After only 17 years of trying, Brothers Grimm made sure of their first winter league title with two weeks to go. They beat nearest rivals Hit & Miss 12-0 in a rearranged match from last week and went on to beat Glitter Girls by 8-4. With 35 points lead over new second place Turkeys and only 24 to play for, the Brothers are sure to win by a big margin.

Hit & Miss struggled to find any form and lost both matches tonight and slip down to third place, one point behind the Turkeys.

Martin Cook and Harry Hargreaves dominated the high scoring list tonight: Martin hit his best scratch series of the league - 566 (647 with handicap) including the best game, 244 (271). Harry also had a 500 series and the second best game and together the Turkeys had the best team scores. Their high game, 453 (514) knocks Dominoes off the top spot for the league so far.

Keith MacFarlane improved his high game for the league by 10 pins to finally get a 200 game - 202 (238). Tony Pearce had a new high game as well, up two to 174 (229)


Kim Stone was successful with a 5-7 split and Brian Grayson converted one on the other side, 5-10

The league scratch average this week was -0.1 to 148.7

The first v second match, Brothers Grimm and Hit & Miss, was postponed to next week so the other contenders all made ground tonight; Turkeys in third by only four points, Duo in fourth by eight points and fifth place Dominoes by eleven.

For the second week Rich Lester had the best scratch series with another seasons best 555 (636 with handicap) - consistent bowling as all his games were less than 200. Martin Cook was again in the top three scorers with 528 (609).

Pride of place tonight though goes to Diane MacFarlane who scored a lifetime best 232 game (275) which included five strikes in a row. Diane goes straight to the top of the handicap series list for the league.

Carrie Bryer improved both her high game and high series tonight.


The league scratch average this week was +0.1 to 148.8

With two losses and a draw in the last three weeks, Brothers Grimm's lead over Hit & Miss in second has now fallen to 16 points. Hit & Miss didn't take full advantage of the Bros losing 2-10 to Lightning Strikes by only drawing against Mac Too. The gap to Turkeys in third is now only nine points and Duo move up to fourth after a good win over Dominoes who now look unlikely to retain their league title.

Rich Lester had the best scratch series with a seasons best 552 (636 with handicap) including the best scratch and handicap game 234 (262) - also a seasons best. Martin Cook had another good night with a 531 series (612) with a 202 game.

Lightning Strikes hit a new high team game and series for the league and feature in all the team high score lists.

Terry Highton had a new high game for the league; six higher at 220 (246)


Steve Emmony was successful with a 5-7 split.

The league scratch average fell this week by 0.3 to 148.7

The gap between Brothers Grimm in first and Hit & Miss in second narrowed by another six points tonight and now stands at 20 points. Hit & Miss had their fifth win in a row while Brothers Grimm, playing with a blind, only drew with the Owls. Turkeys, in third also make up some ground and are now 31 points behind top spot. Dominoes move up a place to fourth after beating Self Inflicted.

Only two 500 series and two 200 games tonight: Alan Barton was top scorer by some way with 589 (643 with handicap) and also had the best game with 202 (220). John Bryer, in the same match, hit the only other 500+ series; 521 (596). Lesley Reeday had a successful night - almost reaching 500 with 496 and a season best game of 195 (233 - the best handicap game of the night)

Carrie Bryer improved her best game score for the season to 133 (208) and was successful with a 4-5-7 spare chance.




The league scratch average fell this week by 0.1 to 149.0

Second place Hit & Miss produced their best series of the season to beat leaders Brothers Grimm and close the gap to 26 points. Fourth place Turkeys also beat the team above them, Dominoes, and go ahead of them. Duo, last weeks fifth place won convincingly and also move ahead of Dominoes to fourth. The result of all this is the top of the table is much tighter that it was.

Martin Cook's run of good form continued and he was again top scorer with 545 (626 with handicap) including the second best game of the night, 212 (239). Richard Lester had the next best series: 535, (619), just one pin better than Terry Highton who he was playing against. There were 8 500+ series tonight.

