There are clear leaders in both divisions of Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League after matches on Thursday and Friday.
Ex-Servicemen made in nine wins out of nine in the Chris Bullock Championship while Bell Green took advantage of defeat for Cottage Pie, who had been joint top.
This week’s featured team are Here 4 the Beer, from left, Callum Warren, Ross Cobley (captain), Elliott Broom, Louis Justice, Will Brewer, Jack Dyson, Jimmy Cooper, Ollie Price
Chris Bullock Championship
Ex-Servicemen underlined their title credentials with a superb win away to Nynehead Club in a high-quality contest packed with big hands and heavy scoring. The defending champions now prepare for a mouthwatering Payne Cup quarter-final against Holywell Lake, a repeat of last season’s championship play-off.
Mowers responded strongly to last week’s setback with a fine win away to Foresters in another high-scoring clash at the White Horse.
Scuppas strengthened their hold on third place with a confident victory over Here 4 the Beer at the Cottage Inn while All Stars maintained their excellent run with a win over Outsiders on the downstairs Victoria Arms alley.
United Services edged a low-scoring contest against King Pins at the Football Club and WRFC picked up a crucial win in their bid to move away from the foot of the table, beating Odds and Ends at the Conservative Club.
Nynehead Club 387, Ex-Servicemen 416
Ex-Servicemen overcame a high-scoring Nynehead Club by 29 pins to pick up a valuable three points as their impressive start to the season continued. The X-Men found themselves seven down at the halfway point and had played well to stay within touching distance of Nynehead who started the game with hands of 71, 62 and 75. The second half saw the home side fall away slightly with 63, 61 and 55 hands. Jimmy Compton was their top scorer with a solid 53. The defending champions needed two hands of 62 and a 63 to take the game, no easy target, but managed to go up a gear with hands of 70, 76 and 69 to take the win, with skipper Adrian Perry hitting a remarkable 64 for his side’s top score, supported by Kev Denslow’s great 62.
Foresters 393, Mowers 411
Mowers were at their formidable best to see off Foresters by 18 pins at the White Horse in a high-scoring game. Foresters have been in great form at home this season and fell just shy of another 400 score, with Martin Wyatt hitting the score of the match with a great 65. Mowers knew they would have to go big to earn the win and Darren Winter’s 62 provided the spark they needed. An important win for Mowers who needed to get the win after suffering a heavy defeat last time out. Mowers face Relyon next in the Ken Bright Cup quarter-final.
Scuppas 362, Here 4 the Beer 326
Scuppas picked up a good home win over Here 4 the Beer with 36 pins separating the sides at the Cottage Inn. Adrian Newstead was the player of the match with his 53 helping Scuppas to a solid score. Ollie Price hit 49 in the away side’s chase, but Here 4 the Beer found the alley tough going as they tried to wrestle control of the game back their way. The result sees Scuppas nicely poised in third place just eight points off top spot and one point behind Mowers. Next up is a Payne Cup match against Thursday rivals United Services as they look to defend the cup.
All Stars 389, Outsiders 365
All Stars’ impressive run of form continued with a 24-pin victory over Outsiders on the downstairs alley of the Victoria Arms. Owen Milton hit a great 58 for All Stars, the youngster’s enjoying a great season so far, with the home side going on to hit a big total to put the pressure on Outsiders. Dave Burton hit 51 in the Outsiders reply, but they could not keep pace with the high scoring of All Stars and saw the game get away from them. The win keeps All Stars joint third with Scuppas, but they have played a game more. Their next league outing is away to Ex-Servicemen in what should be a great game.
King Pins 289, United Services 302
It was a low scoring contest at the Football Club as United Services picked up the points after seeing off King Pins by 13 pins. John Norman, one of King Pin’s stand out players this season, hit a hardworking 41 as the home side recorded the lowest score so far this season. United Services only fared slightly better with Ben Gamlin hitting 41 for the away side. King Pins will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they play Nynehead Club in the Ken Bright Cup.
WRFC 352, Odds and Ends 320
Rugby Club boosted their hopes of avoiding the bottom spot with an important win over Odds and Ends at the Conservative Club. Andy Thorne was the star man for the home side with a good 54, helping Rugby Club to a solid total on the tricky alley. Bottom side Odds and Ends saw Dan Smith hit 45 in their chase, but it was not to be on the night as they were well beaten by 32 pins. The result, coupled with Home Guard IV having a bye, saw the Rugby Club move to 11th in the table, and they will hope to carry on the winning ways when they face Club Rockers in the Payne Cup.
Gerald Thorne Championship
Bell Green were pushed to the brink by a determined Reservists side but held on to stretch their lead at the summit, while Queens Legs dented the title hopes of Cottage Pies with one of their strongest totals of the season.
Relyon showed their class with a composed win over Oaks, showcasing the good form of late.
