Another week brought another win for Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Chris Bullock Championship title favourites, Mowers, as they beat Outsiders at the Conservative Club by 20 pins. G. Larcombe scored 54 for Outsiders who posted a solid score for the Conservative Club alley, although perhaps a little shy of their usual scoring. Mowers saw V. Milton hit the top score of the match with 56, with the defending division champions racing away with the match in the end. Mowers are 5 points clear with a game in hand on their rivals. If the Mowers win their next two matches (Moonrakers at home and United Services away), they will be retain the division title. Outsiders 355, Mowers 375

Marc Bright reports - Scuppas 381, All Stars 347: Second place Scuppas won by 34 as they saw off All Stars at the Cottage Inn to keep their slim title hopes alive. N. Payne hit 54 for Scuppas to help his side to a strong total. All Stars were always chasing the game and with T. Winchester hitting 51, may have thought they had an outside chance of getting something from the match, but it was not to be on the night. Three must win matches remain for Scuppas but they will need an unlikely Mowers slip-up to reclaim the title they won a few seasons ago.

Ex-Servicemen 374, Foresters 342: Ex-Servicemen remain third after a solid 32 pin victory over Foresters at the Institute. G. Hamlin was the star man for the third week running for X-Men, his score of 61 was the highlight of the match. S. Wall did what he could to inspire the Foresters with 53, but the away side struggled to keep up with the X-Men’s scoring. Three games remain for Ex-Servicemen, but they will need to win all of them and hope Mowers and Scuppas slip up to defeats. One of those remaining matches is away to Scuppas, but by then, the title could already be wrapped up.

Moonrakers 331, WRFC 307: Moonrakers pulled off a bit of an upset as they beat the Rugby Club by 24 at the Football Club. A. Doddin was the top score for the Rakers with 47, as he helped his side set a tricky score for the away side. D. Huggett hit 47 of his own in the Rugby Club reply, but it was not enough to inspire his team to victory as the points went the way of Moonrakers. A real battle is shaping up at the bottom of the table with just 3 points separating the bottom 4 sides, all fighting to avoid the wooden spoon.

Odds and Ends 355, King Pins 375: King Pins won for a second week in a row with a comprehensive 20 pin victory away to Odds and Ends on the downstairs alley at the Victoria Arms. H. Dixon hit 46 for Odds and Ends but it was J. Bryant who took the top score of the match, his 54 helping King Pins to the win and the vital 3 points on offer. The win means King Pins leapfrog Odds and Ends into 10th place, but with so few points separating the bottom 4 sides, it’s still all to play for.

United Services 386, Here 4 the Beer 386: There was nothing to separate United Services and Here 4 the Beer at the White Horse, as a rare draw meant that both sides collected a point. P. Fancy hit 54 for United Services to see them to a decent total. H4tB saw J. Dyson hit 53, but the away side were left ruing any missed pins and chances as they could only match the home side’s score.

Gerald Thorne Championship - Oaks 350, Holywell Lake 384: Holywell Lake followed up their Payne Cup triumph with a comprehensive 34 pin win away to Oaks at the Blue Ball. S. Burge hit 48 for Oaks, but it was D. Howell who took the plaudits with a well deserved 60, following up from his top score in the cup final, as he helped the defending champions to the vital 3 points on offer.

Report Centre A 363, Reservists 408: Second place Reservists dusted themselves off after the disappointment of losing the cup final by seeing off Report Centre A at the White Horse by 45 pins. P. Bright scored 54 for RCA. Reservists had K. Sedgbeer score 69 as he helped the title chasers to a huge score, smashing past the 400 mark.

Fireguard A 290, Home Guard II 327: Home Guard II came out on top of the Football Club derby with a 37-pin victory over Fireguard A, the win keeping them in the title race. Dan T was the top score for Fireguard A with 45, but the home side struggled on the night to find their rhythm. HGII had their skipper, P. Williams, hit the top score of the match with 51 to help his side over the line to claim the points on offer.

Club Rockers 351, Cottage Pies 352: Cottage Pies snuck over the line to win by 1 pin to keep their title dreams alive, as they took on Club Rockers at the Institute. Rockers captain, J. Perry, hit the top score for his side with 48. R. Marke was the star man for Cottage Pies with a crucial 53 as he helped his side over the line by the slimmest of margins to take the points on offer.

Rebels 366, Bell Green 365: Another close game, this time at the Cottage Inn, saw Rebels win by 1 pin against Bell Green. P. Taylor hit a vital 58 for Rebels to put them just out of reach from Bell Green. T. Dunbar hit a deserved 57 for the Greeners, but it wasn’t to be in a game that could have gone either way.

Shooters 356, Queens Legs 368: Queens Legs came away from the Victoria Arms with the win after seeing off Shooters by 12 pins. A. Maidment scored 55 for Shooters to see them to a decent enough score. A. Hill hit 49 in the Queens Legs reply, the away side finding things slightly easier on the night to take the game and the points on offer.

OBA 353, Hot Shots 319: OBA won by 34 as they hosted Hot Shots on the upstairs alley at the Victoria Arms. S. Sloman hit 50 for OBA on their way to victory, helping the hosts past 350. Hot Shots had A. Govier smash 51 pins in response, but it was not enough to inspire the away side on the night, with Hot Shots falling short of the target.