There were mixed fortunes for the reigning champions in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s first round of matches.
Bell Green – pictured (above) with league president Andy Govier – got off to a winning start in the Gerald Thorne Championship but Ex-Servicemen suffered defeat in the Chris Bullock Championship.
Chris Bullock Championship
Outsiders 354–344 WRFC
Outsiders got their Chris Bullock Championship campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought ten-pin victory over WRFC in the Conservative Club derby. In a closely contested game, Outsiders eventually edged clear, with Rob Larcombe leading the way with an excellent 51. The rugby boys pushed them all the way, with Dave Huggett top-scoring with 50, but the Outsiders had just enough in hand to claim the points on offer.
United Services 393–381 Nynehead Club
United Services made a strong start to the new campaign, overcoming Nynehead Club by 12 pins in a good match at the high scoring White Horse Inn alley. The home side posted an impressive score, with Phil John producing the standout performance of the match with a superb 60. Nynehead were never far behind, however, and their decent total ensured a close finish, with Charlie Cable contributing an excellent 53.
Ex-Servicemen 381–392 King Pins
The defending champions’ first outing of the Chris Bullock Championship ended in disappointment as Ex-Servicemen were beaten by King Pins in a high-scoring encounter at the Cottage. The X-Men put together a strong score with Marc Bright starring with an outstanding 61, but King Pins produced the stronger finish to take the win. Jordan Bryant led the King Pins charge with an excellent 66, helping his side to an 11-pin victory.
Mowers 371–307 Foresters
Mowers produced one of the more convincing victories of the opening week, comfortably seeing off Foresters by a whopping 64 pins at the Football Club. Mowers’ high score was built around an excellent performance from Vince Milton, who topped the scoring with a strong 66, as his side steadily pulled away as the match went on. Foresters struggled to find the same rhythm, although Simon Wall led their scoring with a respectable 48 on a tough night for the away side.
Odds and Ends 389–382 Home Guard IV
Odds and Ends claimed a narrow seven-pin victory over Home Guard IV in one of the week’s closest encounters on the downstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. The two sides were separated by only a handful of pins for much of the match, and it was Rob Stanyard who was the standout performer for Odds and Ends with a fine 61, while Home Guard IV had a strong contribution from both Jeremy Vallance and skipper, Simon Davey, who each recorded 51.
All Stars 376–351 Scuppas
All Stars began their league campaign with a convincing 25-pin victory over title contenders Scuppas at their new home on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club. All Stars put together a solid total, Tony Winchester leading the scoring with a solid 52, while Scuppas put on a spirited effort led by John Barker’s steady 51.
Gerald Thorne Championship
Report Centre A 348–417 Bell Green
Champions Bell Green made an emphatic start to their Gerald Thorne Championship campaign with a commanding 69-pin victory over Report Centre A at the White Horse Inn. Report Centre A struggled to settle into the game despite a strong individual performance from A Frounks, who top scored with a solid 58. The Bee Gees, meanwhile, put together an impressive score which smashed the 400-pin mark, with Chris Rudd leading the way with 57.
Reservists 365–330 Queens Legs
Reservists made a winning start to their campaign, overcoming Queens Legs by 35 pins at the RG Institute. Reservists posted a solid 365, Darren Sparks leading the way with an excellent 57 on the tough alley. Queens Legs struggled to match their opponents’ consistency, with Colin Francis and Marcus Watkin both hitting the top score for the visitors with 44.
OBA 376–360 Oaks
OBA began their league campaign with a well-earned 16-pin victory over Oaks on the upstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. OBA produced a strong total on an alley which can be unforgiving at times, with Rob Billet in particularly good form, recording a good 58 to lead his side’s scoring. Oaks remained competitive throughout the match, Steven Burge contributing an impressive 53. Oaks were always within striking distance of taking the game, but OBA found enough in the closing stages to secure the opening night points.
Hot Shots 344–347 Rebels
Rebels edged out Hot Shots by just three pins in a thrillingly close encounter at the Conservative Club. Hot Shots posted 344, Alex Govier top-scoring with 49, but Rebels managed to find just enough to finish on 347. Chris Plant was the key performer for Rebels with an excellent 56, helping his side scrape over the line in what was one of the closest games of the opening week.
Shooters 358–377 Club Rockers
Club Rockers got their season off to a winning start with a 19-pin victory over Shooters at the Victoria Arms. Shooters saw Alan Sydenham lead the scoring with a good 54 on a tough night for the home side. Club Rockers found the alley more to their liking, with Mark Bowen putting in a player of the match performance with an excellent 62 to help steer the Rockwell Green side to an impressive away win.
Cottage Pies 387–373 Fireguard A
Cottage Pies secured a solid 14-pin victory over Fireguard A in a high-scoring contest as they settled into life at their new home alley, upstairs at the Conservative Club. The Pies saw Jordan Perry producing one of the night’s standout performances with a superb 62. Fireguard A also put together a strong total, led by Will Leak with a good 55, but it wasn’t enough to swing the game in their favour.
Home Guard II 389–368 Relyon
Home Guard II produced one of the standout performances of the opening week as they defeated last season’s title chasers Relyon by 21 pins at the Football Club. The hosts posted an excellent score, with Adrian Salisbury putting together a magnificent 70 to lead the scoring and make a major contribution to his side’s winning total. Relyon responded with Rob Higgs recording a decent 56, but Salisbury’s outstanding contribution and Home Guard II’s overall consistency proved decisive on the night.
Highest Away Scores
Top Team – Bell Green 417 at the White Horse Inn.
Top Player – Jordan Bryant 66 for King Pins at the Cottage Inn.
League tables
Fixtures
Chris Bullock Championship – this Thursday
Foresters v All Stars at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Scuppas v Here 4 the Beer at the Cottage Inn
Home Guard IV v Ex-Servicemen at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
King Pins v United Services at the Football Club
WRFC v Mowers at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Nynehead Club v Outsiders at the Nynehead Club
Gerald Thorne Championship – this Friday
Club Rockers v Cottage Pies at the RG Institute
Queens Legs v Holywell Lake at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
Rebels v OBA at the Cottage Inn
Relyon v Reservists at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Fireguard A v Hot Shots at the Wellington Football Club
Bell Green v Home Guard II at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Oaks v Report Centre A at the Nynehead Club
Chris Bullock Championship – Thursday, September 24th
Ex-Servicemen v Odds and Ends at the Cottage Inn
Outsiders v King Pins at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
All Stars v WRFC at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
Mowers v Nynehead Club at the Football Club
United Services v Home Guard IV at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Here 4 the Beer v Foresters at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Gerald Thorne Championship – Friday, September 25th
Hot Shots v Club Rockers at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
OBA v Fireguard A at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Reservists v Bell Green at the RG Institute
Cottage Pies v Shooters at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
Holywell Lake v Relyon at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Report Centre A v Rebels at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Home Guard II v Oaks at the Football Club
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