MAUDSLAY extended their unbeaten start to the Swan Studley Skittles League season to six games and their lead at the top of the table as they consigned second placed Engineers to their first defeat.
Engineers bowled well in patches to take two legs but recorded their lowest team total so far, however they did hold on to second spot.
Maudslay’s Derek Ford was in good form in making 41 (13-stack) and Dean Watson and Paul Matthews made 38 and 35 respectively.
In response, Engineers captain Andy Clewlow and debutant Jason Foley made 35 each, whilst Craig Ellis scored 34.
Taking maximum points were Lodge Farmers who took full advantage of a weakened Chris & Gerry Show who produced their lowest score of the season.
Conversely, Lodge Farmers made their highest score to date as they opened up a big lead with only two legs completed and increased it to 38 pins after leg three.
Although C&G Show made a fist of the fourth leg, narrowly losing by a single pin, that was their final resistance.
Lodge Farmers had Steve Smith making 46 (15-stack), Glyn Morley returned to form with 43 (15-stack) and Tim Jones scored 35.
C&G Show’s best came from Arthur Sears with 40 and Angela Guest with 38.
Also taking maximum points were Alcester Nomads against basement team Swingers.
Twenty-nine pins up after two legs, Nomads cruised home with Tony Moore scoring 40, Gordon Povey 36 and 35 each for Mac Eaton and Eddie Upright (10-stack).
Swingers’ best came from captain Brenda Morris with 33 and Judith Clews’ 32 pins.
For the second consecutive game Well Developed looked likely winners, but just could not get over the line.
They were 13 pins up after two legs but squandered the lead with a poor third leg score, after which opponents Team BG led by four pins.
Well Developed reduced the deficit to a slender two pins after the next leg, only for Team BG to make a 71-pin last leg score which left Well Developed requiring 74 to win, which proved just too much.
Both teams scored their highest totals for the season with Team BG’s Lin Dyer making her highest ever score of 44 (17-stack), Nina Moore 41 (15-stack) and newcomer Alex Beard 38 (12-stack).
For Well Developed, Martin Brennan scored 37, Janina Brennan 36 and Ron Skidmore and David Searle 35 apiece.
The game between Jumbo Jet Set & Swan was close for two legs before Jumbos opened up a ten-pin lead after the next leg.
Jumbos then eased away with Pete Battle-Welch making 40 and Geoff Turrell and Len Quartly (10-stack) 35 pins each.
Swan’s best were Helen Racki with 35, Phil Bussey’s 33 and 32 from Bob Haycock.
Results: Maudslay 8 (327) Engineers 3 (308); Chris & Gerry Show 1 (268) Lodge Farmers 10 (324); Alcester Nomads 10 (334) Swingers 1 (284); Team BG 7 (330) Well Developed 4 (322); Jumbo Jet Set 9.5 (314) Swan 1.5 (300).
