JUMBO Jet Set’s hoped-for flight to finish second in the Swan Studley Skittles League was well and truly grounded by Lodge Farmers masquerading as airport control.
Lodge Farmers made their highest score of the season and took maximum points as Jumbos taxied around waiting to be told they could take off.
Meanwhile, Engineers, already slight favourites for the second spot, cemented their challenge by taking nine points against Alley Cats and next play a key game against Alcester Nomads, also pushing for second place and realistically the only team who can still upset Engineers’ aspirations.
Nomads are in good form, taking nine points against Swan, and will hope to make another high score when playing Engineers, who themselves scored well in their latest game.
After that Nomads have a tricky rearranged game against Lodge Farmers and will be hoping their opponents do not repeat their big score against Jumbos.
Leaders Maudslay, needing only four points from their game with Team BG to be crowned champions, were in no mood to just creep over the line and took maximum points in a comfortable win.
Team BG would love to settle for a mid-table spot again but will need the results of the teams just below them to go their way.
Swan, only six points behind Team BG, have made a good recovery after a poor start to the season and could yet steal sixth place.
Bottom spot looks to be between four teams all covered by a mere seven points.
Alley Cats’ two points against Engineers were enough to climb off bottom place and Well Developed replaced them.
However, Alley Cats have two tough fixtures left, one against the champions, while Well Developed’s last two games are against fellow strugglers Swingers and Chris & Gerry Show.
Week 26 best individual scores: Margaret Povey (Alcester Nomads, 47 – 14 and 12 stacks and season’s highest individual score for Nomads); Chris Prichard (Lodge Farmers, 44 – 14 and 12 stacks); Mark Sanseverino (Maudslay, 40 – 10 stack); Russell Victory (Swingers, 39); Ray Cartwright (Team BG, 34); Carl Baker (Team BG, 34); Mick Stanton (Jumbo Jet Set, 34); Andy Reynolds (Swan, 34); Dave Maule (Swan, 34); Rita Passey (Chris & Gerry Show, 32); Paul Hollis (Chris & Gerry Show, 32).
Results: Maudslay 10 (330) Team BG 1 (298); Jumbo Jet Set 1 (306) Lodge Farmers 10 (351); Alcester Nomads 9 (343) Swan 2 (296); Chris & Gerry Show 7 (296) Swingers 4 (291); Engineers 9 Alley Cats 2.
