Reigning champions Bell Green are three points clear in the Gerald Thorne Championship in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League, while there are joint leaders in the Chris Bullock Championship.
This week’s featured team are Home Guard II, pictured on their recent trip to Benidorm.
Rear, from left, Chris Winter, Steve Symons, Macca Campbell, Richard Henwood, David Derrick and Kristian Thorne. Front, Paul Williams (captain), Adrian Salisbury, Elliott Collett, Andy Davey and Kieran Hagan, Not in photo: Mark Salter, Steve Davy, Peter Bird and Brendan Winter.
Chris Bullock Championship
Mowers 353, Home Guard IV 341
Mowers picked up the points with a 12-pin victory over Home Guard IV at the Football Club. It was a closely contested game, but Mowers did enough to come out on top with a good score. Martin Studley led the way for Mowers with an excellent 55, while Nick Mock top-scored for Home Guard IV with a steady 50. The visitors remained within touching distance, but Mowers had just a touch more consistency in their overall play to claim the win.
All Stars 376, King Pins 395
King Pins came away with the points after a strong performance against All Stars on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club. All Stars put together a good total, with Calum Richardson leading the way with an excellent 53, but King Pins proved too strong as they made light work of the home side’s score. Ryan Marke was the standout performer with a superb 67, helping his side to a 19-pin win.
Here 4 the Beer 352, Nynehead Club 383
Nynehead Club secured a comfortable 31-pin victory over Here 4 the Beer on the upstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. Here 4 the Beer would have been hoping for a bigger total as they struggled on the night, with Jack Dyson contributing his side’s top score of 47. Nynehead Club, meanwhile, produced a strong team performance, with Lewis Sparks leading the way with an excellent 65 as the away side found the alley more to their liking. A good win for Nynehead.
Outsiders 340, Odds and Ends 327
Outsiders claimed a hard-fought 13-pin victory over Odds and Ends on the downstairs alley of the Conservative Club. In what proved to be a relatively low-scoring encounter, both sides had to work hard for pins. Ron Smith, a standout player for Outsiders so far this season, led the hosts with a good 53, while Odds and Ends matched that individual score through skipper Nick Timewell. Despite the two leading players finishing level, Outsiders’ overall team effort proved decisive as they edged ahead to take the points.
Scuppas 365, WRFC 336
Scuppas secured a convincing 29-pin victory over Rugby Club at the Cottage Inn, producing a solid performance to get the better of their opponents. Scuppas reached a solid total, with John Barker top-scoring with an excellent 53, while WRFC struggled to match their opponents’ overall consistency. Paul Higgs led their scoring with 52, but it was not quite enough to close the gap.
United Services 406, Ex-Servicemen 425
Ex-Servicemen came out on top in a high-scoring contest at the White Horse Inn, overcoming United Services by 19 pins. Both teams produced impressive totals. Paul Fancy led the scoring for the home side with an excellent 62, but Ex-Servicemen had the more consistent game. Lee Baker was the star performer with a magnificent 65, helping his side secure victory in what was the top-scoring game of the week. An important win for the X-Men, who are looking to put their name on the title for the third season in a row.
Gerald Thorne Championship
Queens Legs 403, Bell Green 408
Bell Green came out on top in a thrilling, high-scoring contest against Queens Legs on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club, claiming the game by five pins. Both sides produced excellent totals, with Stuart Sutton leading the scoring for the home side with a superb 61. Bell Green managed to find those valuable extra pins, and Jason Powell was their standout performer with a magnificent 64, helping his side secure victory in a game which could have gone either way. Queens Legs will be disappointed to fall just short after such a strong performance, while Bell Green will be delighted to come away with the points.
Holywell Lake 380, Oaks 353
Holywell Lake secured a comfortable 27-pin victory over Oaks on the downstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. The Lakers produced a strong performance, Dave Howell leading the way with an excellent 53 in the process. Oaks put up a competitive effort, Ashley Bright top-scoring with a great 56, but despite his impressive performance, they were unable to match their opponents’ overall consistency. A good win for the Lakers, who are second in the table.
OBA 348, Shooters 377
Shooters came away with a convincing 29-pin victory over OBA on the upstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. Scott Sloman led OBA’s scoring with a respectable 50, but the hosts would have been hoping for a few more pins on the night. The visitors enjoyed contributions from across the team, with Antony Maidment, Nathan Harcombe and Alan Sydenham all recording solid 52s to share the top score. It was an excellent collective effort from Shooters, who did enough to keep OBA at arm’s length and secure the points.
Reservists 361, Rebels 300
Reservists produced a commanding performance to defeat Rebels by 61 pins at the Institute. They put together a solid total on the tricky alley, Phil Powell leading the way with an excellent 56. Rebels, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm, despite Baz Winter top-scoring with a good 49. The sizeable margin showed Reservists’ greater consistency throughout the game, giving them a deserved victory.
Report Centre A 354, Club Rockers 357
Club Rockers edged past Report Centre A by just three pins in one of the closest games of the week at the White Horse Inn. A. Founks produced a strong 53 for Report Centre A, but Club Rockers managed to find just enough to claim the game, with Mark Bowen the standout performer for the Rockers with an excellent 59. With only three pins separating the teams, Report Centre A will feel they were desperately close to taking the points themselves, but Club Rockers held on to claim a narrow and valuable win.
Hot Shots 344, Cottage Pies 343
Hot Shots snatched a dramatic one-pin victory over Cottage Pies on the downstairs alley of the Conservative Club. In a tight, low-scoring encounter, both sides had to work hard for every pin. Alex Govier led the way for Hot Shots with an excellent 52, while James May top-scored for Cottage Pies with 48. It was a game which could hardly have been closer, with the Pies left to rue missed odd pins.
Home Guard II 387, Fireguard A 346
Home Guard II produced an impressive performance to defeat Fireguard A by 41 pins at the Football Club. They posted a strong total of 387, Mark Salter and Macca Campbell sharing the top score with 53 apiece. Fireguard A struggled to match the home side’s consistency, with Will Leak leading their scoring with 48. Home Guard II maintained a healthy advantage throughout the contest and secured a convincing victory, while Fireguard A will be looking to bounce back in their next outing.
Highest Away Scores
Top Team – Ex-Servicemen, 425 at the White Horse Inn.
Top Player – Ryan Marke, 67 for King Pins at the Conservative Club (upstairs).
League tables
Fixtures
Chris Bullock Championship – Thursday
Odds and Ends v Mowers at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Nynehead Club v Scuppas at the Nynehead Club
Ex-Servicemen v Outsiders at the Cottage Inn
Home Guard IV v All Stars at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
WRFC v Foresters at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
King Pins v Here 4 the Beer at the Football Club
Gerald Thorne Championship – Friday
Oaks v Queens Legs at the Nynehead Club
Cottage Pies v OBA at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
Fireguard A v Reservists at the Football Club
Bell Green v Relyon at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Club Rockers v Home Guard II at the RG Institute
Shooters v Report Centre A at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Rebels v Holywell Lake at the Cottage Inn
Ken Bright Cup first round – Thursday, 29th October (Alleys TBC)
Ex-Servicemen v Report Centre A
OBA v Home Guard IV
Mowers v All Stars
Oaks v Here 4 the Beer
Ken Bright Cup first round – Friday, 30th October (Alleys TBC)
Shooters v Rebels
Queens Legs v Nynehead Club
Cottage Pies v Bell Green
Relyon v Reservists
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