DEFENDING champions Ex-Servicemen and Holywell Lake have made great starts to the new season in the Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League.

Ex-Servicemen beat WRFC away in the Chris Bullock Championship, while the Lakers won by a big margin against Hot Shots in the Gerald Thorne competition.

Scores - WRFC 336, Ex-Servicemen 364. Dave Huggett top scored for the rugby boys with 49 while Lee Baker knocked 53 for Ex-Servicemen, with Geoff Hamlyn and Marc Bright both hitting 50s as the champions laid down an early marker for their rivals.

Here 4 the Beer 323, United Services 352. Services followed up their good cup win with a big 27-pin win over Here 4 the Beer at the Institute. Fin Jennings was once again the stand-out player for HWtB with a hand of 50, while Paul Fancy hit the same score for the winners.

Home Guard IV 379, Mowers 389. Mowers came away from the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club with a ten-pin win in a great opening game for these two sides. Greg Harrison scored 58 for the home side while John Dodden knocked a fantastic 60 to help his side over the line.

Scuppas 337, Outsiders 347. Scuppas, winners over Mowers the previous week in a cup game, came down to earth with a bump when they lost by ten pins to Outsiders at the Cottage. Dave Squire scored 47 for Scuppas while Alvin Bellamy and captain Paul McCarten hit 50s for Outsiders.

Foresters 400, All Stars 379. Foresters saw off the challenge of All Stars, winning by 21 pins at the White Horse with Colin Shepherd hitting a fantastic 68 for the home side, while Andy Chapell scored 54 for All Stars.

King Pins 329, Nynehead Club 325. KIng Pins squeezed home by four pins against Nynehead Club at the Football Club with captain Les Marke steering his side to victory with 50 while his opposite number Tom O’Neill scored 47.

Gerald Thorne Championship - Holywell Lake 415, Hot Shots 336. The Lakers gained a stunning 79-pin win over Hot Shots at the Victoria Arms’ downstairs alley, with Dave Howell being the star skittler with a superb 73. Edd Chivers replied with a respectable 51 for Hot Shots who look like they have lost none of last season’s form.

Reservists 378, Cottage Pies 341. Reservists gained a surprisingly big win over Cottage Pies at the Institute with Glenn Escott leading his side home with a top score of 64, while Sam Vile and Lee Ellis both hit 45s in the Pies’ response.

Home Guard II 300, Queens Legs 307. Queens Legs came out on top by seven pins at the Football Club. Playing with the dreaded pink balls, Kristian Thorne hit 47 for the home side while Jack Hill and Darren Mason both knocked 44 in reply in what was a close and exciting match.

Relyon 339, Shooters 343. There was another close game at the Conservative Club where Shooters gained a four-pin win to open their account. Jason Higgs and Rob Higgs both hit 53 for the Bedders while Richard Cox scored a crucial 55 for the winners.

Bell Green 370, OBA 359. Bell Green kicked off with a splendid 11-pin win over OBA with Simon Rudd being their top scorer with 54 while Denver Clarke also hit 54.

Oaks 356 (Neil Povey 51), Fireguard A 350 (Daniel Taylor 61).