Boules

The Baum has two boules teams - The Baum Boulevardiers and The Baum Supremacy - who alongside rival teams from The Healey Hotel, The Grapes, The Oxford, The Merry Monk, The Red Lion and The Bobbin make up The Rochdale and District Petanque League.

The rules are simple, and quick to pick up. Here's the quick version to get you started:

• Two teams of equal numbers play until one team reaches 13
• In singles or doubles, players have three matching boule each. In trebles, players have two matching boule each.
• A coin is tossed to decide which team will start
• A player from the starting team must make a mark on the piste from which to throw and then throw the jack
• The same player then tries to get his or her first boule as close to the jack as possible
• As long as the boule does not leave the piste, it is then the turn of the opposing team
• The other team continue to throw until they either land a boule closer to the jack than the first team, or until they run out of boules
• Once all player have thrown their bouls, that 'end' is scored
• The team with the boule closest to the jack win that end. The closest boule earns them one point, if the second closest is also their teams' they score two points, if the third is theirs they score three points and so on.
• A maximum of three points in singles or six points in doubles or trebles can be won each end
• The team which won the previous end start again, but from the oppostite end of the piste
• If at anytime the jack leaves the piste, that end is declared a 'dead end' and play starts again fromthe opposite end of the piste (scoring continues but no points are awarded for the dead end)
• Any player can request that the boules be measured at anytime to determine who's turn it is, or how many points should be awarded

So now that you know the rules, if you fancy trying you hand at a game, get a set of boule from the bar (boule hire requires a refundable £5 deposit) and have some fun!