Engineers mammoth pin total of 355 pins, the highest league in the league so far, was made on the back of an opening leg of 84 to lead by 19 pins against The Borough. Over the next two legs Engineers extended that lead to 45 pins and looked odds on to finish the game with maximum points. But they were denied a maximum, despite again scoring well in the final two legs, as The Borough fought back to win each of those legs and win valuable consolation points. Engineers opening leg saw Luke Sanders making a 17 stack on his way to a match score of 48 (the highest individual score to date). Jo Kelso also had a 14 stack in that first leg to finish with 37, while team mate, Ian Greenway made 41. The Borough’s best were Kim Workman with 37 (13 stack); Scott Few 35; and Andrew Taylor 34.

Keeping top spot were Lodge Farmers after their win against C&G Show. After leg one, Farmers led by 12 pins but that evaporated to a single pin as C&G Show scored well in leg two. C&G Show’s third leg score was also good but Farmer’s score was even better to extend their lead to nine pins. C&G Show again responded well to reduce Farmers lead to only five pins after leg four, but could mange only 53 pins in their last leg. This left Farmers just 49 to win which they passed with ease for a 22 pin win.

Best scores for Farmers came from Sue Morris with 38 (13 stack) and Lynne Pemberton & Paul Cotton with 36 each. C&G Show had Rich Fisher making 35 (11 stack); Dave Orton 35; & Keith Edwards 33.

Another see-saw game was between Jumbo Jet Set and Nomads. Over the first two legs, Nomads built a handy 8 pin lead before Jumbo Jets turned the tables to hold a single pin advantage after leg three. The Jets fourth leg score of 72 then looked likely to open up a big lead only for an 11 stack by Nomads’ Mac Eaton in a score of 73 enabled his team to win the leg and leave the match all square. But just when Nomads needed a good last leg score, to put their opponents under pressure, they made their lowest leg score of the game and Jumbo Jets took advantage for a far from comfortable win. Mac Eaton, for Nomads finished with 39; Wendy Cater 36 (12 stack) & Alan Spreckley also 36. Jumbo Jets best were Rich Johnston 39 pins; and 37 each from Ray Jones (13 stack); Mick Stanton; & Rob Quartly.

RESULTS

The Borough 317 (3pts) v  Engineers 355 (8pts)

Jumbo Jet Set 331 (7pts) v Nomads 320 (4pts)

C&G Show 301 (3pts) v  Lodge Farmers 323 (8pts)

Lodge Farmers kept themselves at the top of the Redditch Skittles League table with a comfortable win against The Borough. Farmers were not at their best but took the first leg by a single pin before winning the next three legs to open up a 27-pin lead as The Borough claimed a consolation point in the final leg. For Farmers, Tim Jones (39), Richard Long (37) and Frank Morris (36) top scored while for The Borough, Scott Few (44, 13 stack) and Julian Workman (35) impressed.

Engineers produced the highest team total to date, scoring 348 pins in victory against Bernie’s Bolts, after establishing a 21-pin lead after two legs.Bolts hit back to win leg three before Engineers cruised home as Brandon Kelso (45, 14 stack), Mark Ganderton (41, 12 stack) and Craig Sears all posted big scored for the victors. For Bolts, Craig McSweeney (38, 15 stack), Paul Blayney (35) and John McSweeney (34) impressed.

Lastly, Jumbo Jet Set climbed off the bottom of the table with victory against C&G Show in a close affair. A poor 50-pin score in leg three from C&G Show allowed Jumbo Jets to take an unassailable 12-pin lead despite the former side winning legs four and five. For Jumbo Jets, Liz Rowberry (36) and Dan Hill, Dave Marriott, Ray Jones and Mick Stanton (all 34) top scored while Rich Fisher (39), Aaron Evans (38, 12 stack) and Angela Guest (37) impressed for C&G Show.

RESULTS

The Borough 293 (2pts) v Lodge Farmers 318 (9pts)

Jumbo Jet Set 325 (7pts) v C&G Show 319 (4pts)

Bernie’s Bolts 306 (2pts) v Engineers 348 (9pts)

League leaders Bernie’s Bolts suffered a surprise defeat against The Borough in the latest round of Redditch Skittles League matches. Bernie’s Bolts twice led in the game and held a seven-pin advantage heading into the final leg only for a poor final leg score to allow the Borough to claim victory, requiring only 43 points to take the win. The Borough’s Steve Court (37), Jack Court and Scott Fee (both 34) top scored for the victors while Andy Gill-Smith (35), Mark West (34) and Paul Blayney (32, 11 stack) impressed for Bernie’s Bolts.

