Skittles Puriton & District Skittle League – 19th January 2017

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PURITON & DISTRICT SKITTLE LEAGUE

REPORT OF MATCHES PLAYED ON 19th JANUARY 2017

Division 1

Pirates extended their lead at the top of the division to 6 points as they enjoyed a 45 pin home win over Polden Bears whilst Crusaders suffered an agonising 3 pin away defeat to Stop-Outs. Shane Hewart led the way for the defending champions, starting with an 18 flopper and adding 2 more spares in his total of 75, with James Higgins contributing 68 and Andrew Pole 66 the result was never in doubt.

Crusaders however had a much closer contest, tying the first 2 hands and then going 12 ahead after 4 hands the game turned on the penultimate hand, with Stop-Outs hitting their highest total of the night and Crusaders their lowest, which gave Stop-Outs a 2 pin lead to take into the final hand, which Crusaders were unable to overturn.

Crown consolidated their position in third after giving Knowle Otters an 84 pin drubbing. John Lovibond hitting 3 spares in his 77 and Rob Vincent added 72 and Robin Bridgewater 71. Glyn Hawkes was the only Otter to offer any resistance with 69.

Farmer Boys have slipped 3 points behind Crown now as they succumbed to a 5 pin defeat away at Oddsquad, the game hinging on the last 2 hands, with Farmer Boys pulling 16 pins on the penultimate hand to take a 4 pin lead, their first lead of the night, but Oddsquad finished with a hand of 66, which was too much for the visitors as they fell 5 short. James Vowles hit 2 spares in his first 3 hands for the victors and going on to a total of 66. Sam Clement started with a spare for Farmer Boys in his 60.

Somerset Vaults slipped to the bottom of the league after suffering their 13th defeat of the season, this week at Crown Jewels by 33 pins. Colin Nutman led the way for the home team with 70 and Julian Porter added 66. Best for Somerset Vaults was Richard Bamsey with 67.

Somerset Vaults are bottom because Wasters enjoyed their 5th win of the season as they clung on to a 2 pin win over Woolavington Boys despite being 21 up with 2 hands to play, but a low 6th hand enabled the visitors to pull 9 back and then another low hand left Woolavington Boys needing 74 for victory, which was on the cards when Jason Kingston hit a 17, but it needed another spare from the last 3 men, which was not forthcoming.

Barstewards pulled 14 pins on the last hand to move to a comfortable 22 pin win at Spitfires, which was thanks to 67’s from Adrian Cox and Dan Mitchell and 64 from James Cox.

Division 2

Foxes & Ferrets have moved to the top of the division after a 7 pin win at Herdsmen, whilst Nomads went down to a home defeat to Huntspill Boys, who join them in second place, 1 point behind Foxes & Ferrets.

Captain Sean Woodward led the way for Foxes & Ferrets with 2 spares in his 66 as they clawed their way back into the game after dropping 22 pins on the second hand, but spares from Les Macriner, Trevor Saunders, Andy White and Phil Hunt on the 5th hand led to an 85 total which pulled back 16 pins and allowed them to take a lead, which was then enhanced by an 83 penultimate hand, that they did not relinquish despite a poor last hand.

Huntspill Boys led from start to finish in their visit to Nomads, only dropping pins on the penultimate hand, by which time they had accumulated a 43 pin lead. Aaron Stokes found the alley very much to his liking as he hit 4 spares in his total of 85, 16 better than his nearest team mate Phil White. Phil Coggins hit 3 spares in his 71 for the home team as did Pete Besley in his 70.

Ruggerites and Polden Turkeys played out a very closely fought contest that was effectively settled by Ruggerites on the 5th hand, when they pulled 11 pins. Captain Ian Chedzey was the only home player to hit a spare in his top score of 61.

Rofugees maintained their record of being unable to record a home win as they were trampled by Swannies, who won all 7 hands in their 86 pin victory. Pip Tucker hit 68 for the visitors, who also had Ian Carter, Mark Harris and Will Potter on 64.

Three Cees remain at the bottom of the league after another away defeat, this week at Wanderers by 34 pins. Tom Boobyer was top man for the home team with 60 despite only hitting 1 spare, Graham Fountain hit 2 spares, but a hand of 3 left him 2 pins behind Tom.

Odds & Sods hit the highest total of the night, 530, as they beat Landlords Rejects by 43 pins. Alex Ward had 2 floppers and another spare in his total of 76, whilst Dave Gomm added 73 and James Briggers 71. Best for Landlords Rejects was Nick Taylor with 4 spares in his 81.

Haymakers enjoyed themselves when they travelled to Cross Your Hart and enjoyed a 31 pin win, with captain Kevin Watts hitting the first 3 ball maximum of the season on his 2nd hand. He had hit a 14 spare on his first hand so had a 41 pin start to his total, but it was too much of a shock and he was unable to hit another spare, but still finished top scorer with 75. Pete Omerod, for the home team, also started well, hitting spares in his first 4 hands and eventually finishing with 88.

Mike Garbutt