THE Gerald Thorne Championship in the Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League served up some cracking games with some big wins, close games, and even a rare draw.

Defending champions Holywell Lake kept their perfect start alive with a victory over OBA, Reservists edged past Hot Shots, while Bell Green made it two wins from two, beating Shooters.

Scores - OBA 343, Holywell Lake 360: Holywell Lake came away from the Vic’s upstairs/downstairs derby with a vital three points after seeing off OBA by 17 pins with captain Steve Dowson knocking 54 while Denver Clark hit 52 for the home side.

Hot Shots 348, Reservists 354: Reservists survived a scare in a close game at the Conservative Club before gaining a six-pin win. Edd Chivers scored 52 for Hot Shots while Phil Powell’s 53 swung the game in Reservists’ favour.

Shooters 357, Bell Green 376: Bell Green made it two wins with a 19-pin success away to Shooters in the other Vic upstairs/downstairs clash. Shooters’ skipper Adrian Maidment top scored for this side with 49, while Mark Wardell was tops for the Bee Gees with 54.

Queens Legs 367, Rebels 367: Draws do not happen very often in skittles which is why every pin knocked proved crucial in this drawn game on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club. Colin Francis hit 57 for Queens Legs while new Rebels’ captain John Sellick led his team by example with a hand of 55.

Fireguard A 341, Report Centre A 350: Report Centre A pulled off a great win by beating Fireguard A by nine pins at the Football Club. Ben Sellick hit the best of the night of 57 for Fireguard A while David Bennett top scored for the winners with 50.

Club Rockers 313, Relyon 354: Relyon came away from Rockwell Green with three points after beating Club Rockers by 41 pins at the Institute with Rockers’ captain Eddie Holtum hitting 42 while George Slade knocked 54 for the Bedders.

Cottage Pies 345, Oaks 329: Lee Ellis top scored with 52 for the Pies while Brenley Povey hit the same number of pins for the losers.

Meanwhile, in the Chris Bullock Championship, Ex-Servicemen, Mowers and United Services have begun with two wins from two matches.

Ex-Servicemen 361, Scuppas 356: Ex-Servicemen came out on the right side of a close game at the Cottage with skipper Adrian Perry scoring a great 59, which included two crucial spares. Scuppas anchorman John Barker needed a spare on the last hand to win the game, eventually finishing with 51.

Mowers 404, Here 4 the Beer 354: Geoff Milton hit a fantastic 70 in Mowers’ 400-plus score at the Football Club while Fin Jennings skittled well for his 55 for H4tB.

United Services 358, Odds and Ends 344: Services won a low-scoring match at the White Horse with Phil John’s 49 being tops for the winners, while Theo Ling knocked 52 for Odds and Ends.

Outsiders 369, Home Guard IV 390: Will Smith was another skittler in tremendous form, scoring 69, including three spares, for Home Guard IV in their win over Outsiders. Alvin Bellamy scored 51 for Outsiders.

Nynehead Club 380, WRFC 370: Malcolm Turner scored 61 for Nynehead Club in their ten-pin success, while Dave Pow hit 54 for the rugby boys.

All Stars 366 (Tyler Cox 55), King Pins 360 (Shane Powell 54).