THREE depleted teams suffered expected defeats in the Swan Studley Skittles League when playing a man short.
Alley Cats went down heavily to Well Developed, although Alley Cats at least managed to take the last leg for a consolation point and avoid a whitewash, while Well Developed were pleased to get their season motoring with their first win of the season.
For the winners, Jim Child top-scored with 38 pins for the second game running, Shirley Searle made 37 and Martin Brennan 36. Alley Cats’ best individual score was 33 by Neil Harrison and Sue Matthews and Loz Gazeley made 32 apiece.
It was an equally heavy defeat for early leaders Alcester Nomads whose nine players were ultimately no match for Engineers in the top of the table clash.
Nomads briefly led by four pins after leg two to threaten an upset but went rapidly downhill as Engineers enjoyed another free-scoring game and they are already favourites to retain their championship crown.
Craig Ellis for Engineers made 39, Luke Saunders 38 (13 and 12-pin stacks before a zero score in the last leg) and Ian Greenway 37. Nomads’ main response was 38 from Alan Cummings, 36 from James Marshall and 32 each from Mac Eaton and Bob Browning.
The other depleted team – Jumbo Jet Set – made a good fist of defying the nine-man curse in a close and low-scoring game against Team BG, with some players from both teams seeming not to know where the skittles were!
Team BG, having lost the first leg, easily took leg two (their only leg win) to lead by 11 pins. Jumbos nibbled away at that lead by winning the remaining three legs but, left 60 pins to win in the final leg, missed out by only three pins.
Team BG’s best came from Mary Withers with 33, Jordan Cockette 32 and Gail Stringer 31 and Jumbos’ best from Pete Battle-Welch 37 (14-stack), Mick Stanton 36 and Dave Young 34.
Swingers continue to be this season’s surprise team with a win over Swan in the only game with both teams at full strength.
Swingers initially lost legs one and two to be nine pins adrift but took leg three by 21 pins to build a lead of 12. Leg four was halved before Swan’s last-leg score of 61 left Swingers needing only 50 to win their second game of the season.
This was easily achieved and Swingers climbed to third in the table. Andy Norris for Swingers made 41 (14-stack) and team-mates Paul Clifton 36 and debutant Steve Broadbent 33.
Swan had 34 each from Charlie Withers and Bob Haycock (11-stack) and Helen Racki chipped in with 31.
Results: Well Developed 9 (311 – ten players and 294 – nine players) Alley Cats 2 (262 pins – nine players); Alcester Nomads 2 (277 – nine players) Engineers 9 (336 – ten players and 318 – nine players); Jumbo Jet Set 5 (271 – nine players) Team BG 6 (287 – ten players and 273 – nine players); Swan 3.5 (295) Swingers 7.5 (311).
