With just one game to play the division one championship is safely in the hands of Hits and Misses, following their penultimate game versus the Legion Misfits. They trailed by two pins at half-time, but ended the evening 4-2 point winners by six pins, which was enough to prevent them being caught in the last week of skittling in week commencing 3rd April. Well done Roger Terry and his team of eight!!
Who will take the runner-up spot? Bulldogs are sitting in second place, but have to wait for the result of their last game to decide their fate. Callington looked to challenge the title, but in their 19th game suffered a serious set-back. Visiting the Hotshots at the British Legion they were well below their standard and could only produce 498 pins, whereas the home side accounted for 542 to take all six points. Well done to Chris Dymond with his contribution of 88 pins, which included a 23-pin spare. Those six points and their two games to play puts them in with a chance for runner-sup.
The third and remaining result sheet this week showed the Edwardians, who are near to the relegation area, produce form they are capable of and got the better of both halves on their home alley at the Liskeard Bowling Club versus the visiting Rebels. But what a close first half, when just two pins separated the sides. Their last game is versus the Cast-Offs on Thursday 6th April.
Results - Legion Misfits 488 pins (231 + 257) 2 pts - Trevor Doney, 68 pins; Hits and Misses 494 pins (229 + 265) 4 pts - Gary Randall, 72 pins.
Hotshots 542 pins (271 + 271) 6 pts - Chris Dymond, 88 pins; Callington 498 pins (250 + 248) 0 pts - Archie Moores, 75 pins.
Edwardians 547 pins (276 + 271) 6 pts - Gerry Edwards, 86 pins; Rebels 520 pins (274 + 246) 0 pts - Bill Batten and Ken Jeffery, 79 pins.
Division Two - Terriers or Crickets?
Terriers and Crickets both accumulated 73 pins and with their remaining game to go, who will take the Division Two title? The Ditchers and the Marquees are not far behind and all eyes will be on the results of their last games. The Terriers gained a 4-2 point win over Burley Booties, but must have been concerned on the night as they trailed by seven pins at half-time, but put on a much more polished performance in the second half.
Crickets held a 13-pin lead in the first half in their home game versus Oddballs and looked set for all six points, but their score rate lowered slightly to allow the visitors to collect the two second half points, but held on and ended up with a seven-pin majority and four points.
The Marquees, eager to return to division one skittles, got the better of both halves on their home alley at Duloe where the Woodentops were their visitors and with those six points could be in for a trophy for first and second place.
At Pensilva a lower scoring game was seen with the Seccombes entertaining the Sandpipers and after four legs of skittles both teams accounted for 218 pins, however, the second half saw an improvement by both teams but the home side came out to end up 5-1 point winners, but doomed for division three skittles next season.
Results - Terriers 535 pins (253 + 282) 4 pts - Ken Sherwood, 79 pins; B. Booties 522 pins (260 + 262) 2 pts - John Rich, 81 pins.
Crickets 484 pins (251 _ 233) 4 pts - Jeff Craven, 72 pins; Oddballs 477 pins (238 + 239) 2 pts - Keith Lobb, 83 pins.
Marquees 507 pins (258 + 249) 6 pts - John Massey, 79 pins; Woodentops 486 pins (245 + 241) 0 pts - Rita Langman, 79 pins.
Seccombes 463 pins (218 + 245) 5 pts - Rob Rendle, 69 pins; Sandpipers 446 pins (218 + 228) 1 pt - Alex Joyce, 70 pins.
Division Three - Two team race for title
Hobos completed their Division Three league fixtures with a useful 5-1 point victory away to Treburley Growlers, but it was a close game as at half-time both teams shared the two points at stake accounting for 230 pins each with the visitors getting the edge of the second half to show an 11-pin advantage. Now the Hobos will have to wait in suspense for the Four x 4's to play their final league game with the Foxes which will decide first and second places in this division.
The Madhatters left their challenge for the title a little bit late, but still keen to the end scored a maximum victory over the Nomads in their penultimate game.
The Rally, who were also in with a chance of promotion, produced an away 4-2 point victory at the expense of the Foxes, where just 14 pins separated the two team's totals at the Snooty Fox, Morval.
Just avoiding relegation with their two points from the home game with the Hilltops, are the Demons who face another season in this division.
The Clementines will return to division four skittles next season, but put up a good performance at Roche accounting for 505 pins, whereas their visitors Triards knocked over 481 after winning the first half by three pins resulting in a 4-2 point Clementine victory.
Results - Growlers 450 pins (230 + 220) 1 pt - Sam Parnell, 62 pins; Hobos 461 pins (230 + 231) 5 pts - Michael Medlen, 68 pins.
Madhatters 500 pins (239 + 261) 6 pts - Shirley Raines, 73 pins; Nomads 472 pins (230 + 242) 0 pts - John Millett, 66 pins.
Foxes 465 pins (239 + 226) 2 pts - Ged O'Donoghue, 68 pins; Rally 479 pins (236 + 243) 4 pts - Terry Bray, 68 pins.
Demons 472 pins (244 + 228) 2 pts - Jo Elliott, 72 pins; Hilltops 500 pins (238 + 262) 4 pts - Dave Mitchell, 69 pins.
Clementines 505 pins (235 + 270) 4 pts - Trevor Ferris, 75 pins; Tri-Ards 481 pins (238 + 243) 2 pts - Alan Willa, 70 pins.
Division Four - Suspense for title
Looking at the league table: Millers with 84 points and two games to go lead; they are followed by Flyers with 78 points and one game; Circles have 72 points and two games to go. Watch this space!
The Circles travelled to the Bilge Rats at the British Legion and made sure of six points, ending up with a 32-pin majority. Flyers, at home at Church House, received the Linedancers who, minus one player, put up a spirited fight, particularly with Bobby Wells' 83 pins. However, the Flyers were pleased with all six points where Mary Bickle played her part with 78 pins which included an 18-pin spare to join the other 16 ladies in the highest spare battle.
Ladybirds 467 pins, Ramblers 455 was the end result at Liskeard Sports club showing the Ladybirds in their final league game earning four points and safely away from the bottom position of the table. Ramblers collected their two points in the second half, but is that enough to keep them finishing at the bottom?
Results - Bilge Rats 461 pins (221 + 240) 0 pts - Jan Riddiough, 69 pins; Circles 493 pins (237 + 256) 6 pts - Barry Wyatt, 74 pins.
Flyers 519 pins (250 + 269) 6 pts - Mary Bickle, 78 pins; Linedancers 472 pins (238 + 234) 0 pts - Bobby Wells, 83 pins.
Ladybirds 467 pins (225 + 242) 4 pts - Pat Parsons and Rose James, 63 pins; Ramblers 455 pins (211 + 244) 2 pts - Jan Brodie, 64 pins.
Best so far
Men's highest score - Richard Lewis (Terriers), 101 pins.
Ladies' highest score - Pam Sullivan (Demons), 91 pins.
Men's highest spare - Andy King (Crickets), 24 pins.
Ladies' highest spare - 17 all with 18 pins.