Ex-Servicemen and Bell Green have both stretched their lead at the top of the two divisions in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League.
Chris Bullock Championship
Ex-Servicemen continued their good start to the campaign with a convincing win over an in-form All Stars side at the Cottage Inn.
With both Mowers and Scuppas losing, the champions now lead by nine points and march into a cup semi-final against Scuppas in good form.
King Pins made a real statement in the Football Club derby, defeating Mowers in a great display. King Pins now sit just three points behind second place and will take plenty of confidence into their Ken Bright Cup semi-final – a rematch against Mowers.
At the Victoria Arms, bottom-placed Odds and Ends produced a remarkable performance to topple Scuppas with the highest team total of the season, an eye-catching 435.
Ex-Servicemen 376, All Stars 325
Ex-Servicemen’s perfect start to the season rolled on another week after seeing off the challenge of All Stars by 51 pins at the Cottage Inn. Lee Baker hit a stunning 60 for the X-Men, with the league leaders finding more consistency on the alley to record some strong hands. All Stars were 22 down at half time and were left requiring three 71s in the second half to win the game. It was not to be for All Stars, but Tony Winchester’s hard working 47 was a highlight. Next up for the X-Men is a cup semi against reigning holders Scuppas.
Mowers 353, King Pins 369
King Pins dealt Mowers their fourth loss of the season with 16 pins separating the sides in the Football Club derby. Darren Winter was top scorer for Mowers with 49, but Mowers could not hit the levels they have shown at home this season, posting a below-par score by their high standards. This takes nothing away from King Pins’ efforts however, with Paul Winter and new signing John Norman both hitting great 56s to help King Pins over the line. King pins are now fifth in the league, just three points behind second placed Mowers.
Odds and Ends 435, Scuppas 396
Bottom placed Odds and Ends produced one of the performances of the season to see off title chasing Scuppas by 39 pins in a high scoring clash at the Victoria Arms. Rob Stanyard hit a fantastic 63 for Odds and Ends who went on to post the highest score seen this season. Scuppas were under pressure from the start but would go on to hit a score you would expect to win most games, with John Barker hitting 57 for the away side in the process. It was a great way for Odds and Ends to get their second win of the season and they will be hoping to keep the momentum going when they play away to Home Guard IV in their next match.
United Services 409, WRFC 374
United Services made it two wins on the bounce as they saw off the Rugby Club by 35 pins at the White Horse. Paul Fancy’s superb 67 led the way for the home side, who posted a +400 score for the second time at home this season. Rugby Club saw Dave Harper hit a solid 52 in their chase, but they had a lot of pins to make up, and the game slipped away from them. Despite Rugby Club’s woes in league action, they have advanced to the semi-finals of the Payne Challenge Cup and will be hoping to make it to the final for the second season running when they face Here 4 the Beer this week.
Outsiders 368, Foresters 350
Outsiders got back to winning ways with a good home win over Foresters at the Conservative Club with 18 pins separating the sides. Ron Smith, one of Outsiders’ stand-out players this season, hit a good 56 for his team, helping them to a strong score. Colin Shepherd hit 48 in the Foresters’ chase, but the away side found the alley tougher going and they could not keep up with Outsiders.
Here 4 the Beer 310, Home Guard IV 328
Home Guard IV picked up their third win of the season with an 18-pin victory over Here 4 the Beer at the Institute. Jack Dyson had hit 45 for Here 4 the Beer, but the home side struggled to get any momentum. Home Guard IV found more consistency with Greg Harrison knocking a strong 56 to help see his team to the win, with Home Guard IV leapfrogging WRFC in the process.
Gerald Thorne Championship
Bell Green tightened their grip on top spot with an excellent away victory at Oaks, pulling five points clear in the Gerald Thorne Championship.
With their nearest rivals, Cottage Pies, not playing this week, the leaders took full advantage and now look well set as they chase a league and cup double.
Relyon continued their ascent with a fourth straight league win, this time at Report Centre lifting them into joint second and firmly into the title conversation.
Oaks 379, Bell Green 401
Bell Green pulled five points clear at the top with a good 22-pin victory away to Oaks at the Blue Ball. Oaks captain Ashley Bright hit a strong 59 for his side, helping them to a good score. Paul Rowlandson hit a 59 of his own in the Bell Green reply, and the league leaders got over the line in style as they surpassed 400 in the process. A great win for the Bee Gees, who face Report Centre A in their next league outing and then will play Home Guard IV in the Ken Bright Cup with hopes of a league and cup double still very much alive.
