RELYON maintained their two-point lead over second-placed Bell Green with a 43-pin away win over Rebels in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Gerald Thorne Championship.

Mark Smith and Sean Buttle knocked 49s to guide the Bedders to their latest success, while John Arnold scored 44 for the home side. Scores: Rebels 304, Relyon 347.

Home Guard II 294, Bell Green 331: Title-rivals Bell Green also won away, beating Home Guard II by 37 pins at the Football Club. Skipper Paul Williams was top of the alley witha fine 54, but Simon Rudd and Will Essex both hit 43s for the visitors who ground out their 15th league win.

Queens Legs 368, Holywell Lake 401: The Lakers kept in touch with the leaders with a 33-pin victory at the Conservative Club with skipper Steve Davis steering his side to victory with a splendid 61. Daren Mason scored 51 for the losers.

Club Rockers 324, Reservists 363: Reservists produced a solid display to beat the Rockers in the Institute derby. Phil Powell knocked 49 for the winners, while Chris Hemmings scored 46 for the division’s bottom side.

Shooters 386, Oaks 341: Shooters turned on the style as they beat Oaks at the Vic. Richard Cole stole the show with a superb 65 for Shooters while Brenly Povey (51) was again his team’s top scorer.

Hot Shots 337, Fireguard A 336: Hot Shots won the most thrilling match of the evening, squeezing home by the narrowest of margins. Gary Pepper scored a crucial 47 for the home side while Adrian Ridgeway matched his score for Fireguard A.

OBA 368, Report Centre A 317: OBA claimed a convincing victory over RCA at the Vic with Denver Clarke top scoring for the winners with 52. M Hobbs scored 47 for RCA.

Meanwhile, Ex-Servicemen continued their assault on the title in the Chris Bullock Championship, beating United Services by 11 pins away in a high-scoring game. Paul Fancy hit 56 as Services topped 400 while Dave Gardiner led from the front with a fine 58 for 100 per cent Ex-Servicemen. Scores: United Services 400, Ex-Servicemen 411.

Mowers 382, Outsiders 363: Second-placed Mowers saw off the challenge of Outsiders with a 19-pin home win over Outsiders at the Football Club with Vince Milton leading the way with 55 while Dave Burston scored 54 for Outsiders.

Scuppas 355, King Pins 345: Scuppas, who can at best finish runners-up, were ten-pin winners over the Pins at the Cottage. John Barker’s 54 provided the backbone of the home side’s total, while Steve Powell responded with a good 52 for Pins.

Home Guard IV 356, Foresters 356: The most exciting game of the week was on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club where Home Guard IV and Foresters fought out a draw. Simon Davey’s 54 put the home side in strong position but Simon Wall and Bob Burland, both with 49s, almost won it for Foresters.

Odds & Ends 367, Nynehead Club 408: Nynehead Club produced one of the best displays of the week in knocking a 400-pin plus score at the Vic with Dan Manicini the star skittler with 68 for the winners. Pete Wratten (52) top scored for Odds & Ends.

Here 4 the Beer 333, All Stars 355: Tony Winchester scored 55 for All Stars at the Institute with Adam Morgan tops for the home side with the same score.