ALLEY CATS won their first game of the Swan Studley Skittles League season against Well Developed, who have now suffered defeat in their opening three fixtures.
Although losing the first three legs in this game, Well Developed were still only seven pins adrift, but then Alley Cats stepped up their game to run out comfortable winners as three players – Sue Sollis, Graham Batchelor and Sam Billyard – each made 36.
Well Developed’s Margueritte Bayley scored 35, Janina Brennan 33 and Ros Pottinger 31.
The then league leaders Team BG faced last year’s champions Maudslay and a close finish seemed likely, but Maudslay then opened up a lead of 14 pins and Team BG could not recover.
A last leg total of 73 for the champions finally put paid to Team BG’s resistance. For Maudslay, Mark Sanseverino scored 41 (13-stack), Dick Walters 39 (14-stack) and Tom Roberts 38 (13-stack).
In reply, Margaret Sanders made 37 and Ray Cartwright 32 for Team BG.
After beating Maudslay by a big score the previous week, Engineers were on the receiving end this time around as opponents Alcester Nomads ran wild to record the league’s highest team total so far this season and go top of the table.
This was yet another close game, if only for three legs. Nomads’ fourth leg total of 87 pins was followed by a last leg of a ‘mere’ 73 pins.
Engineers had no answer to the onslaught despite brave efforts from Andy Clewlow with 37 pins, John Bool 36 and Brandon Kelso 35 (12-stack). Nomads had 42 pins each from Alan Cummings (16-stack) and Gordon Povey (15-stack), with Bob Browning chipping in with 39.
With Lodge Farmers only seven pins ahead after three legs, opponents Swingers were still hopeful about winning this game, but Farmers were not to be denied though as they opened up a 13-pin lead after the fourth leg and after leg five left Swingers a total of 76 pins to win.
This proved far too much for Swingers, for whom Paul Clifton 43 pins (13-stack) again top scored. Team-mates Larry Hanks made 35 and Norman Robinson 34.
Lodge Farmers had Laurence Evans making 37 and 34 each came from Roger Powell, Jason Kirk and Tim Jones.
Results: Lodge Farmers 9 points (311 pins) Swingers 2 (296 pins); Maudslay 10 (341) Team BG 1 (302); Engineers 3 (324) Alcester Nomads 8 (352); Alley Cats 10 (319) Well Developed 1 (298).