Report Centre A 351, Relyon 367
Relyon moved to joint second in the table after a 16-pin victory away to Report Centre A at the White Horse Inn. Derek Parsons had hit a good 54 for Report Centre A, but they fell a little short of the score they would have hoped for on a tricky night. Relyon saw Callum Hayes hit 53 in their pin chase, as the youngster helped his side over the line. Four league wins in a row now for the Bedders who are building up a head of steam. They will take on Fireguard A in their next league game as they look to put themselves right in the title race.
Reservists 407, Holywell Lake 406
Only one pin separated rivals Reservists and Holywell Lake at the Institute in a high scoring contest, with Holywell Lake left wondering ‘what if’ as their title dreams took a knock. Kevin Sedgebeer was the top scorer for Reservists with a strong and vital 60 to help see his side to their highest home score in some time. Holywell Lake, hoping to get back to winning ways after their cup quarter final exit last time out, saw Steve Dowson hit the highest individual away score so far this season with a fantastic 71, but the away side fell agonisingly short of their target.
OBA 370, Club Rockers 325
OBA inflicted a tenth league loss to Club Rockers as the sides met on the upstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. Jason Vincent hit the score of the match with a great 60 for OBA, getting his side to a strong score in the process. Dave Perry hit 48 for the Rockers in reply, but the Rockwell Green side couldn’t match the scoring of their hosts and saw the game get away from them with 45 pins the difference in the end.
Hot Shots 330, Queens Legs 348
Queens Legs took the Conservative Club’s ‘upstairs/downstairs’ derby bragging rights with a good 18-pin victory over Hot Shots. Edd Chivers had scored 50 for Hot Shots but it was Colin Francis’s 56 for Queens Legs which was the score of the match as the away side got the win and the three points on offer. It sees Queens Legs just three points off second spot.
Fireguard A 359, Rebels 320
Fireguard A saw off Rebels by 39 pins at the Football Club with Riley Taylor’s great 61 for the hosts the pick of the scores on the night. Paul Taylor and captain John Sellick both hit 45 in the away side’s chase, but it was not to be for Rebels on a tough night for them. A good win for Fireguard A who drew in their last home game and will be hoping to make it two wins on the bounce when they face high-flying Relyon next up.
Highest Away Scores
Top Team – Holywell Lake, 406 at the RG Institute
Top Player – Steve Dowson, 71 for Holywell Lake at the RG Institute
League tables
Fixtures
Payne Challenge Cup Semi-Finals – Wednesday, 10th December
Scuppas v Ex-Servicemen at the RG Institute
Here 4 the Beer v WRFC at the Cottage Inn
Chris Bullock Championship – Thursday, 11th December
All Stars v Nynehead Club at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Scuppas v United Services at the Cottage Inn
WRFC v Mowers at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Foresters v Ex-Servicemen at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Home Guard IV v Odds and Ends at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
King Pins v Outsiders at the Football Club
Gerald Thorne Championship – Friday, 12th December
Relyon v Fireguard A at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Bell Green v Report Centre A at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Holywell Lake v Oaks at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Queens Legs v OBA at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)
Club Rockers v Shooters at the RG Institute
Rebels v Cottage Pies at the Cottage Inn
Home Guard II v Hot Shots at the Football Club
Ken Bright Cup Semi-Finals – Wednesday, 17th December
Bell Green v Home Guard IV at the RG Institute
Mowers v King Pins at the Cottage Inn
Chris Bullock Championship – Thursday, 18th December
Mowers v Scuppas at the Football Club
Outsiders v WRFC at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Nynehead Club v Foresters at the Nynehead Club
United Services v Home Guard IV at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Odds and Ends v Here 4 the Beer at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Ex-Servicemen v King Pins at the Cottage Inn
Gerald Thorne Championship – Friday, 19th December
Shooters v Queens Legs at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Cottage Pies v Relyon at the Cottage Inn
Report Centre A v Holywell Lake at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Fireguard A v Bell Green at the Football Club
Oaks v Reservists at the Blue Ball
Hot Shots v Rebels at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
OBA v Home Guard II at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
***
Around Wellington Sport is sponsored by Tone Gate Motors – visit their website by CLICKING HERE