THE pressure is beginning to build as we move towards the last games in the men's league season at Wellington Bowling Club.
Hemyock were just four points behind second placed Spoofers coming into their match against Cavaliers, badly needing a win whilst Cavaliers were equally determined not to give their opponents any ground.
The match began with John Stephens, Tony Weston, Steve Bradnum and Skip Alan May's Cavaliers taking a 4-1 lead but Tony Drawert, Tony Ainsworth, Brendon Pring and Skip Simon Connor's Hemyock soon got their act together scoring a very competent 14 shots over the next five ends to make it 14-4 after seven.
Cavaliers got down to some serious bowling and picked up 11 shots in the end game but it wasn't quite enough, one shot shy of Hemyock who stole the match 16-15.
There was a good deal of excitement at the Bowls Club because the two top teams, Bowlsheviks and Spoofers, were pitched against one another.
Andrew Baird, Dave Bridger, Gerry Mangeolles and Skip Phil Ellis's Bowlsheviks have been top dogs for some while, but they have lost some matches recently so Andy Pearce, John Lane, Robert Higgs and Skip Darren Sparks' Spoofers were hoping to put up a good fight.
There was some excellent bowling by both teams but by the seventh end Spoofers had a 7-6 lead.
The battle continued but Spoofers emerged 17-9 winners to remain in second place breathing down the necks of the Bowlsheviks who have only a two-point lead.
Newbees put together a very powerful squad when they took on Welly 2.
Pete Nichols, Geoff Stamp, Mike Connor and Skip Nick Channon's Newbees set off at a fair pace so Will Smith, Ian Stewart, Geoff Jenkins and Skip Terry Dickins' Welly 2 could only try to stem the tide.
Despite Welly 2's best efforts Newbees went on to take the match comfortably 16-3 to go third in the table.
Fun Loving Lads have played well in the last few weeks so it looked to be a difficult job for those poor Vikings who have not had the best of times on the indoor green of late.
Chris John, Alan Every, Mike Copping and Skip Ian Hollingsworth's Fun Loving Lads were just too good on the day.
Roland Bath, Trevor Jenkins, Mike Jayes and Skip Eddie Dilley's Vikings did all they could but it was not enough to stop the Fun Lovers who won comfortably 26-2.
The two-point win puts them level with Newbees in third place.
All the teams have only four more games to play before so it looks as though it will be a really close and exciting finish.