EX-SERVICEMEN begin the defence of their title in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s HWH Payne Cup with a first round match against Odds and Ends at the Conservative Club on Thursday, September 3.

Beaten Payne Cup finalists Mowers play the following night, September 4, when they meet Fireguard A at the Cottage Inn.

In the Chris Bullock Championship the following week, Ex-Servicemen play King Pins at the Cottage Inn.

HWH Payne Challenge Cup first round fixtures: King Pins v Home Guard IV (at the Cottage Inn), Outsiders v Oaks (Victoria Arms, downstairs), All Stars v Scuppas (Victoria Arms, upstairs), Ex-Servicemen v Odds and Ends (Conservative Club, upstairs), Nynehead Club v Here 4 the Beer (Conservative Club, downstairs).

First round, Friday, September 4: Reservists v Shooters (Wellington Football Club), Hot Shots v OBA (Rockwell Green Institute), Report Centre A v Foresters (Victoria Arms, downstairs), Holywell Lake v Rebels (White Horse Inn, Bradford on Tone), Cottage Pies v Bell Green (Nynehead Club), Queens Legs v WRFC (Victoria Arms, upstairs), Fireguard A v Mowers (Cottage Inn).

First round byes: United Services, Home Guard II, Club Rockers, Relyon.

Chris Bullock Championship, Thursday, September 10: Outsiders v WRFC (at Conservative Club, downstairs), United Services v Nynehead Club ( White Horse Inn, Bradford on Tone), Ex-Servicemen v King Pins (Cottage Inn), Mowers v Foresters (Wellington Football Club), Odds and Ends v Home Guard IV (Victoria Arms, downstairs), All Stars v Scuppas (Conservative Club, upstairs).

Gerald Thorne Championship, Friday, September 11: Reservists v Queens Legs (at the R G Institute), Report Centre A v Bell Green (White Horse Inn, Bradford on Tone), OBA v Oaks (Victoria Arms, upstairs), Hot Shots v Rebels (Conservative Club, downstairs), Shooters v Club Rockers (Victoria Arms, downstairs), Cottage Pies v Fireguard A (Conservative Club, upstairs), Home Guard II v Relyon (Wellington Football Club).