BOTH ends of the Swan Studley Skittles League table look unusual with perennial mid-table finishers Chris & Gerry Show leading the way whilst Swan – normally pressing for trophies – prop up the rest, although they have only played two games.
Close behind C&G Show are last year’s top two Maudslay and Engineers, looking ominously threatening.
The most surprising result of week five was the then bottom side Well Developed taking maximum points against previous high-flyers Team BG, who dropped two places as a result.
In their first four games Well Developed had won only four legs but this time took all five legs. This was their highest team total of the season, helped by in-form Liz Hindson making 44 (15-stack), Dave Bevan 38 (14-stack) and Jim Child 35.
Opponents Team BG used this game to score their season lowest total as only Rob Baker’s 34 and 33s from Janet Mole and Josh Stringer looked likely to spoil Well Developed’s first win of the season.
Swingers also made their lowest score of the season and never worried C&G Show who ran out easy winners.
C&G Show had John Hall making 44 – his team’s highest individual total to date – and he was backed up by 39s from Dave Charlesworth and Craig Sears. Only Larry Hanks and Judith Clews (38 and 35 respectively) made good scores for Swingers.
Lodge Farmers cannot recall when they last beat Maudslay, who set themselves up for yet another win against their opponents by averaging 70 pins per leg over the first four legs.
Lodge Farmers improved during the game and did manage to narrowly win leg three before also taking the last leg as Maudslay relaxed to a comfortable win as Keith Fryer and Dave Ford both had 15 stacks in totals of 44 and 37 respectively, while Carlo Sanseverino chipped in with 35.
Lodge Farmers’ Tim Jones scored 37, Dave Rumble 36 and Alan Rumble 33.
Equally impressive scoring came from Engineers who, apart from a poor score in leg three which gave Alley Cats a consolation point, averaged slightly over 70 pins per leg.
Alley Cats – a man short – were always playing second fiddle despite Loz Gazeley’s 36, Sue Sollis’ 35 and Neil Harrison’s 34.
Engineers had big returns from Ian Greenway 42 (12-stack) and 35 each from Brandon Kelso, Mark Ganderton (13-stack) and John Bool.
The closest game of the week was between Jumbo Jet Set and Mixtures. Jumbos won the first two legs and opened up a nine-pin advantage, only for Mixtures to take the next two legs to lead by a single pin thanks largely to Gwyn McDonald with a great 17-stack in leg four.
Jumbos then left Mixtures 65 to win the game, which proved to be just out of reach for them. Mixtures’ McDonald eventually totalled 41 pins, John Day 37 and Tom Fletcher 36 (12-stack).
Jumbos’ Mick Stanton made 42 (12-stack), Dave Marriott 35 and Ray Jones 34.
Results: Team BG 1 point (302 pins) Well Developed 10 (322 pins); Alley Cats 2 (286 – nine players) Engineers 9 (320 – nine players and 342 – ten players); Mixtures 3 (313) Jumbo Jet Set 8 (317); Maudslay 8 (343) Lodge Farmers 3 (314); C&G Show 9.5 (322) Swingers 1.5 (274).
