THE Championship Play-off in the Wellington Ex-Services Skittles League between Mowers and Holywell Lake will be staged at the Rockwell Green War Memorial Institute next Friday, June 2 (8.15p.m.).

Mowers won the Chris Bullock Championship with plenty to spare while Holywell Lake were victors after a thrilling fight in the Gerald Thorne Championship.

Last Friday saw the wooden spoon play-off at the Institute where the bottom sides of both competitions went head to head, with Fireguard A scoring 304 and Home Guard IV 286, the losers carrying off the spoon.

A toss of the coin saw Fireguard A skipper Dan Taylor elect for his side to skittle first. The alley was tough going. Fireguard A scored 49 in the first hand and followed that with a 48 in the second. Dan, playing as the anchor man, scored a 15 spare to end the third hand and get his side to 56. Next it was the turn of Home Guard IV who did not find the alley any less forgiving. Spare-less hands of 48, 53 and 44 meant that Fireguard A enjoyed a lead of eight pins going into the second half of the match.

Fireguard’s second three hands were spare-less with scores of 45, 54 and 52. Captain Taylor led the way for his team finishing with a top score of 50 as Fireguard A set a total of 304 for Home Guard IV to try and chase.

Home Guard IV started well in the fourth hand, hitting 48 to claw back three pins, but things did not go to plan after that. Hands of 52 and 41 followed as Home Guard IV totalled 286 with Mike Geary top scoring with 42. The loss for Home Guard IV was received with good humour as they took the wooden spoon for another year.

Special thanks goes out to both teams for their participation and for playing the game in good spirits. Also thanks to the wonderful hosts, Rockwell Green Institute, for hosting the match and the lovely food put on for the teams. And finally, thanks again to Dave Perry for sticking up, although he had a rather easy night!

Picture caption

Sticker up Dave Perry (left) presents the losing captain Sam Berg of Home Guard IV with the wooden spoon.