BELL Green held on to top spot in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Gerald Thorne Championship despite losing by four pins to title rivals Cottage Pies.

The difference between the teams is now only four points with third-placed Cottage Pies having a crucial game in hand, while Relyon are second, three points behind the leaders.

Scores - Bell Green 369, Cottage Pies 373: Jason Powell hit a fine 57 for the division leaders but the Pies matched them all the way with Jordan Perry’s 52 proving crucial as the visitors held their nerve in the closing stages.

Rebels 361, OBA 340: Rebels picked up a valuable home win over OBA at the Cottage with a solid 21-pin success. Paul Taylor led the way for the hosts with a well compiled 53 while Rob Billet top scored with 49 for OBA who stayed in touch for much of the game.

Reservists 410, Report Centre A 324: Reservists produced one of the strongest performances of the season as they swept aside RCA by 86 pins at the Institute. Kevin Sedgebeer was in excellent form for Reservists, hitting an excellent 62, while Derek Parsons knocked 52 for the losers.

Holywell Lake 387, Fireguard A 395: Fireguard A produced a shock by beating title-chasing Holywell Lake who slipped back to fourth in the table. Ryan Skeels knocked 56 for the Lakers while Mike Davis steered Fireguard to victory with a splendid 56.

Home Guard II 332, Shooters 305: Home Guard II made home advantage count with a 27-pin win at the Football Club, thanks to scores of 49 by Chris Winter and Paul Williams. Shooters’ top skittler was Dave Perry with 50.

Queens Legs 377, Club Rockers 346: Queens Legs, just off the pace at the top of the table, chalked up their eighth win on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club with captain Daren Mason leading the way with 56. Dave Perry scored 50 for bottom side Rockers.

Relyon 381, Hot Shots 330: Relyon maintained their fine form with a comfortable 51-pin victory at the Conservative Club. Rich Trueman knocked a classy 57 for the Bedders while Edd Chivers and Roger Millet both knocked 46 for the Shots.

Chris Bullock Championship, back match: Nynehead Club 391, Foresters 394: Foresters won a thrilling game at Nynehead, despite a superb 69 by Danny Mancini for the hosts. Aron Lockyer was Foresters’match-winner with 65.

Meanwhile, Bell Green will be looking to stay ahead of the field in the Gerald Thorne Championship when they play away to Hot Shots at the Conservative Club, downstairs alley, on Friday, January 9.

Relyon will be looking to keep up the pressure at the top when they play away to OBA.

Fixtures: OBA v Relyon (Victoria Arms, upstairs), Fireguard A v Reservists (Wellington Football Club), Shooters v Rebels (Victoria Arms, downstairs), Hot Shots v Bell Green (Conservative Club, downstairs), Report Centre A v Oaks (White Horse Inn, Bradford on Tone), Cottage Pies v Holywell Lake (Cottage Inn), Club Rockers v Home Guard II (RG Institute).

Chris Bullock Championship, Thursday, January 15: WRFC v Nynehead Club (Conservative Club, downstairs), Odds & Ends v United Services (Victoria Arms, downstairs), Here 4 the Beer v Mowers (RG Institute), King Pins v All Stars (Wellington Football Club), Home Guard IV v Outsiders (Conservative Club, upstairs), Scuppas v Ex-Servicemen (Cottage Inn).