FIREGUARD A produced the shock of the week in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Gerald Thorne Championship by beating leaders Bell Green by four pins away, throwing the title race wide open.

Ollie Page’s solid 55 was matched by Fireguard’s skipper Dan Taylor on the upstairs alley of the Victoria Arms, but it was the visitors who found that bit extra in their game to make the vital difference. Despite the loss, Bell Green remain top of the league by a single point. Scores: Bell Green 365, Fireguard A 369.

Relyon 366, Cottage Pies 344: Relyon kept the title race alive with a solid 22-pin victory over Cottage Pies at the Conservative Club, ensuring they stay on the tail of leaders Bell Green.

Rob Higgs led the charge with a superb 59, setting the tone early for the hosts. Cottage Pies responded through Sam Vile’s 55, but they couldn’t quite kick on to seriously threaten Relyon’s total. With a crucial away trip to Hot Shots followed by a home tie against OBA, Relyon will be confident they can win the league.

Holywell Lake 358, Report Centre A 351: Holywell Lake secured a narrow win over Report Centre A at the Victoria Arms, prevailing by just seven pins in a close match. Dave Howell’s solid 53 was key for the home side, while RCA captain William Whitman hit a good 51 that kept the visitors in contention throughout.

Report Centre A continue to struggle near the bottom and face another tough test against Reservists in their next match.

Queens Legs 357, Shooters 368: Shooters kept their push for a strong finish on track with a solid away win over Queens Legs, edging a competitive contest by 11 pins on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club. Alan Sydenham’s excellent 62 proved decisive, giving Shooters a huge boost on the night.

Queens Legs battled well, with Adam Nicholls and Paul Cooper both posting 48, but they were unable to quite match the visitors’ consistency.

Reservists 334, Oaks 340: Oaks produced a strong away performance to overcome Reservists by six pins at the Institute. Steven Burge’s impressive 59 was the standout score, giving the away side the push they needed to get over the line. Neil Sparks hit a steady 53 for the home side, but Reservists couldn’t quite find their usual consistency on the night.

Home Guard II 302, OBA 284: Home Guard II secured a comfortable win over OBA at the Football Club, with home skipper Paul Williams hitting a 47 in a relatively low-scoring contest. OBA struggled to find rhythm, with Rob Billet’s 43 their best return on the night.

Rebels 338, Hot Shots 335: Rebels edged a thriller against Hot Shots at the Cottage, claiming victory by just three pins. Chris Plant and Baz Winter shared top billing for Rebels with 47 apiece, while Richard Chivers led Hot Shots with a great 51.

The narrow win gives Rebels a boost as they look to climb away from the lower reaches, and they now face OBA before a sterner test against Shooters. Hot Shots, meanwhile, must regroup quickly with crucial games against Relyon and Bell Green.

Highest Away Scores – Week 28: Top Team Away Score – Fireguard A 369 at the Victoria Arms (Upstairs); Top Player Away Score – Alan Sydenham 62 for Shooters at the Conservative Club (Upstairs)