SCUPPAS have won Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Ken Bright Cup after beating Ex-Servicemen in a thrilling final.

Marc Bright reports: Scuppas 415 (3 hands), Ex-Servicemen 400 (3 ) - Two of the strongest sides in the league faced off at the Victoria Arms. The captains from Scuppas and Ex-Servicemen (Chris Morter and Adrian Perry), met to toss the coin to decide the playing order. X-Men won and elected to have Scuppas skittle first.

David Bright (League Chairman), Marc Bright (League Secretary) and Jamie Milton (Chris Bullock Championship Rep) were in attendance as Scuppas’ started the game strong with a lot of good strikes of the front pin.

They played nicely as they picked up pins with their typical clinical skittling. Their second hand of 80 was a particular highlight of the match, almost guaranteeing them at least 2 points from the opening three hands.

Ex-Servicemen were in fine form in the first half, with Steve Trevelyan in the mood to score big, and they came out of the first half having won 2 hands. The score was 4-2 in favour of the X-Men.

Scuppas kept their heads in the second half, ramping up the pressure by finishing with a 70 and a 77 hand, although their fourth hand of 64 was a gettable target for the X-Men. Scuppas showcased plenty of fine skittling, Nick Payne, Roger Howe and Dave Squire all scoring in the 50s with Adrian Newstead hitting 60. Craig Newstead played exceptionally well, finishing with 63 for Scuppas.  

The X-Men came to the alley and they fancied their chances as they won the fourth hand by hitting 77, setting the score at 6-2. Next they looked to chase down the 70 of Scuppas fifth hand, knowing that by at least tying up the hand they would seal the game.

Things were going well as they closed in on the silverware, they needed 14 from their last two players, Mark Reeves and Steve Trevelyan, to get the 70. The Ken Bright Cup was in touching distance, but things did not go to plan with Reeves and Trevelyan both hitting 6, leaving the X-Men agonisingly short on 68 which dampened the mood in the X-Men camp as the score moved to 6-4.

Down to the final hand. The Scuppas 77 was looking all the more intimidating as the X-Men tried to pick themselves back up. Strikes were hard to come by, but they knew they would have a chance of getting the highest score bonus points by hitting 71, meaning they would finish on 416.

As is so common is skittles, when you know you need to get good strikes and pick up pins, the alley becomes all the more unforgiving, and the game quickly slipped away from Ex-Servicemen who finished with a score of 400, Steve Trevelyan finishing with 64 after some stunning spares in the match.

 

The game was tied up at 6-6 as both teams had won 3 hands, but as Scuppas had hit the highest score they were awarded the 2 bonus points and with it, became the third holders of the Ken Bright Cup, joining Mowers and Outsiders in the history books. It was a great game to watch and both sides warranted the victory by playing well and in good spirits.

 

But things were not all bad for the X-Men who could at least celebrate the much awaited signing of Marc Bright for next season, after a long drawn out contract negotiation.

My sincere thanks to both sides for putting on a great game. Thank you to the Victoria Arms for being great hosts. And finally, a huge thank you to Owen Sparks for sticking up.