THE FINAL rounds of the Swan Studley Skittles League’s annual Triples competition were played on a knockout basis and produced some excellent games, with Kim Clewlow becoming the first lady to be part of a winning triples team (Lodge Farmers A) since the introduction of the competition ten years ago.
The quarter-finals saw the four sides to progress survive some scares on the way. Jumbo Jet Set A went behind to Lodge Farmers C in the first leg before taking the next three to lead by nine pins.
Jumbos then had a poor last leg to give their opponents a tricky 25 pins to win. Ultimately the target proved too much for Lodge Farmers but only by four pins as Mick Stanton made 35 for Jumbos and Richard Long 33 for Lodge Farmers.
One of the favourites, Alcester Nomads A, built up a good lead after two legs against Swingers A but then put in one of the lowest leg scores in the final rounds.
Swingers could not take advantage though and Nomads recovered well to run out big winners. Nomads had Mac Eaton scoring 40 (14-stack) and Swingers’ Tony Howell scored 32.
Other favourites Engineers A were eliminated by Lodge Farmers B. The teams were level after leg three before Lodge Farmers opened a four-pin lead.
Engineers then had a poor last leg score to leave their opponents only 16 to win, which was easily achieved. Best for Lodge Farmers came from Tim Jones with 38 (13-stack) and for Engineers from Andy Clewlow with 36.
The fourth quarter-final saw the lead change hands three times before Lodge Farmers A finally triumphed when left only 15 pins by Team BG C to progress. Jordan Cockette for Team BG made 40 (14-stack), while Grahm Hingley made 39 for Lodge Farmers.
In the semi-finals, Lodge Farmers A just edged into the final when overcoming Alcester Nomads A. The scores were level after three legs at which point Nomads repeated their low leg score from the quarter-finals.
Lodge Farmers did not take advantage though, putting in a poor score of their own. When left 23 pins to win, Alcester Nomads failed narrowly by just two pins. Graham Hingley top-scored for Lodge Farmers with 36 and Alan Cummings made 35 for Nomads.
By contrast, Jumbo Jet Set A made the final comfortably. They already had a good lead going into the final leg before opponents Lodge Farmers B made a disastrous last leg score to leave Jumbos only needing seven to win. Rob Quartly made 38 for Jumbos and Jason Kirk 36 for Lodge Farmers.
Lodge Farmers A were always in control in the final against Jumbo Jet Set A, taking each of the first three legs to lead by nine pins. Although Jumbos reduced the deficit to five pins after the fourth leg, their form from the previous rounds deserted them in the last leg to leave Lodge Farmers wanting and making a very manageable 18 pins to take the trophy.
The outcome was never in doubt and, although Graham Hingley once more top-scored for Lodge Farmers (36), there was great support from Kim Clewlow and Ron Lewis who added 34 and 32 respectively.
Mick Stanton made 35 for Jumbos, Dan Hill 32 and Rob Quartly 31.
Results: Quarter-finals – Jumbo Jet Set A 91 Lodge Farmers C 87; Alcester Nomads A 103 Swingers A 83; Lodge Farmers A 103 Engineers A 97; Lodge Farmers A 107 Team BG C 103.
Semi-finals – Jumbo Jet Set A 105 Lodge Farmers B 91; Lodge Farmers A 98 Alcester Nomads A 96.
Final – Lodge Farmers A 102 Jumbo Jet Set A 98.
