AFTER 41 years of skittling, Janet Mole of Team BG will shortly be retiring from the game.
Her team will miss her regular good scores such as the 37 she made against Swan which helped Team BG to a third Swan Studley Skittles League win on the trot.
Swan looked in control and led by 12 pins after three legs, but Team BG’s fourth leg total of 74 left the sides all square going into the final tense legs.
Wanting 57 to win, Team BG needed their last player Mary Withers (35 pins) to get them over the line. Other good scorers for Team BG were Gail Stringer 42 (14-stack) and Lin Dyer (35).
Swan’s best came from Helen Racki (37) and Andy Reynolds (35).
The captains of Well Developed and Jumbo Jet Set cannot recall, over more than 20 years, Well Developed taking maximum points in this fixture.
This time, though, victorious Well Developed did it in style as they recorded a second successive victory to remain fourth thanks largely to Martin Brennan making 45 (first leg 15-stack) – his team’s highest individual score of the season.
Well Developed were always in control and other good scores came from Liz Hindson (36) and Sheila Ramage and Janina Brennan with 33 each.
Jumbo Jet Set’s lowest score of the season featured Dan Hill making 37 (11-stack), Rob Quartly 35 and Ray Jones 34.
A surprise first defeat of the season for Engineers meant they lost top spot.
Opponents Lodge Farmers were narrowly behind in the game after three legs but turned things around, although it took last man Glyn Morley to see his side home.
Engineers had Dennis Compton making 38 (12-stack) and Andy Clewlow, Ian Greenway and George Bird 35 each.
Lodge Farmers had scores of 37 from Lynne Long (11-stack) and Steve Smith, with good back up coming from Alan Rumble (17-stack), Jason Kirk and Roger Powell who all made 36.
The table-toppers are now last season’s champions Alcester Nomads following a fourth successive win.
They could even afford to make their season’s lowest team total and still beat Swingers, who are now three games without a win.
Swingers did give Nomads a slightly uncomfortable game by narrowly taking the first and third legs but a better fourth leg for Nomads effectively settled the game.
For Nomads, Bob Rhodes scored 36 (12-stack), Edddie Upright 34 and there was 33 each for Bob Browning and Alan Cummings.
Spirited Swingers had 34 pins each from Mike Pilkington (14-stack), Paul Clifton and Brenda Morris.
Alley Cats slipped to a third straight loss as they went down to Chris & Gerry Show, who climbed to fifth place.
C&G Show built a 24-pin lead after two legs and, although Alley Cats won two of the remaining three legs, it was never by a big enough margin to threaten C&G Show’s hold on the game.
C&G Show’s best scores came form Dave Charlesworth (37), Dave Willimas (36, 11-stack) and Angela Guest (33).
For Alley Cats, Carl Gazeley scored 38, Peter Sollis 37 and there was 33 each from Anne and Tony O’Connor.
Results: Team BG 8 (320) Swan 3 (315); Well Developed 10 (320) Jumbo Jet Set 1 (296); Engineers 2.5 (332) Lodge Farmers 8.5 (336); Alcester Nomads 7.5 (302) Swingers 3.5 (287); Chris & Gerry Show 8 (308) Alley Cats 3 (295).
