REDDITCH Skittles League fixtures took a backseat as the first round of the Doubles Cup competition took place.
Some 24 teams entered the competition with the four top-scoring teams from three groups qualifying for the final.
In Group One, the Bernie’s Bolts pairing of Jim Williamson and Craig McSweeney (10 stack) narrowly topped the group after two legs.
The pair eventually qualified in third place with 74 pins at the end of leg five.
Engineers pair Luke Saunders (13 stack) and Mark Ganderton topped the group on 81 pins.
And the Jumbo Jet Set combination of Dennis Compton (15 stack) and Mick Stanton finished as runners-up on 75 pins.
The last qualifying place went to Jamie McGill and Tim Jones from Lodge Farmers who bowled steadily throughout to record a 64-pin total.
In Group Two, a sudden death play-off round took place to decide who would qualify in fourth place.
The pairings of Paul Hollis and Paul O’Neil (C and G Show) and Lynne Pemberton and Paul Cotton (Lodge Farmers) both finished level on 62 pins.
The first play-off round ended all square again before Pemberton and Cotton edged the second play-off by a single pin to qualify for the final.
Engineers duo Andy Clewlow (13 stack) and Craig Sears scored a last leg stack to top the group on 72 pins.
The all-woman team of Lily Orton and Angela Guest (C and G Show) made 66 pins to finish as runners-up.
And Engineers pair Pete Clewlow and Ian Greenway finished on 64 pins to place third in the group.
In Group Three, Keith and Craig Ellis (Engineers) eventually topped the standings with 73 pins.
Bernie’s Bolts pair Paul Blayney and Dan Goodman finished just behind on 71 pins.
C and G Show duo Keith Edwards and Graham Swadden and The Borough pair Julian Workman and Scott Few both finished on 66 pins.
