Life's all beer and skittles...The Jug & Glass Inn has a skittles team that competes in the Ripley and District Skittles League. In 2010, after 26 matches ending on 28 September, we finished mid-table. See how we got on against various teams below. Jump to reports in How pins have fallen...

   On the last competitive day of the season The Jug Open (Tuesday, 5 October, 2010) took place when all-comers were invited. Top of the season's averages Ian Annable scored 22 to take the title and the coveted 'Three-quarter Ball Trophy'. He was also presented with The King Pin after finishing the League season top of the player table. Better picture soon, we hope!

How pins have fallen...

Bailey leads the charge... Andy Bailey topped scored in an impressive 7-0 home victory over ther Travellers Rest(Kilburn). Forced to throw all three rounds first, Andy hit a disappointing 5 to start but then under pressure followed it with a restack and 14 before knocking down all nine to give The Jug inspiration (27 June, 2010).

Old foes defeat us... It started well against The Beehive (22 June, 2010) with a very creditable 61 first leg. In reply the Beehive needed just three pins from their last player to beat that score, but he could only manage two, producing the first drawn leg of the season. After that fine start it was all down hill for our local team as things got steadily worse with the second and third legs going to the Ripley side.
   So only one point for The Jug from this match but that should still keep them in touch with the league leaders. Top scores for the night were Ian Annable 21 , Koz 20 Jason Barnet and Mark Bedford 19.

Return to form... After last week's narrow defeat at local rivals The Red Lion at Fritchley The Jug were back to winning ways with this week's home match against The Devonshire from Somercotes.
    Jug host Sharon Hytch top scored with two nines and a five to share top scorer spot with Ian Annable who had a return to form with two eights and a seven, giving them an impressive 23 each. Jez Hytch (22) was among four more players who scored twenty or more to give a match winning total of Ê187.

Another thrilling night... having won the toss , captain. Pete Whitehead decided to 'set' first at The Wreck (27 May, 2010). Ian Annable started off with a superb nine followed by Whitehead with six and then Janek Kozlowski with eight.
    The middle order returned more average scores before the 'magnificent three' were called upon to lift the total number of pins. .Alan Taylor obliged with a sound seven and Mark Bedford, relieved of the pressure of playing at number ten, was back to form with another seven.
   .All eyes now turned to the leader of the 'averages' playing at the final position, Andy Bailey. His first ball missed everything and his second only just toppled the front pin with his final ball managing to take out two more, but even with this miserable three the team still returned a very creditable 60.
   The Wreck could only manage 50, so it was one leg to The Jug, but a much better performance from the home team levelled the match at one leg all.
    With everything depending on the final leg , Annable got The Jug off to a flyer with a one ,Whitehead turned in another six but it was Kozlowski who set the place alight with a magnificent 14 , the middle order all contributed with Jez Hytch hitting eight, Taylor six and Bedford eight.
    Once again it was time for that man Bailey to finish off the Jug's scoring and after a miserable four in the second leg the rest of the team were not expecting much. How wrong could they be as, against all the odds, Bailey scattered the pins with his first ball, cleared the remainder with his second and then dropped three more with his final ball to score a wonderful 12.
    The total for this third leg was 70 and The Wreck appeared shell-shocked as they finished with a very poor 52.
   That result gives The Jug another five points and confirms their fourth place in the league. Top scorers on the night were Koz with 29, Bailey 22 and Jez 21.

Close call ends in defeat... the Jug's great form was halted (Tuesday, 18 May, 2010) with a 5-2 home defeat against the Blue Bell despite Andy Bailey's fantastic 25 (7-9-9). Surprisingly, Mark Bedford delivered the 'Thonging' performance (the lowest ranking player) of the evening.

Sharon doubles up... for the second week running Jug co-owner Sharon Hytch topped the scoring with 21 (5-8-8) away against The Spanker (11 April, 2010), placing our team fourth in the Ripley & District Skittles League

ShazBarnet ... well what a result, another 7-0 victory! It was against Alfreton Town Supporters Club this time and Jug co-owner Sharon Hytch and, well another 'high'-flying local Jason Barnettop scored with 22 a piece. Oh, and the team almost hit the elusive 200 total, three short (no reference to wee Jay) on 197. The way to go lads!

Rust shed ...  the season's first snippet, is that the opening match (6 April) saw the team defeated 7-0 but the 'rust has been shed'! Top scorers were Andy Bailey and Mark Bedford with 21 a piece!

Breaking the pain barrier... bent-backed Alan Taylor endured his injuries to take The Jug's man-of-the-match accolade. Mark Bedford top scored with 22 but neither were enough to avoid defeat at the Eagle Tavern in Heage. The Jug even had the advantage of playing with their own balls!

Cup defeat but first victory recorded... despite a Souls of Motion Knockout Cup defeatat the hands of the Marquis of Ormonde on Monday (19 April, 2010), The Jug bounced back the next day to record a 7-0 league victory against the Black Horse. Alan Taylor scored a credible 23 to lead the scoring for the home team!

Sevens the target... Mark Bedford top scored again with 22 and Jez Hytch bounced back to form with an impressive 20 to lead The Jug to their second successive 7-0 victory (27 April).

   If you want to contact us telephone 01629 534232 or send us an e-mail to enquiries@jugandglasslea.co.uk

Somercotes champions despite Jug victory over them!