SCUPPAS have won Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Payne Cup after beating WRFC by six pins in a dramatic final at the Rockwell Green Institute.

Scuppas’ hero was last man John Barber who stepped up needing a 12-pin spare to clinch victory by a single pin.

His first ball hit its mark, catching the side of the front pin and leaving just the landlord pin standing. Under immense pressure, Barker held his nerve, dispatching his second ball perfectly to complete the spare, sparking relieved cheers from his teammates.

With just three more needed to seal the win, his spare ball mirrored the first, this time leaving only the back pin wobbling. A superb 17 spare sealed an exciting win for Scuppas, with Barker finishing as the match’s top scorer with 53. A special mention also goes to Craig Newstead, who contributed a solid 50 for the winners.

Both sides created plenty of spare chances throughout the match, but stubborn back pins refused to fall, keeping the final tight throughout. On another night - and perhaps on a different alley - the final could easily have been one of the highest scoring games of the season.

WRFC, who opted to skittle first, scored 348 with skipper John Lane top scoring with a hard-earned 49.