PLAYERS in the Redditch Skittles League were afforded a break from league action as the first group of matches in the triples competition took centre stage.
The competition saw six teams compete in four groups with the top two teams in each group progressing to the final set of fixtures.
Engineers A topped their group at South Redditch Social Club as they racked up 112 pins which included a second leg stack of 17 from Luke Saunders.
And Saunders would go on to score a total of 43 pins supported by Maurice Wroe (35) and Darren Sanders (34).
Just behind were Jumbo Jets A who registered 108 pins thanks to the efforts of Rob Quartly (41, 16 stack), Dennis Compton (34, 13 stack) and Len Quartly (33).
The McSweeney family of Craig, John, and Lew, representing Bernie’s Bolts A, threatened the top-two with a total of 101 pins.
However, the group at Lodge Park Social Club proved a much tighter affair as five teams finished within five pins of each other as Lodge Farmers C and Nomads B scored 96 pins apiece to qualify for the next stage.
The two qualifying teams finished just a single pin ahead of C and G Show C as the efforts of Dave Orton (34), Angela Guest (33, 11 stack) and Lily Orton (28) proved in vain.
For Lodge Farmers C, the Rumble family trio of Andy (39, 11 stack), Alan (29) and David (28) helped them secure a top-two finish whilst Alan Cummings (38), Mac Eaton (34) and Graham Hanley (24) top scored for Nomads B.
At the Borough Club, in alley one, Lodge Farmers B topped the group with 106 pins as Glyn Morley (39), Tim Jones (38) and Chris Prichard (29) all impressed.
And Engineers A also qualified for the next round with 104 pins as Pete Clewlow (39, 13 stack), Ian Greenway (38, 12 stack) and Craig Ellis (26) guided them to second place.
In alley two at the same venue, Engineers C and Jumbo Jets B qualified with scores of 105 and 103 pins respectively with The Borough A just behind on 99 in third.
Engineers C top scorers were Mark Ganderton (43, 15 stack), Andy Clewlow (34) and Craig Sears (28) with Rob Rowberry (37), Richard Johnston (36) and Mick Stanton (30) on form for Jumbo Jets B.
The Borough A Few family trio of Scott (42, 14 stack), George (31) and Charlie (26) fell just short.
