HOLYWELL Lake are right back in the title race after beating leaders Bell Green by 39 pins in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Gerald Thorne Championship at the Victoria Arms.

The Lakers moved to within one point of Cottage Pies who beat Club Rockers by 60 pins.

Scores - Holywell Lake 399, Bell Green 360: Ryan Skeels and Steve Dowson knocked 61s as the Lakers produced a total only one pin off 400. It proved a winning score despite the efforts of Julian Jones (54).

Cottage Pies 369, Club Rockers 309: The Pies showed title-winning form as they moved to joint top with a crushing win over Rockers. Jordan Perry and Paul Robinson scored 50s as the Pies set a challenging target. Chris Hemmings was top scorer for Rockers with 45.

Reservists 334, Relyon 370: Relyon followed up their win over the Lakers with an impressive victory against Reservists at the Institute. Kevin Sedgebeer hit 50 for the losers, while Rob Higgs was the star player of the match with 65 for the Bedders.

Hot Shots 318, Shooters 343: Richard Cox steered Shooters to victory with a splendid 63 after Edd Chivers had knocked 46 for Hot Shots who fell short of their usual score.

Oaks 360, Rebels 351: Oaks came out on top in a close game at the Blue Ball with skipper Ashley Bright leading the way with a solid 51. Rebels saw Baz Winter hit a good 51 but the odd pin missed here and there proved decisive.

Fireguard A 341, Queens Leg 341: Fireguard A and Queens Legs played out a draw at the Football Club - the fifth so far this season in the two divisions. Olly Hayes (52) top scored for Fireguard while Alex Conway (48) was tops for Queens Legs.

Report Centre A 355, Home Guard II 422: Home Guard won handsomely despite a splendid 62 by Pat Bright for RCA. The winners smashed through the 400-pin mark with Paul Williams hitting 68.

Chris Bullock Championship - Mowers 351, All Stars 405: All Stars produced one of the best displays of the season to crush Mowers at the Football Club with Paul Desborough hitting a stunning 67 as the Vic side passed 400. John Dodden scored 51 for shellshocked Mowers.

Home Guard IV 367, Scuppas 383: Scuppas joined two other teams in joint second place - Ex-Servicemen are in the clear - after winning by 16 pins at the Conservative Club (upstairs) with John Barker (60) being their star skittler. Greg Harrison hit 53 for the losers.

Outsiders 375, Nynehead Club 320: Nynehead Club’s title charge suffered another blow as they lost out by 55 pins to Outsiders whose leading skittler was Ron Smith who knocked a fantastic 66. Gary Sparks scored 48 for Nynehead Club.

United Services 396, Foresters 406: Foresters took the White Horse derby bragging rights in a high scoring game with just ten pins eventually separating the sides. Danny Lee scored 58 for the Services while Steve Wadham (63) was in great form for winners.

Odds & Ends 393, King Pins 400: King Pins squeezed home against Odds & Ends with Shane Powell (62) being their match-winner. Theo Ling also hit 62 for the losers.

Here 4 the Beer 326, WRFC 313: The rugby boys were kicked into touch by Here 4 the Beer whose leading scorer was Will Brewer (47). Paul Higgs knocked 45 for WRFC.