TITLE-CHASING Reservists survived a slight scare before beating Hot Shots by eight pins in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Gerald Thorne Championship last week.

Marc Bright reports: Neil Sparks and Darren Sparks both scored crucial 49s for the Reservists. Andy Govier and Andy. Brooks hit 50 for Hot Shots to see them to a solid score, but the points went the way of Reservists.

Cottage Pies 344, Holywell Lake 362: Holywell Lake took another step towards retaining the Gerald Thorne title with an 18-pin win away to Cottage Pies at the Cottage Inn. Ricky Marke had hit 52 for the Pies, who went on to a decent enough score for the Cottage alley. The Lakers, looking to add the division title to their Payne Cup success from earlier in the season, saw R. Skeels hit 52 of his own, with the away side getting over the line and taking the vital points on offer. Just two games remain for Holywell Lake. Wins in both will secure the championship.

Club Rockers 370, Relyon 340: Club Rockers pulled off a stunning 30 pin win at home to Relyon, with Rockers’ skipper J. Perry leading the way with 56 on the tricky Institute alley. Rob Higgs hit a stunning 67 for the Bedders, but it was in a losing effort as the game got away from them.

Fireguard A 301, Report Centre A 290: A bottom of the table clash between Fireguard A and Report Centre A was played out at the Football Club, with the home side coming out on top with an 11-pin victory that condemned RCA to a last placed finish in the league. Dan T hit 49 for Fireguard A who just snuck over the 300 mark. J. Cottrell and N. Thomas both scored 40 in the RCA chase, but it wasn’t to be in the end. A Wooden Spoon playoff match now awaits RCA - they will take on Home Guard IV.

OBA 366, Bell Green 382: Bell Green came out winners of the upstairs derby at the Victoria Arms, with T. White hitting the top score of the match with 55 in the process. D. Clarke had hit 52 for OBA to see them to a decent enough score, but the Greeners found their rhythm to race away with the game and claim the points.

Queens Legs 374, Home Guard II 352: Queens Legs beat Home Guard II by 22 pins as the two sides faced off at the Conservative Club. D. Hayman scored 53 for the home side, who went on to hit a very solid score on the small alley. C. Winter hoped to rally HGII with his 51, but the away side couldn’t match the home sides scoring. If Reservists beat Cottage Pies next week, that will be enough to ensure a third place finish for HGII.

Shooters 378, Rebels 388: Shooters were shot down at the Victoria Arms by Rebels, who came away with a 10-pin win. K. Harcombe had scored 58 for Shooters, with the home side hitting a solid score. Rebels saw B. Winter score a well deserved 62 as they successfully chased down the Shooters’ score to take the points on offer.

Back match - Report Centre A 395, Relyon 358: RCA picked up a very good 37-pin win against Relyon at the White Horse, with the home side hitting a strong score in the process. W. Whitman knocked 58 for RCA to see them set a formidable target for the travelling Relyon team. M. Hutchings was the pick of the players for the Bedders with 56, but it was RCA who took the points.