Malmesbury Skittle League entering a new era (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Malmesbury Skittle League entering a new era

MALMESBURY and District Skittle League's 2003/4 league season began last week and, for teams in Division 1, it was the start of a new era.

Front-pin skittles has taken over this division and Triers and newly promoted Dragons both made winning starts.

Triers collected eight points from an 18-pin victory over Volunteer and Dragons went one better in defeating Matadors by 34 pins, helped by ex-Badminton B skittler Norman Hewer who hit 58 pins.

League secretary Brian White must have wondered what all the fuss was about.

Leading his Press Gang side from the front, Brian made 51 and, with anchorman Frank Thorpe getting 55, his side scored a convincing win over Dipsticks by 88 pins.

Badminton B won't let the title go without a fight as they overcame alley rivals Cubs by 83 pins.

But they collected only eight points with Andy Neal scoring 56 - his third 50 in succession - that included an 18-pin spare.

Newly promoted Rattlers also won their first game in Division 1 by defeating Flashers at home with Jim Dix also scoring 52.

In the remaining game, there were no 50s in a low-scoring match with Rebels defeating alley rivals Wooden Tops by 53 pins and collecting all ten points.

In Division 2, the first league game was played on the new alley at The Old Royal Ship at Luckington - and it proved unkind to hosts Bonecrushers.

Seeing four opponents score 50s for Sure Losers, they were defeated by 37 pins.

Monkees found life in this division tough. After losing in a cup game a few weeks ago, they returned to The Woodhaw Inn to again play Oddbods.

They again they came away empty handed, losing all ten points in a 29-pin defeat.

Castaways defeated Trouble & Strife by 11 pins, despite Dave Sheppard scoring 50.

Two newly promoted teams met at the Football Club as hosts The Goodies won a close game from Sutton Specials by just three pins.

The other games played all resulted in maximum points wins.

Captain Mike Hicks (56) gave Brussel Sprouts an away win over Rattlebone Hawks, Starlites defeated alley rivals Starshead by 19 pins and league chairman Paul Hatherall saw his team defeat Wellesley Wellies by 31 pins.

Only five games were played in Division 3 where Bowls Club B are determined to gain promotion after being relegated last season.

They scored 404 pins on the Kington St Michael Club alley to defeat Guys N Dolls by 12 pins with Sheila Greenman taking the lead in the ladies' highest score competition with 56.

Shaun Bleaken went into second place in the men's highest score with 61 pins, helping Quiet Bunch defeat Vintners.

Wells Fargo found the going tough, losing their first game to Arrows by 25 pins.

Newly promoted Muddlers came away from The Boroughs Arms with six points from the home team and Avons defeated visitors Virgin Soldiers by nine pins.

After their surge through the divisions, Minety Moonrakers again seem to be the team to stop. With Tom Webb scoring 51, they had a maximum home points win over Twelve Bores.

Kevin Saunders had his wife Christine to thank for his side's five-pin win over Lea Regulars.

Two spares in her total of 54 in the last leg won them the game - even though son-in-law and father-in-law, Karl Elliott and Maurice Moss, both scored 50 without spares.

Somerford Show collected all ten points from Visitors Clodhoppers, as did Bandits with an away win over Rejects, also at Luckington. Not a good omen for the home sides.

Relegation and promotion met at the Red Bull with Brassmon-keys defeating Sherston RBL.

On the same alley, Startley Wanderers defeated Drifters by seven pins. Better Half collected seven points from visitors Oaksey Nomads.

Husband and wife, Tracey and James Rose, inspired Flintstones to a victory on their new alley at the Peterborough Arms.

Both scored 50s in the last leg to defeat Picadors by 21 pins after losing the first two.

Steve Ratcliffe, captain of Sitters, also inspired his team to defeat Farmers, again after losing the first two legs.

Brian White's wife, Diane, saw her team win their first game in Division 5 with a six-pin defeat of Filand Flyers.

The other games all resulted in home wins. Yo-Yo's beat Allsorts, Stags and Does defeating All Stars and Lazy Dukes and Malmadukes emerged as winners over Strikers and Bad Manors.

It is hard to determine who will be the front runners in Division 6. Angels, after their win last week, were joined at the top by Somerford Shower after collecting all ten points from Bargees by eight pins.

Also making a good start were All Blue. Playing at Wootton Bassett, they saw off Wannabees by 54 pins to collect all ten points.

Close on the heels are Fruit N Nuts, Rosehips and Strays.

Fruit N Nuts won their first game by seven pins over Wellesley Bar Nine while Rosehips defeated the Rifle Club and Strays the Amateurs.

Geraldine Pike scored 50 on Star's alley no 2 but saw her side, Dolly Mixtures, lose by 16 pins.

There was, though something of a first in Division 7.

Playing on their new alley at the Three Cups, Emily Pike of Floppers scored their first-ever 50 from the anchorman position!

But it was to no avail as visitors Bambies collected all ten points.

Richard Greig also saw his team collect all ten points with visitors Odd Bunch starting their defence of the 'Bottom of the Lot Cup'.

Marlene Aylward, of Bowls Club A, scored her first 50 since November 1997 and helped her team collect six points from Ladybirds.

Mad Hatters (formerly Roll Ons) started life in Division 7 with a one-pin victory over Spare Ribs, thanks to coach Bev Thompson.

In the final game played, Broad Beans defeated Rock Bottom by 32 pins. In an outstanding Knockout Cup game, Quiet Bunch defeated Pic and Mix by 20 pins to condemn their hosts to the Double Exit Cup to join the other 48 teams.