EX-SERVICEMEN have capped a remarkable season by beating Gerald Thorne League champions Bell Green by 40 pins to claim the WESSL Championship on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club.

Having already secured the Chris Bullock Championship and the HWH Payne Challenge Cup, Ex-Servicemen once again demonstrated why they have been the outstanding side of the season, suffering just one defeat throughout the entire campaign.

After winning the toss, Bell Green elected to put Ex-Servicemen in first, but the decision quickly backfired as the Thursday side exploded out of the blocks with three superb opening hands that put the X-Men 26 to the good at the halfway stage.

Lee Baker produced the top score for his side with a remarkable 60, including a stunning final hand of 16. Marc Bright added an excellent 58, while Kevin Denslow (55) and Dave Gardiner (54) ensured there was no let-up anywhere in the order.

Bell Green's efforts of a 379 total would have won many games on the wooden alley, and they showed why they were crowned GT champions with some great skittling of their own. Captain Paul Rowlandson impressed with a superb 62, the best score of the match, while Julian Jones added 55 and Terry White contributed 53.

However, Bell Green struggled to maintain consistency across the board, and the early deficit left them chasing the game for much of the evening.

By the final hand, Ex-Servicemen had effectively sealed the contest and fittingly finished strongly, posting 76 to complete a commanding victory. The win crowns a truly outstanding season for Ex-Servicemen, who add the WESSL Championship to an already impressive collection of silverware and further cement their status as one of the league’s strongest teams in recent years. WESSL wishes to thank the Conservative Club for hosting the match, and to the two sticker ups for an excellent night’s work.