THE NEW Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League gets underway on Friday (August 23) with the inaugural Jim Blackmore Champions Cup match between League Champions Reservists and Payne Cup winners Holywell Lake at the Conservative Club (downstairs)..
This should prove to be an intriguing encounter as these two teams were close rivals last season which saw Reservists pip Holywell Lake to win the Gerald Thorne Championship while Holywell Lake defeated Reservists in the Payne Cup final.
The season starts the following week with the first round of the Payne Cup; captains are reminded the first named tean are responsible for supplying the sticker up; if any team has a problem with this contact League Secretary Jamie Milton at [email protected].
The full draw is: Thursday, August 29: All Stars v Fireguard A (Con Club, downstairs); Ex-Servicemen v Outsiders (Victoria Arms, upstairs); Here 4 The Bear v Queens Legs (Victoria Arms, downstairs); King Pins v OBA (Con Club, upstairs); Nynehead Club v Foresters (Wellington Football Club), WRFC v United Services (RGI).
Friday: Bell Green v Cottage Pies (Football Club), Holywell Lake v Oaks IRGI), Home Guard II v Rebels (Con Club, upstairs), Hot Shots v Scuppas (Victoria Arms downstairs), Reservists v Club Rockers (Victoria Arms, upstairs), Shooters v Report Centre A *Cottage Inn).
Byes have been awarded to Home Guard IV, Odds and Ends, Mowers and Relyon.
There have been several changes to the league for the upcoming season. The league have lost long time members Moonrakers but on the plus side new team Nynehead Club have replaced them.
The Ken Bright Cup will now be contested by sides knocked out in the first round or been knocked out in the second round of the Payne Cup by a team who have had a bye, or indeed if the team that had a bye is itself knocked out in the second round. All cup matches will be played on either a Thursday or Friday evening.
There have also been changes to the committee with both chairman David Bright and secretary Marc Bright stepping down, These have been replaced by David Derrick and Jamie Milton respectively. The committee also sees two new members, Dan Rodger of All Stars as CB Championship representative and Adrian Ridgeway of Fireguard A as GT Championship representative replacing Mike Johnson who has also stepped down.
As well as the League’s website and X page there is now a Facebook page; search WESSL plus a WhatsApp group to help pass on information and as another means of teams to contact the league with any concerns or suggestions they may have; result cards can also be posted if so desired,
Finally the league hope all teams will enjoy the new season and wish them all the best of luck!