Action in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League took a break as the round of 16 matches in the HWH Payne Challenge Cup were contested over Thursday and Friday.
Stand-out ties saw Gerald Thorne Championship title holders Bell Green knocked out by Club Rockers while WRFC and Relyon played out a high-scoring thriller with over 850 pins hit.
Thursday
Foresters 360 v Holywell Lake 385
A sparkling score of 60 from Steve Dowson saw the champions Holywell Lake ease past Foresters on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club to book their place in the quarter finals. Foresters did not make it easy for the Lakers however with Greg Browne and Simon Wall both hitting 49 apiece on what can be a tricky alley to keep them in the contest.
Outsiders 386 v Fireguard A 372
Strong third, fourth and fifth hands of 69, 70 and 71 respectively saw Outsiders beat Fireguard A by 14 at the Nynehead Club. Fireguard A, who knocked out one of the favourites, Mowers, in the first round were four pins to the good at the halfway stage, but some good skittling from Outsiders with Gerry Larcombe hitting a fine 62 and Ernie Windsor with 59, enabled them to post a score which was just out of reach. Fireguard A battled to the end with Lewis McAteer hitting a fine 58 closely followed by Olly Hayes with 56.
Scuppas 382 v Odds and Ends 381
This match at the Football Club saw the highest scores and closest affair of the evening. Odds and Ends were full of confidence after they had disposed of holders Ex-Servicemen in the first round. Craig Newstead with a sterling 58 led the way for 2025 winners Scuppas but Odds and Ends matched them all the way to fall agonisingly short despite a fine effort from Rob Stanyard who hit a commendable 58.
United Services 344 v Shooters 341
Another tight match, this time on the downstairs alley of the Conservative Club, saw United Services squeeze past Shooters by three pins. Shooters had defeated another one of the favourites to win the cup, Reservists, in the first round and the match was nip and tuck all the way through. Spares were at a premium all evening making every pin vital. A hard-working 48 from Ian Smith top scored for the Services while Nathan Harcombe hit a splendid 51 for the Shooters.
Friday
Bell Green 328 v Club Rockers 340
Club Rockers pulled off the shock of the night as they defeated the GT champions and current league leaders by 12 pins on the downstairs alley of the Conservative Club. The game was a keenly contested affair on a tricky alley where spare chances were few and far between, Ashley Colman led the way for the Bee Gees with a fine 52 while Mark Reeves top scored for the Rockers with a workmanlike 49.
King Pins 313 v Hot Shots 334
King Pins’ bright start to the season seems to be fading as they suffered their second consecutive defeat, going down by 21 pins to Hot Shots at the Rockwell Green Institute. The Pins struggled from the off and posted hands of 49, 51 and 56 and the Shots took full advantage to pull 18 pins. The second half did not get much better for King Pins as they returned hands of 50, 51 and 50 setting Hot Shots a target of two 45 hands and a 44, which they achieved. Jason Lockyer stood out for the Pins with a top score of 45 while Alex Govier led the way for the Shots with an excellent 53 on a difficult alley.
Nynehead Club 356 v Home Guard II 370
The upstairs alley of the Conservative Club saw Nynehead Club take on Home Guard II. In an evenly contested match, it was Home Guard II who manged to pull away to triumph by 14 pins. Both teams adapted to the small alley well and put on an exciting show. Brendan Winter was the star man for Home Guard II with 54 while Dan Mancini hit a solid 52 for Nynehead Club.
Relyon 424 v WRFC 429
Relyon and Rugby Club played out the highest scoring match of the round at the White Horse. The tie was in the balance up until the final three balls when the Rugby boys edged it. There was some excellent skittling on display from both sides as some of the individual scores prove. The Bedding Boys had two players hit 60=plus scores with Mike Hutchings hitting 61 and Jason Hayes with 67, while the Rugby Boys had John Lane hitting 69 but Steve Rea took the honours with a top score of 71.
Top scores
Highest team: WRFC, 429 at the White Horse.
Highest individual: Steve Rea (WRFC), 71 at the White Horse.
Quarter-finals draw
November 26th and 27th (venues to be confirmed)
United Services v Hot Shots.
Holywell Lake v Club Rockers.
WRFC v Outsiders.
Scuppas v Home Guard II
This week’s fixtures
Chris Bullock Championship – Thursday
WRFC v Here 4 the Beer at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Odds and Ends v United Services at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Home Guard IV v Outsiders at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
King Pins v Mowers at the Football Club
Foresters v Scuppas at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Nynehead Club v All Stars at the Nynehead Club
Gerald Thorne Championship – Friday
Fireguard A v Report Centre A at the Football Club
Bell Green v Holywell Lake at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Oaks v Reservists at the Nynehead Club
Relyon v Queens Legs at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Shooters v Hot Shots at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Club Rockers v OBA at the RG Institute
Rebels v Home Guard II at the Cottage Inn
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