LEADERS All Stars came out on top in a high-scoring contest against Home Guard IV, securing an 18-pin victory on the upstairs alley at the Conservative Club in Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League’s Chris Bullock Championship.

Dan Peters produced a superb 62 to lead the scoring for Home Guard while Andy Chappell knocked 59 for All Stars. Scores: Home Guard IV 393, All Stars 411.

Odds and Ends 372, Mowers 425: Mowers, in second place, were outstanding, claiming a convincing 53-pin victory over Odds and Ends on the downstairs track at the Victoria Arms. Skipper Nick Timewell scored 56 for the losers while John Dodden and Vince Milton shared the top score for Mowers with superb 61s.

Nynehead Club 361, Scuppas 353: Dan Mancini hit a fine 57 for the Club, while Craig Newstead top scored with a solid 53 for Scuppas in a match with little to separate the teams.

Ex-Servicemen 341, Outsiders 350: Outsiders secured a hard-fought nine-pin victory over Ex-Servicemen at the Cottage Inn. Ex-Servicemen were spare-less for the first game in four years with Kev Denslow top scoring with 48 while Gerry Larcombe was Outsiders’ top skittler with 53.

WRFC 370, Foresters 369: Paul Higgs steered the Rugby Club with a crucial 54 while Greg Browne and John Chim both recorded good 51s for Foresters who were left wondering what might have been after coming so close.

King Pins 390, Here 4 the Beer 381: King Pins’ good form continued as they secured a nine-pin victory over Here 4 the Beer at the Football Club. Jordan Bryant and Ryan Marke hit 57 apiece for the winners while Ben Price led their scoring for Here 4 the Beer with an excellent 56.

Meanwhile, second-placed Holywell Lake kept up the pressure at the top of the Gerald Thorne Championship with a convincing 21-pin victory over Rebels at the Cottage Inn. Rebels saw Charlie Knight and John Sellick sharing the top scorer with solid 55s apiece, but Ryan Skeels led the way for the visitors with an excellent 60.

Oaks 348, Queens Legs 375: Oaks saw Josh Navarra leading the way with a solid 51 at the Nynehead Club, but Stuart Sutton was top scorer for the winners with an excellent 55.

Cottage Pies 404, OBA 357: Pies broke through the 400-pin barrier at the Conservative Club (upstairs) with James May leading the way with an outstanding 64 while Andy Kemp contributed a solid 52 for OBA.

Fireguard A 373, Reservists 387: Olly Hayes led Fireguard A’s scoring with a well-deserved 54, but Kevin Sedgebeer recorded 54 of his own for Reservists.

Bell Green 386, Relyon 374: Defending champions and leaders Bell Green, who have played one more match than rivals Holywell Lake, continued their strong form with a 12-pin victory over last season’s title chasers with Simon Rudd (60) in great form while Mike Hutchings hit 57 for the bedding boys.

Club Rockers 318, Home Guard II 341: Mark Bowen top scored with 50 for Rockers while Steve Symons knocked 52 for the winners who were pleased to come away with the points.

Shooters 355, Report Centre A 342: Shooters claimed a 13-pin victory over Report Centre A at the Victoria Arms, Alan Sydenham leading the way with a fine 52. A Founks was once again the standout performer for Report Centre A with an excellent 55.