STEADY bowling throughout the final rounds earned Swan A their fifth Swan Studley Skittles League Triples Knockout trophy as they took the scalps of Jumbo Jet Set B, Jumbo Jet Set A and Engineers C.
In the quarter-finals, Dave Hollands and Dan Hill (Jumbos B) made 32 each but their team eventually lost by six pins to Swan A as Bob Haycock and Graham Howells scored 33 each.
Jumbo Jet Set A needed a sudden-death play-off to overcome Engineers B but were fortunate to have that opportunity to progress when Engineers B – left needing only 15 pins to win – imploded and could only level the main game.
Mick Stanton made 33 for Jumbos A while best for Engineers B was Ian Greenway making 34.
Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Alcester Nomads B had a very poor last leg of only 13 pins. It left opponents Engineers D requiring a tricky 22 pins for victory and so it proved as they fell three pins short.
Nomads B’s top scorers were Bob Browning and Mac Eaton (both 31) and best for Engineers D, also with 31, was George Bird.
In the fourth tie of the round, Engineers C were in good form as they won comfortably by 23 pins against outsiders Chris & Gerry Show A.
Andy Clewlow for Engineers C had an 11-stack in a total of 39 pins and there was another stack of 11 by Angela Guest who finished with 32 for C&G Show A.
Anchor man Graham Howells for Swan A again scored well (38 pins) in the semi-final clash with Jumbos A and made the necessary eight pins in the last leg to take his team to the final.
Mick Stanton’s 36 pins kept Jumbos A in this close game in which never more than three pins separated the sides throughout.
The other semi saw Engineers C make the highest team score of the night – 118 pins – as Andy Clewlow weighed in with a 17-stack to finish with 47.
Losing opponents Nomads B were always behind but were no slouches themselves, scoring 105 pins as Mac Eaton made 40 and Alan Cummings 39.
In the final, Swan A were never headed especially after Graham Howells hit a 14-stack in leg three to eventually finish with 42 pins and cap a fine run of good scores throughout the competition.
Engineers C had Brandon Kelso top scoring with 36 but his side left Swan A needing only 12 pins to make in the last leg to win the trophy and the result was never in doubt as they romped to another triumph.
Scores: Quarter-finals – Swan A 93 87 Jumbo Jet Set B 87; Jumbo Jet Set A 93 Engineers B 93 (Jumbos A won play-off); Alcester Nomads B 91 Engineers D 88; Engineers C 108 Chris & Gerry Show A 85.
Semi-finals – Swan A 98 Jumbo Jet Set A 96; Engineers C 118 Alcester Nomads B 105.
Final – Swan A 105 Engineers C 98.
