Round 13 Lions v Blues - Scholes Returns (Day 2 - 3 & 1)

Thursday preparation before the completion phase of this massive clash, hampered again by rain as all things soggy and the centre square totally covered. Need to keep all Lions focused and serious, good time for a bonding activity that builds the strength amongst the group. Therefore Skipper Dick decides we can make a variation to the circle work theme, good idea for movement and skills with some different balls thrown in. One extra proviso in that any handling error means the offender has to take off an item of clothing, strip poker style.

Well it takes about ninety seconds for the obvious Zoolanders in Gas Box, Monster and Furious to be down to their boxers - how the hell can we keep it serious from here. Try our best, energy remains high but conditions get more extreme to cause abandonment.

Warm up by combatants, interjected with claims from other side about pitch tampering and not making an effort for fair conditions. Spark ignited early today, Smash returns from duty and Dyno Bells moves down to give the extra bowler. Torch damages a wing, rendering himself as a no option for the day. Blues overnight manage to get through the opening before Moose finally uncoils the massive frame to whack out the last three to join the upper order kiddies and points are ours by midday.

Resident Emo and Myo Kimbo cut a swathe through the much vaunted top order, the Blues taking the gas on their home patch at 6/67. Dyno Bells and The Badge saunter in for the mopping up with support behind the sticks from Amex.

Skipper Dick pulls out the T20 version, pasting the attack in all directions including a cut shot over point into the neighbours yard. From what seems surreal it all goes weird with Lions being slaughtered mercilessly as balls hit in the air are caught all over. Little Guus joins Panasonic, a frustrating midget fest for the Blues attack as the clock ticks on and the partnership pushing beyond the sixty minutes range. Little Guus remains unbeaten and defiant in the sheet anchor role, the lowly 110 giving the Blues 169 in 32 for a reverse victory.

Pirate and the Monster were successfully combining again to give the Lions the ascendant position with the pair returning in the middle to snuff out the work to be completed, a flurry of run outs ending the chase well short at 187. A hostile pairing again, flung together by necessity to a degree but ensuring that the pain from an absent No Name and Little Man has been absorbed.

As the chase in the main event began to arrive at a possible crescendo, the Skipper Dick and Max1 showcase stepped up a level with Fireman arriving as a sub holding a pair on the fence to start the rot. Delicate and dazzling footwork by Smash in a leg slip position, inspired by a past Sandri experience, contributed to another pole as they fell all over. Tom Tom able to navigate sky balls with only the aid of his own eyes, the pair of catches eerily preempted before the match in an isolated drill. Tension builds as the last pair hold on and hold on some more to escape the embarrassment of an outright total, but at least the Lions have secured six valuable points with three victories for the day.