Big Scalp for Nomads

In the Redditch Skittles League opening game, Nomads surprised last year’s double winners, Engineers, with a late comeback to take the spoils.

 There was no hint of an upset as Engineers took the first two legs to lead by 11 pins. But Nomads were steadily improving and won leg three to reduce the lead to six pins. And when In leg four, Engineers returned a poor score, Nomads stepped in with the best leg total of the game, 69 pins, to then head their opponents by seven pins. A solid last leg score of 64 by Nomads then left Engineers needing a tricky 72 pins to win but they found scoring difficult and finally managed only 63 pins to give Nomads another bonus point.

Shining for cock-a-hoop Nomads were Eddie Upright, Mac Eaton and Alan Cummings who each scored 34 pins while for shell shocked Engineers’ best were Ian Greenway and Joe Kelso with 36 each and Craig Sears 35.

 Last season’s bottom team, The Borough started this season promisingly with a comfortable win over Lodge Farmers. The Borough won the first leg by 10 pins before narrowly winning each of the next three legs to open up a 15 pin lead. And although they managed only 55 pins in their last leg, that still left Lodge Farmers needing 71 pins for an unlikely win. And so it proved as that target was rarely threatened although Lodge Farmers did manage to salvage a consolation point by scoring 61 pins to win the last leg.

Top scoring for The Borough were newcomer Ryan Forman with 40 (incl 10 stack); and regulars Scott Few with 39 (13 stack); and Julian & Kim Workman with 31 pins each. In reply, Lodge Farmers’ Glyn Morley made 34 and Jamie McGill & debutant Ron Drake 31 each.

C&G Show started brightly to lead by nine pins after leg one. But that was as good as it got as opponents, Bernie’s Bolts, took each of the remaining four legs for a comfortable win. The Bolts only took the lead after the completion of leg three - by just a single pin. But when in leg four they totalled 68 pins, this rattled C&G Show who managed only 50 pins in response to effectively seal the game in The Bolts favour. Yes there was a better last leg score by C&G Show, but it was never enough as they left The Bolts only needing, and easily getting, the 39 pins to secure the points.

Craig McSweeney, Dan Goodman and Paul Blayney, for The Bolts, made 37, 36 & 35 respectively, while best for C&G Show were Jay Attwater with 34; Dave Orton 31; and Keith Edwards 30.

Results

Nomads 8pts (316 pins) – Engineers 3pts (308)

Lodge Farmers 2pts (292) – The Borough 9pts (301)

Bernie’s Bolts 9pts (305) – C&G Show 2pts (282)