EX-SERVICEMEN and Scuppas will play in the final of Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League's Ken Bright Cup on Thursday, May 9 (venue to be decided).

In an exciting last match in Group A, Ex-Servicemen beat Mowers to qualify on pins difference while Scuppas were outright winners of Group B. 

Marc Bright reports: Mowers 388 (1 Hand), Ex-Servicemen 396 (4) - Ex-Servicemen can breathe a sigh of relief as they secured qualification for the Ken Bright Cup Final after putting Mowers to the sword in a high-scoring match on the downstairs alley of the Victoria Arms.

Geoff Hamlin was the top scorer for the X-Men with 52, helping his side to a bonus point win with four hands going their way. Mowers saw M. Studley and J. Dodden both score 52 but they could only manage to win one hand while drawing another.

The result put both sides on 33 points, but the X-Men qualify as they have won more hands in the group games (Ex-Servicemen 14, Mowers 13).

Odds and Ends 338 (2), United Services 347 (4) - United Services finished their Ken Bright Cup campaign with a win over Odds and Ends at the Football Club. R. Stanyard had hit a great 53 for Odds and Ends as they won two hands and B. Gamlin was the top player for United Services with 49, and he helped his side to winning four hands and picking up the bonus points.

United Services needed a 14-0 win to stand any chance of qualifying, but they finish the group in third place with 30 points.

Group B: Scuppas 381 (5), Here 4 the Beer 341 (1) - Scuppas and Here 4 the Beer met on the upstairs alley of the Victoria Arms in the deciding match in Group B. Scuppas needed a minimum of six points to seal qualification, while H4tB needed at least nine points.

After a solid game, it was Scuppas who came out on top with A. Newstead helping his team to win five hands and claim the bonus points with his very decent 53. O. Price and A. Morgan both hit 48 for H4tB, who picked up one hand.

King Pins 370 (6), Outsiders 330 (0) - King Pins finished their Ken Bright Cup campaign with a stunning maximum point win over current holders Outsiders at the Cottage Inn. P. Winter hit 52 for the Pins, who won every hand to finish second in Group B.

Outsiders saw R. Smith hit 48, but it was not to be on the night as they couldn’t catch King Pins. It was a disappointing end to the competition for Outsiders, who were hoping to retain the cup, but a good effort all the same.