MAUDSLAY look odds-on to finish top of the Swan Studley Skittles League after defeating title rivals Engineers 328-308.
Three of Maudslay’s last four fixtures are against teams in the bottom half and their title fate is firmly in their own hands.
Realistically, Engineers needed to win this game to stay in contention for top spot but produced their lowest team total of the season and slipped to fourth place, although still with a game in hand over the teams in second and third place.
Maudslay’s fifth successive win was spearheaded by Dave Ford (41 pins), Keith Fryer (40, 11-stack) and 35 each from Paul Matthews and Dick Walters. Engineers’ best came from Ian Greenaway, Phil Jones and Craig Ellis who all totalled 36 pins.
Jumbo Jet Set are now in second place – their highest position for years – after taking advantage of opposition Swan playing with only nine players.
Swan bowled first but were quickly behind and Jumbos led by nine pins after two legs.
Swan nipped in to take leg three, only for Jumbos to settle the game in their favour by comprehensively winning leg four and taking the last leg narrowly.
Jumbos’ newcomer Dave Holland top scored with 38, while regulars Mick Stanton made 37 and Dan Hill and Pete Battle-Welch 34 each.
Swan had three players – Dave Maule, Phil Bussey and Andy Reynolds – all scoring 34.
Not giving up on finishing in the top three are in-form Lodge Farmers whose fourth successive win saw them make their highest team total of the season.
Opponents Chris & Gerry Show found themselves 26 pins adrift after leg two and a further 12 pins behind after leg three as Lodge Farmers made successive 74-pin leg scores.
Leg four was tied but Lodge Farmers took the last leg by a single pin to record a comfortable win.
There were stacks of 13 each for Tim Jones, finishing with 41, and Kim Clewlow 40, and Alan Rumble made 38 for the winners, whilst best for C&G Show were Richard Fisher (37), Chris Williams (34) and Craig Sears (33).
Consolidating their mid-table position are Team BG following a comfortable win over Well Developed who made their lowest team total this season.
Team BG were ahead by 13 pins after leg one and had the game effectively won with a lead of 25 pins after leg three.
Well Developed managed to tie the next leg but faltered again when losing the final leg.
For the winners, Ray Cartwright scored 38, Nina Moore 34 and Lin Dyer 32. For Well Developed, Liz Hindson made 36, Martin Brennan continued his good season with 33 and there was 30 each from Jim Child and Shirley Searle.
Results: Maudslay 9 (328) Engineers 2 (308); Jumbo Jet Set 9 (314 – ten players and 301 – nine players) Swan 2 (276 – nine players); Chris & Gerry Show 1.5 (296) Lodge Farmers 9.5 (335); Team BG 9.5 (309) Well Developed 1.5 (278).
