WITH less than five weeks to go, anticipation is building for another exciting season in the Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League.

The season will launch in style on Friday, 22nd August, with the prestigious Jim Blackmore Champions Cup clash between reigning league champions Holywell Lake and Payne Challenge Cup holders Scuppas. Staged at Wellington Football Club, this match should be a great opener.

The action continues the following week with the first round of the Payne Challenge Cup, set to take place on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th August. One of the standout ties sees cup holders Scuppas go head-to-head with division rivals Mowers at the Rockwell Green Institute. Teams knocked out in the opening round will have a second chance at silverware, entering the Ken Bright Cup, joined later by teams eliminated in the second round from matches involving teams who received byes in round one.

League competition gets underway in the first week of September, with teams across both divisions eager to make a strong start.

Upcoming fixtures include: Jim Blackmore Champions Cup – Friday 22nd August: Holywell Lake v Scuppas (at Wellington Football Club).

Payne Challenge Cup, Round One – Thursday 28th August: United Services v. Bell Green at the Conservative Club, downstairs; Scuppas v. Mowers at the R G Institute; Report Centre A v. Outsiders at Victoria Arms (upstairs); Ex-Servicemen v. Oaks at Victoria Arms (downstairs); Nynehead Club v. Here 4 at Beer at the Cottage Inn; King Pins v. All Stars at Conservative Club (upstairs).

Payne Challenge Cup Round One – Friday 29th August: Holywell Lake v Home Guard IV at Blue Ball; Fireguard A v OBA at Nynehead Club; Queens Legs v Shooters at Wellington Football Club; Cottage Pies v Relyon at Victoria Arms (downstairs); Foresters v Club Rockers at Victoria Arms (upstairs); Rebels v Home Guard II at White Horse Inn (Bradford on Tone).