In a very close finish to the league, Pure Magic just held on to top spot having finished level on points with the Junior Skittle Scuttlers. A big difference in pinfall was enough to leave Pure Magic winners of the league.

There were some impressive scores in this round, four bowlers were over 550 and Keith MacFarlane finally achieving his target of a 600 series; 616 (667 with handicap) including games of 236 (253) and 213.

Elaine Standley returned to form with a 522 series (618), her best in this league and also improved her high game by 27 pins to 207 (239). Robbie Holt also had his best series, 7 higher at 463 and Michelle Smith also had a new high series.

Sarah Standley successfully dealt with a 3-6-7-10 split
No split conversions were noted tonight.

The scratch league average finally made it to 150, improving by 0.4 to 150.2.

After taking 12 points from the absent Freaks at No 32, Skittle Scuttlers closed the gap between them and Pure Magic at the top of the table to only 4 points with one match to go

Ian Smith's good run of form continued with a scratch 598 tonight (658 woth handicap) which included two games over 200 and the highest of the night, 242 (262). Dave Sibley outshone Malcolm Congreve tonight in scoring 586 (637) with a 235 game (252).

Unusually, no new league or personal best were scored tonight

No split conversions were noted tonight.

The scratch league average remained at 149.8

Last weeks leaders Le Rouge Pantalon had their third straight loss tonight and pay the price by slipping down the table to third. Pure Magic had another high scoring maximum points win to move to the top of the table, 6 points clear of Junior Skittle Scuttlers who beat Duo 10-2 to also move ahead of the Rouges into second.

Malcolm Congreve and Dave Sibley both scored well tonight, Malcolm with 587 (596 with handicap) and Dave 575 (629). Ian Smith had another good and consistent score, 565 (628) with a clean game but without any games over 200.

Several bowlers improved their best scores in this league: Sarah Standley was by far the best of these with a new high series 538, 66 higher than her previous best. This was also the best handicap series of the night - 646. Her new high game, 216 was 32 higher and 252 with handicap was the best of the night. Liz Lake also broke through the 500 mark for the first time in this league with 519 (633), 51 better than before and she also had a new high game, 181 (219). Richard Springthorpe recorded his best game and series of the season.

No split conversions were noted tonight.

The scratch league average remained at 149.8

After their second loss of the season Le Rouge Pantalon for the first time look as though they will struggle to win the league. They picked up only two points tonight and their rivals Pure Magic and Mac Too both had 10-2 wins. The league looks open to any the top four teams to win.

Malcolm Congreve returned to the top of the high scores lists with another 600+ scratch series (608, 620 with handicap) which included two games over 200; 234 and 217. Ian Smith was on fire again with a 591 series (657) including the second best game of the night, 231 (253). Paul Simmons pulled out all the stops to beat Brothers Grimm - his 659 handicap series (542 scratch - 52 higher than his previous best) was the best of the night and included a 206 scratch game (245). Liz Lake improve dher best series by 18 to 468 (588)

Hit & Miss (Paul Simmons & Liz Lake) improved their best series in this league by 85 pins and now have the third best handicap series of the league, 1247.They also had the fifth best handicap game of the league with 452. The Smiths also improved their best series, by 55 to 976 with Michelle recording her best series so far

No split conversions were noted tonight.

The scratch league average improved by 0.6 to 149.8

Having said last week that Le Rouge Pantalon would be hard to catch with only 5 weeks to go, they lose their first game for many weeks, 12-0 against the Owls. Fortunately for them, second place Pure Magic also lost points, only drawing against Duo. This wasn't enough to prevent Junior Skittle Scuttlers, who won 12-0 tonight, overtaking them and lying only 6 points behind the Rouges.

For once Malcolm Congreve wasn't top scorer, he only tied for second with, for him, a very average 529. Ian Smith top scored with 538 (610 with handicap) and Thrax (The Freaks at No. 32) had the best handicap series 626 with teammate Stuart Starmer close behind with 625. Their total, 1,251, was also the second best handicap series of the league.

Pure Magic had the best scratch game of the league with 240 (David) and 218 (Malcolm) for 458 (479 with handicap).

Thrax improved his best scratch series by 21 to 482 and best game by 15 to 189 and Brian Grayson improved his best series in this league by 25 to 477.

