THE Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s season has kicked off with a superb match in the league’s curtain raiser - for the Jim Blackmore Champions Cup at the White Horse Inn.

It was between last season's WESSL champions and HWH Payne Challenge Cup winners Ex-Servicemen and Ken Bright Cup holders Mowers.

There was almost nothing to choose between the sides with Ex-Servicemen eventually winning the trophy - by two pins.

It was always going to be a cracking contest, with both sides having produced some high-scoring performances on the White Horse alley last season, and so it proved as the two teams served up an excellent opening night encounter.

Adrian Perry, captain of the X-Men, won the toss and elected to send Mowers on first. Mowers' opening three hands were something of a mixed bag, with scores of 58, 77 and 58. The 77 was aided by two excellent 17 spares, the first from Keith Crockett and the second from Vince Milton, who produced a flopper with his first ball and narrowly missed out on a double flopper with his second!

Ex-Servicemen responded with a solid 69, followed by 68 and 62, leaving the X-Men six pins ahead at the halfway stage. Adrian Coles produced a vital 14 spare in the opening hand, with Geoff Hamlyn matching that score in the second.

Mowers upped the pace in the second half, posting 62, 71 and 68. Geoff Milton and Stephen James both contributed 14 spares, in the fifth and sixth hands respectively, as Mowers finished on an impressive 394. Vince Milton led the way with a top score of 57, supported by Keith Crockett's 55.

The X-Men began their second half with a 13 spare from opener Lee Baker, before posting 64 in the fourth hand and 59 in the fifth. That left the X-Men needing 73 from their final hand to snatch victory.

The pressure was on, but Ex-Servicemen held their nerve. Dave Gardiner's 14 spare helped ease the tension, with his 53 proving to be the pick of the X-Men's individual scores.

Ultimately, however, it came down to captain Adrian Perry as the anchor man. Needing eight pins to win the cup, Perry's first ball clattered into the right-hand second pin, taking three. His second ball then caught the side of the front pin, bringing down the remaining five required.

With the game won, Perry finished in style by taking out the final pin with his last ball. A final score of 396 saw Ex-Servicemen edge past Mowers by just two pins and claim the first silverware of the 2026/27 season.

Many thanks go to both sets of players for an excellent contest played in great spirits. Thanks also to the White Horse Inn for hosting the match and to Lucas for doing an excellent job as sticker-up. Final scores: Mowers 394, Ex-Servicemen 396.

There is now a week's break for the upcoming Bank Holiday before competitive action returns with the first round of the HWH Payne Challenge Cup. Defending holders Ex-Servicemen will begin their defence of the cup against Odds and Ends on the upstairs alley of the Conservative Club on Thursday, September 3.

Mowers are in action the following night when they play Fireguard A at the Cottage.

Four teams have byes through to the second round - United Services, Home Guard II, Club Rockers and Relyon.

Marc Bright