EX-SERVICEMEN maintained their splendid start to the winter in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League's Chris Bullock Championship with a 39-pin away win over old stablemates Here 4 the Beer. Geoff Hamlyn was in good form for the winners, scoring 54.
Newcomers to the league Nynehead Club won their second game when they beat Outsiders on their own alley by seven pins with Nigel Tilley, Kevin Cullen and Tom O'Neill being their joint top scorers.
Odds and Ends squeezed home by five pins against Foresters with Theo Ling and Dan Smith both scoring 50, while Scuppas beat King Pins by 33 pins with Dave Squire leading the way with 54.
John Lane showed again why he is one of the best skittlers in the league, knocking 59 for WRFC who beat previous champions Mowers by 29 pins at home at the Conservative Club.
In the Gerald Thorne Championship, Cottage Pies maintained their unbeaten record with a ten-pin away win over Oaks with Gary Escott hitting 54. Ashley Bright top scored for Oaks with 55.
Bell Green faced stablemates OBA for the first time this season and won by eight pins with Tony Dunbar and Julian Jones both scoring 48. Andy Kemp hit 57 for OBA.
Home Guard Two crept home by two pins against Hot Shots with Kristian Thorne being their top scorer with 44, while Gary Pepper scored 51 for the losers.
Kevin Sedgbeer was in good form for Reservists, hitting 55 as his side won by 19 pins against Shooters whose leading scorer was Alan Sydenham with 48.
David Steer steered Rebels to a 25-pin home success against Report Centre A with a score of 55, while Mike Hutchings hit 54 for Relyon in their 17-pin victory over Fireguard A.
Results - Chris Bullock Championship: Here 4 the Bear 314 (Ben Price 49), Ex-Servicemen 353 (Geoff Hamlyn 54); Nynehead Club 302 (Nigel Tilley, Kevin Cullen, Tom O'Neill 41), Outsiders 295 (Ron Smith 49); Odds & Ends 365 (Theo Ling, Dan Smith 50), Foresters 360 (Andy Pitman 52); Scuppas 373 (Dave Squire 54), King Pins 340 (Les Marke 52); United Services 383 (Paul Fancy 54), All Stars 392 (Luke Egger 59); WRFC 363 (John Lane 59), Mowers 334 (Martin McGrath 48).
Gerald Thorne Championship: Bell Green 358 (Tony Dunbar, Julian Jones 48), OBA 366 Andy Kemp 57); Holywell Lake 379 (Steve Dowson 57), Club Rockers 350 (Connor Perry 48); Home Guard 2 306 (Kristian Thorne 44), Hot Shots 304 (Gary Pepper 51); Oaks 363 (Ashley Bright 55), Cottage Pies 373 (Gary Escott 54); Rebels 362 (David Steer 55), Report Centre A 337 (Dan Parsum 47); Relyon 351 (Mike Hutchings 54), Fireguar A 334 (Olly Hayes 56); Reservists 359 (Kevin Sedgbeer 55), Shooters 340 (Alan Sydenham 48).