WITH a pin total of 356 – the highest in the Swan Studley Skittles League to date – Alcester Nomads would normally have expected to take maximum points from their latest game.
However, opponents Well Developed were in no mood to lie down as they equalled their highest total for the season to pinch two legs and halve a third to put more distance between themselves and bottom of the table Swingers.
Nomads’ total was boosted by Bob Browning’s 51 (14-stack) to equal the season’s highest individual score as they came from behind for a successive game to lead by 42 pins with the last leg still to play.
Well Developed’s response was to bowl well to take that leg and their next game against Swingers may well decide the wooden spoon recipients.
Other good scores for Nomads came from Geoff Loat with 44 (13-stack) and 36 each from Alan Spreckly and Gordon Povey. Well Developed had Pauline Withers, Jim Child and Ron Skidmore (ten-stack) all with 36 pins.
Maudslay still fancy themselves to retain their championship crown but have must-win games to come against each of the three teams around them at the top of the league.
Their latest two games produced good points returns, including the game against Swan which they effectively won when they took advantage of Swan’s poor second leg score to open a 16-pin advantage.
Maudslay finally left their opponents to get an improbable 82 pins to win in the last leg and so it proved as Swan managed only a disappointing 58.
For Maudslay, Geoff Mayneord scored 39, Dick Walters 38 and Tom Robert 37. Best replies for Swan came from Bob Haycock with 37, Andy Reynolds’ 33 and Scott Frankton and debutant Julie Tomlin with 32 each.
A straightforward big win for Jumbo Jet Set – taking maximum points – did nothing to improve their league position and they remain marooned in mid-table. Jumbos had Ray Jones scoring 37 and Mick Stanton and Rob Quartly 36 each.
Opponents Swingers stay bottom after this latest loss despite good efforts from Brenda Leake with 35 and 34 each from Paul Clifton and Daren Hartman.
Results: Alcester Nomads 7.5 (356) Well Developed 3.5 (322); Maudslay 8 (323) Swan 3 (300); Swingers 1 (290) Jumbo Jet Set 10 (330).
