THE Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League has staged the finals of the Harry Dawson Pairs Cup on the upstairs alley at the Victoria Arms in North Street.

It brought together some of the best skittlers in town and ended with brothers Lee and Ricky Baker triumphing in the final.

The first semi-final saw Dan Rodger and Owen Milton of All Stars take on Reservists duo Darren Sparks and Kevin Sedgebeer, holders of the cup from two seasons ago. It was a closely fought contest, with just five pins separating the pairs at the final count. Rodger and Milton eventually came out on top, combining for a solid score of 96 against Sparks and Sedgebeer’s steady 91.

The second semi-final saw Lee and Ricky Baker of Ex-Servicemen face All Stars’ Paul Desborough and Andy Chappell in what proved to be the highest-scoring and best game of the night. The X-Men duo booked their place in the final with an impressive 108, overcoming Desborough and Chappell’s 100 in a game that saw plenty of top-quality skittling from both pairs.

The final was the closest contest of the night, with just four pins separating the two pairs. However, it was the Baker brothers who held their nerve when it mattered, finding those crucial extra pins to take the cup with a 93–89 victory.

Congratulations go to Lee and Ricky on becoming the latest winners of the Harry Dowson Pairs Cup!

The league wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the Victoria Arms for hosting, to all the players that took part, to the sticker ups who kept the games going, and to Darren Sparks for organising the event.

The Harry Dowson Pairs Cup will return next summer as the League continues its efforts to establish the competition as its own premier summer skittles event.