No split conversions were noted tonight but both Stuart Starmer and Nicky Guest had clean games, (Stuart's first ever).

The scratch league average fell by 0.1 to 149.2

Le Rouge Pantalon had another maximum points win tonight to extend their lead over second place Pure Magic to 16 points. With only five weeks to go they will surely be hard to catch. Pure Magic gave up four points to Brothers Grimm but stay ahead of new third place Junior Skittle Scuttlers who beat Hit & Miss 12-0 tonight.
  
Malcolm Congreve goes from strength to strength with his fourth 600+ series in a row (the first of which was 711) in spite of having had heart treatment last week. His 639 (651 with handicap) was more than 100 pins better than the next best, Keith MacFarlane with 537 (591).

The two Junior Skittle Scuttlers, Matt Tomblin and Nicky Guest, both improved their best series scores by almost 30 pins in scoring 495 (603) and 523 (625). John Bodicoat hit his best scratch game by 16 pins (195, 242 - the best handicap game of the night) and best series by 23 (474, 615).

Sarah Standley successfully dealt with a 3-6-7-10 split

The scratch league average improved by 0.2 to 149.3

Le Rouge Pantalon with another win tonight, 10-2 against The Smiths, extend their lead by 6 points to 12 when second place Pure Magic faltered and lost 8-4 against The Freaks at #32. With another 12-0 win X Factor move up two places to third and Junior Skittle Scuttlers also improve two places to fourth.
  
Malcolm Congreve again showed his potential (when he's had a bit more experience) by easily outscoring everybody again tonight. He hit another 600 series (601, 613 with handicap) including the best scratch game, 221 (225). Richard Lester and Terry Damm were both in the 560's and three others were over 500.

Nathan Bertram (Vipers) imprived his best series score by 11 to 418 (565) anf Thrax beat his previous best by 62 with 462 (611 - third best handicap series tonight)

John Lyons converted a 5-7 split

The scratch league average fell by 0.1 to 149.1

Le Rouge Pantalon, still unbeaten in this league, had their first maximum points win tonight to stay ahead of the chasers. They move a further 2 points clear of Pure Magic who could only win 10-2 against The Owls. A further 10 points behind, in third place, X-Men move up from 10th last week after beating Brothers Grimm 12-0.
  
Malcolm Congreve again topped all of the high scoring lists with 634 (652 with handicap) including a 258 (264) game. Pure Magic head the team scratch lists with a 1,124 series and 420 game tonight. X Factor beat them to the high handicap scores though with 1,222 and 463. Terry Damm hit a 578 (650) series with all his games over 190 but none over 200.

Neil Taylor had his first 500 scratch series in this league - 533 (623), 41 higher than his previous best. Richard Springthorpe improved his best series by 35 to 457 (589). Will Bukiel had the second best game of the night, 222 (248) in the third to clinch about 6 points of the X-Men's win.

Lesley Reeday was successful with a 6-7-10 split. Tony Pearce had plenty of chances at splits in his third game, 5 wide splits in the first 7 frames but failed with them all.

The scratch league average improved by 0.3 to 149.2

Le Rouge Pantalon stay top of the table with an 8-4 win over the Junior Skittle Scuttlers. However, Pure Magic move up to second from fourth with a maximum points win over Mac Too and only trail by 4 points. Brothers Grimm drop one place to third afterlosing 8-4 to the Smiths.
  
Malcolm Congreve and Pure Magic were the highlight of the night though with a great display of bowling. Malcolm scored a scratch 711 (210, 278, 223), the first 700+ series in the Monday league since the 1999/2000 league. Malc goes straight to the top of all of the individual scoring lists for the league and with Dave Sibley, Pure Magic also tops the team lists for both scratch and handicap.

Ian Smith had his best performance in the Monday leagues as well, scoring 628 (700 with handicap) including games of 245 and 256 (280). Keith MacFarlane had another good series, 583 (640) (but he & Diane still lost the match 12-0!)

Stuart Starmer (Freaks at No. 32) improved his best series in this league by 116 pins to 534 (663) and also had his best game, 204 (249), an improvement of 34. Elaine Standley had her best series in this league, 509 (602) - the first time over 500.

Michelle Smith (The Smiths) did brilliantly to convert a 4-7-10 split and Steve Emmony got a 5-10 in the same game.

The scratch league average improved by 0.4 to 148.9