Lodge Farmers took a nine-pin lead against Nomads after three legs before a big fourth leg score of 75 all but sealed the win.And with Nomads only able to score 49 in reply, Farmers cruised to a comfortable victory as Frank Morris (42, 13 stack), Rachel Morris (38) and Jamie McGill and Glyn Morley (both 35) top scored for the winners. For Nomads, Jordan Bunn (39, 13 stack), Alan Cummings (35) and Mac Eaton (34) all impressed.

Engineers eased to a routine win against Jumbo Jet Set with the latter side only able to come away with a consolation point.For Engineers, Jo Kelso (43, 13 stack), Andy Clewlow (38) and Brandon Kelso (37) top scored while for Jumbo Jet Set Len Quartly (38), Mick Stanton (35) and Ray Jones (34) impressed.

RESULTS

Nomads 288 pins (2pts) v Lodge Farmers 327 (9pts)

Engineers 342 (9pts) v Jumbo Jet Set 312 (2pts)

Bernie’s Bolts 288 (3pts) v The Borough 309 (8pts)

Bernies’s Bolts overcame a numerical disadvantage to move top of the Redditch Skittles League with victory against Nomads.Despite only playing with nine players, Bernie’s Bolts proved too strong for Nomads who took a six pin lead after the first leg. However, Bernie’s Bolts responded to win leg two and lead by two pins with the third leg shared before extending their lead to 12 pins at the end of leg four. And a 72-pin score in the final leg left Nomads with too much to do as Jim Williamson (42), Paul Blayney, Danny Todd and Dean Lowe (all 38) top scored for Bernie’s Bolts. For Nomads, Mac Eaton (35), Geoff Loat and Eddie Upright (both 34) impressed.

C&G Show moved second in the table with a comfortable win against The Borough as the victors took the first two legs to lead by six pins before The Borough won leg three by a single pin. However, C and G Show won leg four and left The Borough needing 78 pins in the final leg which they made a good fight of but ultimately fell short despite taking the leg. Adam Feeney (40), Rich Fisher (36), Paul Hollis and Andy Maine (both 34) top scored for C&G Show while Scott Few and Steve Court (both 36) and Sarah Edwards, Rhiannon Watson and Kim Workman (all 35) impressed for The Borough.

Lastly, Lodge Farmers beat Jumbo Jet Set to go third in the table, taking a five-pin lead after the first two legs before pulling away over the remaining legs to secure a dominant victory.For Lodge Farmers, the Morris family were in fine form as Rachel (37) and Sue and Frank (both 35) impressed while captain Glyn Morley (36, 11 stack) led by example. And for Jumbo Jet Set, Rich Johnston (37) and Rob and Len Quartly (both 36) top scored.

RESULTS

The Borough 317pins (3pts) v C&G Show 326pins (8pts)

Lodge Farmers 337 (8pts) v Jumbo Jet Set 314 (3pts)

Bernie’s Bolts 309/9 players (8.5pts) v Nomads 291/10 players & 278/ 9 players (2.5pts)

The Borough claimed their first win of the new Redditch Skittles League despite being a player short in their match against Jumbo Jet Set.Borough took a 15-pin lead after the first leg before losing the next two legs only to win leg four and take a 12-pin advantage into the final leg.And the Borough easily took out the 48 pins required for victory as Tom Baker (36), Sarah Edwards (35) and Steve Court (32) top scored for the winners. For Jumbo Jets, Pete Battle-Welch (35), Len Quartly (33) and Dan Hill (32) top scored.

Engineers claimed a dramatic one-pin win against Nomads as the latter side surrendered an early five-pin lead having won the first two legs.Despite still trailing by a pin after leg three, Engineers took an 11-pin lead at the end of leg four. And Engineers scored the required 62 pins for victory in the final leg as the side’s last bowler, Andy Clewlow, helped them over the line in a nervy finish after Nomads scored 72 pins in their final leg. Clewlow scored five with his first ball before missing with his second and nicking the winning skittle at the last. For Engineers, Mark Ganderton (36), Craig Sears (35) and Clewlow (34) top scored with Geoff Loat (46, 13 and 11 stacks), James Marshall (35) and Jim Child (34) on form for Nomads.

