Lodge Farmers Survive Scare

In the game between last season’s top two, Lodge Farmers were cruising after four legs when holding a 15 pin lead against champions Engineers. But having scored well to that point, their last leg score of only 57 left Engineers seeking a difficult 73 to win which they so nearly made when being boosted by skipper Andy Clewlow’s 13 stack. It left Engineers’ last man wanting nine to tie and 10 to claim an unlikely victory – but he could only muster six. Farmers deserved their win given their early surge and had skipper Glyn Morley top scoring with 39. Also with 39 was Paul Cotton while Tim Jones made 36. Engineers’ Ian Greenway scored 44 (incl 13 stack), Clewlow finished with 36, and Craig Ellis 35.

Top of the current table are Bernie’s Bolts after four wins from their opening four games. Their win over C&G Show though was a bumpy ride. After leg three C&G Show held a six pin lead, only to then have a poor score of 48 in leg four to which Bolts replied with 65 to get their noses in front and lead by 11. Although C&G Show recovered in the last leg, their score was matched by The Bolts who ran out comfortable winners. Again scoring well for Bernie’s Bolts was Andy Gill-Smith with 34 with 33 each coming from John McSweeny and Mark Andrews. For C&G Show, Keith Edwards totalled 40, Paul Hollis 34, and Paul Clifton and Dave Orton 31 apiece.

First win of the season for Jumbo Jet Set in defeating The Borough still seeking their season’s opening win after four games. The Jets won the first three legs for a 20 pin lead. But as so often, put in a low score, this time in leg four, to which The Borough replied with an excellent 67 to reduce their deficit to just nine. The Borough’s fifth leg score left Jumbo Jets wanting only 53 to win which they made if rather unconvincingly. Another skipper, Len Quartly, top scored for Jumbo Jets with 36 while team mates Rich Johnston made 33, and Steve Wardle & Dennis Compton 32 each. The Borough’s best were Julian Workman with 34, Steve Court 32, and 31 each from Kim Workman and Rhiannon Watson.

Results

Lodge Farmers 332 pins (7.5pts) v Engineers 329 pins (3.5pts)

Bernie’s Bolts 308 (8pts) v C&G Show 296 (3pts)

Jumbo Jet Set 304 (9pts) v The Borough 294 (2pts)