SWAN saw off Swingers in the closest game in week five of the Swan Studley Skittles League.
Swingers initially led by winning the first leg by six pins but could not build on this advantage. Instead, Swan hung on and tied each of the next two legs and then won leg four by six pins to leave the game all square going into the final leg.
Swan’s tenacity was rewarded with a last leg total of 63 which Swingers never really threatened to top as they slid to a narrow loss.
Individual highlights for Swan came from skipper Andy Reynolds with 38 pins (his team’s highest individual score to date) and 35 from Helen Racki. Larry Hanks top scored for Swingers with 37 (13-stack) which was his team’s highest individual score to date, while Paul Clifton and Daren Harman made 35 each (Harman with a 12-stack).
Perhaps the most one-sided game saw unbeaten Maudslay show little compassion to bottom team Well Developed, playing a man short and struggling to find any consistent form.
Well Developed’s main consolation was the team’s highest individual score this season – a fine 41(15-stack) by Martin Brennan – although Janina Brennan and Sheila Ramage also returned good scores of 34 and 33 respectively.
Two of the legs were only narrowly won by Maudslay on their way to maximum points as Mark Sanseverino finished with 39 (13-stack) and Lyn Fryer, Keith Fryer and Dean Watson made 35 each (Watson with a 12-stack).
Engineers were no less ruthless when ending table-topping Alcester Nomads’ unbeaten record. There was nothing between the sides after leg one before Engineers took leg two by a massive 21 pins.
Nomads threatened a comeback in leg three by reducing that lead to 19 pins but fell further adrift as Engineers piled on the scores to extend their advantage.
The winners had Ian Greenway making 42 (14-stack) – another playing making his team’s highest individual score so far. Close behind, team-mates Luke Sanders made 38 as did Brandon Kelso, helped by a 13-stack.
Best for Nomads were Alan Cummings with 42 (13-stack), Geoff Loat 38 (15-stack) and Alan Spreckley 34.
The first leg lead of 13 pins for Lodge Farmers was most welcome as opponents Alley Cats nibbled away at that lead by taking legs two and three and halving leg four to be just eight pins behind going into the last leg.
Lodge Farmers’ below-par last leg score then left Alley Cats to make a manageable 65 pins to end their losing streak. Alley Cats started brightly enough but fell away and ultimately drifted to another loss despite Loz Gazeley scoring 36 and Anne O’Connor and Malcolm Batchelor 33 apiece.
Debutant Lee Bartles for Lodge Farmers made 38 (14-stack), Kim Clewlow 35 and Chris Prichard 34.
Results: Swan 8 (303) Swingers 3 (296); Maudslay 10 (324 – ten players and 304 – nine players) Well Developed 1 (284 – nine players); Alcester Nomads 2.5 (317) Engineers 8.5 (343); Alley Cats 3.5 (300) Lodge Farmers 7.5 (314).
