BELL All Stars have been confirmed as champions of the Premier Division in the Watchet & District Skittles League for the 2024-25 season after gaining a 28-pin home win over QC Guys, writes Alan Bulpin.
Andy Milton top scored for the All Stars with 117 while Mike Stout knocked 104 for the Guys. All Stars now hold an unassailable 13-point lead with only eight more points to play for.
With the title race now confirmed all eyes turned to the foot of the table and the battle to avoid relegation. Second-placed All Sorts travelled to lowly-placed Phoenix Knights where an excellent 128 from skipper Chris Pople led the hosts to a convincing 45 pin success, Alan Shopland (110) top scoring for the visitors.
Bottom placed White Horse Stallions kept their hopes of avoiding the drop alive with the narrowest of home victories, beating Jack by a single pin. Chris Weetch and Dan Scott scored 109 apiece for the Stallions and Gus Milton (103) was tops for the visitors.
Third from bottom Bottoms Up picked up valuable points with a 15-pin home win over Castaways with Nathan Cross scoring 109 for the home side and Nick Lane 117 for the guests. With their Premier Division status all but guaranteed Rebels, with New Weir hitting 109, beat Three Ferrets (Simon Norman 101) by 38 pins.
In Division A Barn Owls (Dean Marchant 99) remain leaders even though they fell to a crushing 71-pin away defeat at the hands of Railway Steamers whose Cam Munro hit an outstanding 123 while Steve Allen with 95 led Has Beens to a 46-pin success over Outsiders whose Terry Hayes hit 83.
These results leave Railway Steamers and Has Beens one point behind leaders Barn Owls with two games in hand.
An excellent 113 from Dungbeetles’ Phil Hayes helped his side to a 53 pin away win over Combwich Otters whose Rod Young hit 106 and moves them out of the relegation places with a game in hand.
In Division B, both top teams won their respective matches this week with Sam Towells knocking 103 for Wyndham Pinheads as they overcame Rams by 42 pins, Mike Davis scoring 97, while Phil Trunks scored 100 for Wadham Warriors in their 59-pin victory against Legion Specials for whom Dan Rogers hit 91.
Quantock Stags lost ground on the top two as they slipped to a 40-pin away defeat to Dizzy’s Boys, for whom Jamie Williams scored 94.
Results - Premier Division: Phoenix Knights 658 (Chris Pople 128), Allsorts 613 (Alan Shopland 110); White Horse Stallions 562 (Chris Weetch, Dan Scott 109), Jack 561 (Gus Milton 103); Bell All Stars 608 (Andy Milton 117), QC Guys 580 (Mike Stout 104); Rebels 582 (Nev Weir 109), Three Ferrets 544 (Simon Norman 101); Bottoms Up 606 (Nathan Cross 109), Castaways 591 (Nick Lane 117).
Division A: Outsiders 458 (Terry Hayes 83), Has Beens 504 (Steve Allen 95); Railway Steamers 607 (Cam Munro 123), Barn Owls 536 (Dean Marchant 99); Combwich Otters 550 (Rod Young 106), Dungbeetles 603 (Phil Hayes 113).
Division B: Dizzy’s Boys 536 (Jamie Williams 94), Quantock Stags 496 (Nigel Thomas 93); Haddon Hillbillies 489 (Eamonn Farley 88), Footy Fockers 106 (Wayne Bousfield 106); Rams 517 (Mike Davis 97) Wadham Pinheads 559 (Sam Towells 103); Legion Specials 506 (Dan Rogers 91), Wadham Warriors 565 (Phil Trunks 100). Bye - Badgers