BELL GREEN have opened up a three-point lead over Relyon after beating their title rivals by ten pins in a crucial match in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Gerald Thorne Championship.

Sean Buttle hit an excellent 57 at the Conservative Club while Julian Jones’ 51 was not quite enough to swing it for the bedding boys. However, Relyon have a game in hand as the teams enter the last eight weeks of the season. Scores: Relyon 353, Bell Green 363.

Rebels 342, Holywell Lake 369: The Lakers kept in the title race with a 27-pin victory against Rebels at the Cottage with Dave Howell hitting 53, while Baz Winter knocked 50 for Rebels.

Home Guard II 293, Reservists 323: Reservists remain tucked in behind the leaders after gaining a 30-pin away win over Home Guard II in a low-scoring game at the Football Club with Kevin Sedgebeer (45) being their leading scorer. Steve Symons scored 40 for the losers.

OBA 395, Cottage Pies 377: OBA produced one of their best displays of the season to beat the Pies by 18 pins on the upstairs alley at the Vic with Denver Clarke hitting an outstanding 65 for the winners. Shaun Vile and Mike Young struck 53s for Pies.

Shooters 364, Fireguard A 346: The in-form Keith Harcombe knocked a good 54 as Shooters secured an 18-pin success against Fireguard A, whose top scorer was Will Leak with 49.

Queens Legs 377, Oaks 378: Oaks won the closest match of the week with Brenly Ovey’s 57 proving crucial for Oaks after Stuart Sutton’s 53 had kept Queens in the hunt.

Club Rockers 331, Report Centre A 308: Rockers won this basement battle to move off the bottom with Mark Reeves knocking 53, while David Bennett scored 45 for RCA.

Meanwhile, the newly crowned champions of the Chris Bullock Championship Ex-Servicemen made it 20 wins on the bounce with a 33-pin victory over Outsiders at the Conservative Club with Lee Baker and Marc Bright scoring superb 60s for the unstoppable tabletoppers. Gerry Larcombe knocked 52 for Outsiders. Scores: Outsiders 369, Ex-Servicemen 402.

Odds & Ends 374, Foresters 389: Foresters claimed a solid 15-pin victory over Odds & Ends on the downstaires alley at the Vic with Martin Wyatt proving the match-winner with a classy 59 after James Jones had hit 58 for the home side.

Mowers 380, Nynehead Club 335: Mowers continued their pursuit of the Chris Bullock Shield for runners-up spot with Darren Winter leading them to victory with a fine 59. Lew Sparks scored 48 for the Club.

Here for the Beer 362, King Pins 330: Here 4 the Beer delivered a strong team display to beat King Pins by 32 pins on the tricky Institute alley with Ben Price and Adam Morgan both hitting good 54s. Dave Houston and John Norman both posted 46s for the visitors.

Home Guard IV 365, WRFC 373: The rugby boys edged to an eight-pin victory against Home Guard IV in the upstairs/downstairs derby at the Conservative Club. Adrian Lines’ 53 gave the Home Guard a fighting chance but Roly Phillips’ impressive 59 tipped the balance.

United Services 396, All Stars 366: United Services produced a strong display to secure a 30-pin win over All Stars at the White Hart with Adam Howe (55) in good form, while Andy Cheppell (52) was tops for the Stars.