THE second round of Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Payne Challenge Cup delivered a little of everything - big scores, shock exits and a handful of nail-biting finishes.

Holders Scuppas kept their title defence alive with a comfortable win over Outsiders, while Ex-Servicemen stormed through with a massive win at the Football Club over Odds and Ends. United Services edged out Hot Shots to set up a clash with Scuppas in the quarter finals.

Elsewhere, there was high drama as WESL champions Holywell Lake survived a huge scare against Fireguard A, squeezing through by a single pin. Shooters, meanwhile, pulled off one of the results of the round, stunning Reservists at the Blue Ball. Here 4 the Beer also impressed with a strong win at the White Horse over All Stars, while Rugby Club edged Relyon in another nail-biter. Club Rockers rounded off the ties with a hard-fought win over Home Guard II.

Scores - Scuppas 367, Outsiders 344: Scuppas advanced to the quarter-finals at the Nynehead Club with Nigel Symons steering his side home with a top score of 58 while Rob Larcombe knocked 52 for the losers.

Ex-Servicemen 413, Odds & Ends 351: Ex-Servicemen went big in this tie, with five players hitting 50 or more in their success at the football club. Lee Baker was top of the alley with a splendid 60 for the winners, while Pete Mullins knocked 53 for Odds & Ends.

United Services 329, Hot Shots 323: United Services came out on the right side of this close game at the Cottage. Dave Groves hit a crucial 51 for the Services while Richard Chivers was the pick of the Hot Shots’ players with 50..

All Stars 353, Here 4 the Beer 366: Here 4 the Beer advanced to the last eight with a 13-pin victory at the White Horse. Andy Chappell was in fine form with 56 for All Stars but it was not enough to put his side through with Jimmy Copper top scoring for the winners with 51.

Holywell Lake 315, Fireguard 314: League champions Lakers survived by the narrowest of margins in a thriller at the Institute. Ryan Skeels’ 51 proved vital for his team, while Mike Davis scored 46 for the unlucky losers.

Reservists 332, Shooters 367: Shooters set Reservists into the Ken Bright Cup with the performance of the round - with Nathan Harcombe topping the alley with a splendid 59. Glen Escott knocked 51 for Reservists who found skittling difficult on the Blue Ball alley.

Relyon 358, WRFC 360: This was another exciting match played out on the upstairs’ alley of the Victoria Arms. It was brother versus brother as Rob Higgs knocked 51 for the Bedders while Paul Higgs also scored a crucial 51 for the rugby boys, helping last winter’s runners-up in the Payne Cup, into a quarter-final tie against Club Rockers.

Club Rockers 362, Home Guard II 355: Rockers piled on the misery for Home Guard II with a seven-pin win on the downstairs alley at the Victoria Arms. Mark Bowen was the player of the match with 55 for the Rockers, while Paul Williams’ 51 was not enough for Home Guard who slipped to a seven-pin loss.

Draw for the quarter-finals (Nov 27 and 28, dates and venues TBC): United Services v Scuppas, Holywell Lake v Ex-Servicemen, Shooters v Here 4 the Beer, WRFC v Rockers.