Further down the table, OBA impressed with a superb away victory at Shooters, Rebels saw off Report Centre A in convincing style, and Hot Shots earned a useful result to ease pressure at the lower end. Home Guard II also claimed valuable points in a low-scoring contest against Fireguard A.
Bell Green 378, Reservists 374
Bell Green, joint leaders ahead of the game at the Victoria Arms, they scraped past a spirited Reservists outfit by just four pins. Jason Powell produced a superb 61 to help Bell Green to a good total, but the visitors pushed them all the way, thanks largely to an equally brilliant 61 from Peter Chamberlain. A fantastic win for the Bee Gees, especially after the loss last time out to fellow title rivals Holywell Lake. With other results going their way, they pull two points clear at the top of the table
Queens Legs 394, Cottage Pies 382
Queens Legs delivered their second highest home score of the season to defeat title challengers Cottage Pies on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club. Daren Mason’s excellent 56 anchored a confident showing from the home side, whose high scoring put the pressure on the away side. Cottage Pies, led by Paul Robinson’s tidy 55, stayed in the hunt but could not bridge the gap. The result dents the Pies’ title push and gives Queens Legs a valuable boost in the middle of the table. Cottage Pies host Home Gurd II in their next match and will be desperate to get back to winning ways.
Relyon 357, Oaks 338
Relyon picked up their third win on the bounce with a steady performance against Oaks at the Conservative Club, sealing the points by 19 pins. Callum Hayes was the standout for the Bedders with a fine 56, helping his side build a total which proved beyond Oaks’ reach. The visitors were well led by Jordon Hastlehurst, who hit an impressive 57, but they could not piece together enough support to turn the tide.
Shooters 369, OBA 385
OBA recorded their best score of the campaign so far, seeing off Shooters by 16 pins at the Victoria Arms. Denver Clarke hit a superb 57 to guide OBA to an excellent score, proving too strong for the hosts despite Richard Cox’s tidy 54. Shooters played well to hit their score but were punished for a few loose balls here and there as OBA’s consistency told across the board. The win sees OBA move level on points with Shooters in joint fifth place.
Home Guard II 327, Fireguard A 319
Home Guard II secured a tight but important win in a scrappy Football Club derby, edging Fireguard A by just eight pins. Andy Davey top scored for the hosts with a hard-working 47 as HGII built a narrow advantage which they never relinquished. Fireguard A fought back with skipper Dan Taylor hitting a superb 58, but the away side couldn’t quite find that extra push to overhaul the deficit. A third win in a row for Home Guard II who are building some good momentum.
Rebels 325, Report Centre A 291
Rebels claimed a comfortable 34-pin win over Report Centre A at the Cottage in a low scoring game, with Baz Winter’s 47 leading the charge for the home side. RCA struggled to get going on the alley, though John Cottrell’s 45 was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult night for the visitors. An important win for Rebels who bounced back after their defeat last time out.
Club Rockers 319, Hot Shots 336
Hot Shots secured a good away win as they overcame Club Rockers by 17 pins at the Institute. Edd Chivers impressed with a strong 51 to help Hot Shots over the line, while Mark Bowen’s 43 was the top score for the struggling Rockers. The result keeps Rockers anchored at the foot of the table, but they have a shot at leapfrogging Fireguard A if they can beat Rebels in their forthcoming back match.
Highest Away Scores
Top Team – Ex-Servicemen 416 at the Nynehead Club.
Top Player – Adrian Perry 64 for Ex-Servicemen at the Nynehead Club.
League tables
Fixtures
Thursday, 27th November
Payne Challenge Cup
United Services v Scuppas at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Shooters v Here 4 the Beer at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
WRFC v Club Rockers at the Football Club
Ken Bright Cup
King Pins v Nynehead Club at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Friday, 28th November
Gerald Thorne Championship – Back Matches
Rebels v Club Rockers at the Cottage Inn
Oaks v Shooters at the Blue Ball
Payne Challenge Cup
Holywell Lake v Ex-Servicemen at the Football Club
Ken Bright Cup
Hot Shots v Bell Green at the RG Institute
Queens Legs v Home Guard IV at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Mowers v Relyon at the Nynehead Club
Thursday, 4th December
Chris Bullock Championship
United Services v WRFC at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Outsiders v Foresters at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Mowers v King Pins at the Football Club
Here 4 the Beer v Home Guard IV at the RG Institute
Odds and Ends v Scuppas at the Victoria Arms (Downstairs)
Ex-Servicemen v All Stars at the Cottage Inn
Friday, 5th December
Gerald Thorne Championship
OBA v Club Rockers at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs)
Hot Shots v Queens Legs at the Conservative Club (Downstairs)
Reservists v Holywell Lake at the RG Institute
Oaks v Bell Green at the Blue Ball
Report Centre A v Relyon at the White Horse Inn (Bradford)
Cottage Pies v Home Guard II at the Cottage Inn
Fireguard A v Rebels at the Football Club
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