THERE have been some very interesting and closely fought matches in the Afternoon Mixed League at Wellington Bowling Club.

Top of the table Trailblazers remained top after beating Blackbirds in a closely fought battle and second placed Hopefuls stay there following a win despite some good bowling by Yzeds. Badgers had to work hard to beat a strong Demons team while the unfortunate Ninchers ran into trouble against the high flying Eagles.

Pat Harvey, Phil Wiggan, Marguerite Nichols and Ian Hollingsworth's Trailblazers started really well and were 9 – 0 up after five ends but Liz May, Alan Every, Martin Speakman and skip Alan May's Blackbirds came back at them in the second half. Sadly, for the birds, it was too little too late and the Trailblazers went on to win it by four shots 12 – 8.

Maggie Milton, Robert Van Hoey Smith, Andy Pearce and Steve Horrill's second placed Hopefuls had to work very hard against Chris Thorne's fifth placed Yzeds. The Hopefuls found themselves 8 – 3 down after five ends and the Yzeds looked to have the winning of it but Hopefuls settled to their work and came back strongly to take a hard fought victory by 15 shots to 11.

Janet Lovell, Roger Murphy, Ken Brown and Steve Lovell's Eagles were just too good on the day against Phil Harris' Ninchers who put up a good fight but lost out in the end 21 – 7.

In the last of the four games, Dave Hoskison, Reg Deem, John Stephens and skip Ernie Windsor's Demons were leading early on. After five ends they were 3 – 1 up but Liz Copping, Brian Wombwell, Shirley Samuel and skip Peter White's Badgers got down to some serious bowling and won it in the end by 12 shots to 7.