Lastly, Bernie’s Bolts beat C&G Show in a game which saw little to separate the two teams in the first four legs. C&G Show held a narrow six-pin lead heading into the final leg where a score of 52 allowed Bernie’s Bolts to steal in with an impressive score of 70 and take the win. For the Bolts, Lewis McSweeney (38), Paul Blayney (37) and Craig McSweeney (35) top scored with Angela Guest (39), Adam Orton (36, 13 stack) and Dave Orton (36) on form for C&G Show.

RESULTS

Jumbo Jet Set 285 pins/10 players & 269/9 players (4pts) v The Borough 276/9 players (7pts)

Engineers 318 (7 pts) v Nomads 317 (4pts)

C&G Show 301 (4pts) v Bernie’s Bolts 313 (7pts)

After winning starts for Engineers, Nomads and Bernie’s Bolts in the first week of the season, all suffered defeats in week two of the Redditch Skittles League. Engineers took a single pin first leg lead against Lodge Farmers only for the latter side to bowl well throughout and claim a comfortable victory. Captain Glyn Morley (42, 15 stack) led the way for Farmers with Tim Jones (40) and Lynne Pemberton (36) supporting well. For Engineers, Craig Sears (36), Jo Kelso (35), Brandon Kelso (34) and Ian Greenway (34) top scored.

Nomads played a man short against Chris and Gerry Show but still managed to win the first two legs to claim a 14-pin lead. However, C&G Show responded superbly to win leg three and reduce the deficit to a single pin before completing the turnaround in the remaining two legs to earn their first win of the season. Angela Guest (36), Bryan Smith (35, 11 stack) and Andy Maine (35) top scored for C&G Show while Geoff Loat (34), Alan Cummings (33) and Wendy Cater and Alan Spreckley (both 32) impressed for Nomads.

Lastly, Jumbo Jet Set began their season with a fine win against Bernie’s Bolts, winning each of the first three legs to take a 21-pin lead.The two teams shared leg four before Jumbo Jets took the final leg as Rob Quartly (44, 13 and 11 stacks), Rich Johnston (39) and Dan Hill (37) top scored for the victors. For Bernie’s Bolts, Craig McSweeney (39, 13 stack), Jim Williamson (35) and John McSweeney (32) top scored.

RESULTS

C&G Show 292 pins/10 players & 281/9 players (8pts) v Nomads 260/9 players (3pts)
Lodge Farmers 336 (9pts) v Engineers 307 (2pts)
Bernie’s Bolts 297 (1.5pts) v Jumbo Jet Set 332 (9.5pts)

Defending Redditch Skittles League champions, Engineers, made a winning start to the new season against Chris and Gerry Show. Engineers took the first two legs to open up a three-pin lead against their opponents who were playing a man short. And Engineers pulled away over the remaining three legs to take maximum points from the fixture as captain Andy Clewlow (42, 13 stack) top scored while Josh Kelso and Maurice Wroe (both 41, the latter 14 stack) impressed. For Chris and Gerry Show, Aaron Evans (43, 12 and 11 stacks) top scored supported by Dave Orton (34) and Keith Edwards, Bryan Smith and Dave Charlesworth (all 32).

Last season’s runners-up, Lodge Farmers, suffered defeat against Bernie’s Bolts as the latter side won each of the first three legs to take a commanding 18-pin lead having scored 81 pins in leg three thanks to stacks of 13 and 12 respectively from Jim Williamson and Mark West. Farmers reduced the deficit by winning the final two legs as Rachel Morris (37), Glyn Morley, Paul Cotton and debutant Jamie McGill (all 36) picked up a couple of consolation points. For the winners, Williamson (44), Dan Goodman (38) and West (36) were all on top form.

Lastly, Nomads came from behind to beat The Borough as the latter side took a 12-pin lead after the first leg before the former reduced the deficit to nine pins at the end of leg two.The Borough stretched their lead to 13 pins in leg three only for Nomads to cut the deficit to a single pin at the end of leg four before winning the match in the final leg after The Borough faltered at the last. Nomads captain Alan Cummings (39, 11 stack) led by example while Jim Child (36, 13 stack) and James Marshal (35, 15 stack) all impressed. For The Borough, Steve Court (36), George Few (35) and Andrew Taylor (34) top scored.

Results

Engineers 340 pins/10 players & 324/9 players (10pts) v C&G Show 284 (1pt)
Lodge Farmers 324 (3pts) v Bernie’s Bolts 337 (8pts)
The Borough 300 (3pts) v Nomads 318 (8pts)