Ross) was amongst their squad and we feared him more than any other player in the team. However, we were soon to find that this concern was wasted.

 

Juniors got thrown into the batting first with Blackout fielding. After the first pair's total of 49 runs we were worried. But we managed to restrict the 2nd and 3rd pair to 23 and 14 runs. Then enters Matty. However thanks to some great fielding and wobbly batting on Matty's behalf we kept the firey young paceman to a measly 14 runs. Measly by his standards.

 

  Our 1st pair when batting we unlucky not to score the first skin. They racked up 42 runs with a bit of help from the wobbly bowling that led to 24 runs in extras in the 4th over. 2nd and 3rd pairs nabbed the skins but the last pair struggled under Matty's 120km/h bowling that stunned Sam. We warned Sam about Chewy's pace but no warning would help a novice batter. He now sports a bruised chin thanks to the blur that was the cricket ball! But regardless, Sam and Rob withheld the final testing over to carry out the win... just!

 

Hopefully the Indian Premier League will release Rashid to carry out his regular spot on the Blackout team. We'll need the players next week!

 

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Round 9: Blackout 97 - Stumped 145

Brian Costelloe (23-4-08)

On a cold Tuesday night we all gathered to attempt to string together our third successive win. Pitted against the number two side in the competition was always going to assure a difficult match. However a depleted line up only made it that more difficult. We struggled with our fielding as the Stumped squad managed to frustrate our guys with sneaky second runs. At one stage they even managed three extra run with the sneaky grabs at runs. Not something that pleased our guys but no team can excuse that many bonus runs being donated out. They piled on 145 runs in the end and it looked bad from there.

 

Batting was difficult as the Stumped boys were switched on in the fielding department. The only real highlight to come from the match was a six from Mark that managed to grab the 1st skin of the match. Our only treasure or worthwhile memento to be snared from the match. Blackout looked to be carrying a few batting issues too with many wickets being lost in general (14 in total to Stumps figure of 8).

 

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Table Update

Brian Costelloe (14-4-08)

Just an update to all the team on the table so far this season. It's a case of both good and bad news. First thing I noticed is how close this season is with only 4 points seperating three teams! But the two biggest doses of bad news is firstly our against tally. Our fielding needs to tighten up with we are expecting to go on with this season in a positive manner. Secondly... just look at those guys on top! Happy Hooters are having one heck of a season. Unbelievable!
 

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Sportsworld's New Site

Brian Costelloe (27-3-08)

Forgive me for being a bit slow with this but Sportsworld have given their site a coat of paint. It's a new look that does offer a sharper image for the boys. The content for the most part is the same but new features are the photo show on each page that scrolls through what seems to be hundreds of digital shots taken in all sports. In checking it out I also found that they have updated the Best and Fairest. Also the tables are now up to date. Aren't they a bunch of good eggs!

 

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Round 5 Loss

Brian Costelloe (27-3-08)

Details are sketchy (and that isn't helped by the amount of Guinness I've been drinking lately) but I'll drag myself away from Halo 3 long enough to update you all on what I know. Apparently we lost. BIG TIME. Something to the tune of 37-144. But this is the part I don't get. We actually managed 2 skins! With that score line it's really hard to believe but that's the mail I've received from the Hammer. Three Stars went to Sam, Sheeds and Todd. I'll hassle Rob for the tally so we can update the Three Stars for this season.

 

Before I sign off. Just a quick "did you know". Bungie are releasing a new "Map Pack" (the Legendary Map Pack) for Halo 3. I kind of set of new playgrounds for those with Xbox 360 who are bored of the current maps. One of the new maps will be called "Blackout" in honour of an older map called Lockout. I just thought that it was cool to have a Halo 3 map with the same name as our team! Sorry... it's the nerd in me.

 

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Stumped Bring Black Back To Earth

Brian Costelloe (22-3-08)

Last Tuesday saw a team on a winning streak brought crashing back to Earth as some striking sixes on their behalf helped bolster their lead to an unreachable 146 runs. It was mostly thanks to their 2nd pair that Blackout struggled to come to grips with the game conditions. In the end only one skin was won with our total being 115. Rob snared the Three Stars award with Todd and Langy grabbing two and one star respectfully.

 

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Round 3 Thriller

Brian Costelloe (02-3-08)

Tonight we saw a Blackout side all pumped up to win. After a small delay thanks to a mess up with the centre and game times we finally got a match underway with approx 1 hour delay.

We got sent into bat first and got off to a flying start with 40 off the first pair for only one wicket lost. The wicket will go down as one of the most bizarre I've seen in my 14 odd years playing the game. Basically Richo got out by hit wicket after taking WAY too much room for his run up the pitch and collided his foot with the stumps.

Todd and Sam continued the good form with 35 runs with a fairly uneventful set. However Todd did have an up and down match having getting caught off a certain six and following it up with some great cover drives to really make the opposition look silly.

Langy and myself stumbled a bit to get our 19 odd runs. I was out caught off the only silly shot I played and Dave managed to get bowled off a full toss that would put Bart from Hooters to shame.

Rob and Sheeds finished off the job with a session of 38 runs. Could have easily been 52 runs if not for the couple of run outs that ruined their otherwise faultless hit out.

Our turn on the field saw a decent 1st over by yours truly with a bowled out batsmen resulting in a scoreless over. But Langy's over knocked Blackout around the park with 2 power play sixes hit off the one over. This left the scoreboard on 31 runs after being scoreless of the 1st over. They continued to beat our 1st skin in what was the only blemish in our fielding.

Sam bowled like a demon. His ultra slow approach to the crease had 'em all fooled. Even Sam himself was unsure of how he managed to deliver 12 of the best but we don't want him to figure that out or it may change!

On a personal note I was kept busy taking 4 catches up the back. One of which in the final over was pretty surreal as it all seemed in slow motion. Full dive to my right with my right arm fully out stretched and snared the best catch I have taken since 2005 (my game before our wedding was insanely good for me!) leaving me upside down, tangled up in the nets!

Top Batsmen:
1) Mark 19
2) Sam 16
2) Rob 16
2) Sheeds 16

Top Bowlers:
1) Rob 4/-5
2) Sam 3/-3
3) Sheeds 2/4

Three Stars
3 - Brian
2 - Sam
1 - Rob

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Final Madness Begins!

Brian Costelloe (14-2-08)

First let me start be saying sorry for the massive lag in stories. But finally have gotten myself motivated again to get this site back to it's formal glory. And what a time to start! Finals! Our next match up is against Hooters in a do or die affair that could lead to Blackout's elusive 4th premiership. We did lose to Hooters a couple rounds back thanks to some poor form in the camp (your truly included!) but we should hopefully be fielding a full line up with no excuses for a loss! Stay tuned!