ENGINEERS closed the gap on Redditch Skittles League leaders Lodge Farmers with a maximum points victory against Bernie’s Bolts.
The title contenders pounced on dropped points by the Farmers to close in on their rivals at the top of the standings.
Engineers led by 11 pins at the end of the first leg and won each of the next three legs to lead by 24 pins.
Another strong last leg scored left the Bolts needing 94 pins for victory which proved well out of reach,
For Engineers, Andy Clewlow, Patsy Kane and Maurice Wroe (all 37) top scored while the latter bowler also produced an 11 stack.
And for the Bolts, Andy Gill-Smith (37), Jess Andrews (34) and Paul Blayney (33) all impressed.
Elsewhere, Lodge Farmers took a 12-pin lead at the end of the first leg against Jumbo Jet Set.
However, the Jets cut the deficit to a single pin at the end of leg two.
The two teams shared leg three before the Jets won leg four to take the lead by a single pin.
And the Jets scored well in the final leg to leave the Farmers needing 65 pins for victory.
The Farmers duly delivered to continue their push for the league title.
For the Farmers, Richard Long and Frank Morris (both 37) and Paul Cotton and Tim Jones (both 34) all impressed.
And for the Jets, Dennis Compton (41, 15 stack) top scored while Dave Badsey (39, 13 stack) and Rich Johnston (37) also scored well.
Lastly, C and G Show registered just their second league win of the season against Nomads.
C and G Show won the first leg by nine pins only to lose the next two legs but still held a four-pin advantage.
However, C and G Show recovered to take leg four and extend their lead to 12 pins.
Nomads left C and G Show needing 51 pins for victory as captain Dave Charlesworth and anchor man Dave Orton secured the points for the latter side.
For C and G Show, Rich Fisher (36), Paul Hollis (35) and Orton (34) top scored.
And for Nomads, Dave Maule (37) and Alan Cummings and Andrew Coombes (both 34) all impressed.
Results
Bernie’s Bolts 307 (1pt) – Engineers 339 (10pts)
Lodge Farmers 327 (7.5pts) – Jumbo Jets Set 319 (3.5pts)
Nomads 303 (4pts) – C&G Show 305 (7pts)