Rose Barton hit the best game, 222 (241) in the same game as her opponent Martin Cook scored a 212 (239).

Paul Simmons improved his high series by 17 to 518 (641), the best handicap series of the night.

Martin Cook was successful with a 1-2-10 split.


The league scratch average improved by another 0.1 to 149.1

With another win - a close 8-4 over Self Inflicted - Brothers Grimm stay on course for the league title. They lead by 30 points from Hit & Miss in second and 38 ahead of new third place Dominoes. Both of these teams made up some ground tonight but with only seven weeks to go, there is a lot more to make up. Duo slip back to fourth after losing to Lightning Strikes.

Rose Barton returned to the top of the high scoring lists this week with 571 (631 with handicap) Martin Cook had the next best series: 564, (651 with handicap - the best handicap series of the week for the second week.) Nicola Rye-Holland had another good week; she had the joint best scratch game 231 (255) and third best series 547 (619)

Diane MacFarlane converted a 5-10 split.
Both Martin Cook and Harry Hargreaves had clean games in their win over Mac Too.

The league scratch average improved by 0.1 to 149.0

Brothers Grimm keep the pressure on the chasing teams with a hard fought win over last weeks second place Dominoes. Hit and Miss move up three places to second after winning both their postponed game from last week against Duo and this weeks match 8-4 and are now 32 points behind. Duo move up a place to third, another eight points behind. Dominoes slip to fourth and have a lot to do to retain their league title.

Martin Cook was top scorer tonight with 554, 644 with handicap (also the best handicap series.) Rose Barton and Steve Emmony were close with 548 (611 with handicap) and 547 (643) respectively. Rose also had the best game at scratch and handicap - 235 (256)

Liz Lake hit her first 500 series of the season with 514 (643) an increase of 22 over her previous best. Graham Lewis (Lightning Strikes) improved his high game and series scores tonight by 15 to 172 and by 13 to 457.

Terry Emmony converted a 5-10 split.

The league scratch average improved by 0.1 to 148.9

In the absence tonight of second and third place Duo and Hit & Miss, Brothers Grimm went further ahead of the field with an 8-4 win over LAPD. Dominoes and Turkeys both move up three places to second and third, 34 and 37 points behind.

Steve Emmony finally came good and hit the second best scratch series of the league with a lifetime best 614 (713 with handicap) including the best game of the night, 224 (257). Alan Barton came close to another 600 with 585 (639) with two 200+ games.

Tim Hill was successful with a 2-10 split

The league scratch average improved by 0.1 to 148.8

With another big win, this time over second place Duo, Brothers Grimm increase their lead to 30 points from joint second place Duo and Hit & Miss. Glitter Girls +1 continue their rise and now go ahead of Dominoes into fourth place, another two points behind.

There were no really high scores this week - only four 500 series - and unusually, no 200+ games. However, the league average scratch score was almost unchanged, so we must be getting more consistent. Rose Barton top scored with 513 (573 with handicap) with Keith MacFarlane in the same match on 510 (624) including the best handicap game of the week, 221.

New bowler Phil Hodgson (the '+1' of 'Glitter Girls+1') hit one of the other 500 series and helped the Girls feature in all of the team high score lists this week.


The league scratch average fell by 0.1 to 148.7

Brothers Grimm increased their lead over the chasing teams with a 10-2 win over Pin Pals while last weeks second, Duo, could only draw and third place Dominoes were beaten 12-0 by Hit and Miss (their second 12-0 win in a row) who move above Dominoes to third place. The Bros now lead by 22 points with third place another 2 points behind.

John Bryer heads the scratch high score list with 554 (632 with handicap) followed by Richard Lester with a new high for the season, 534 (615). Brian Grayson had the best handicap series with 634 after a season best scratch series 526, 33 higher than his previous high. Only two 200+ games tonight: Terry Emmony hit 226 (260) and John Bryer 212 (238).


The league scratch average fell by 0.3 to 148.8

No change in positions in the top three after the first game of the second half of the season. Brothers Grimm lost their first game for 10 weeks and now only lead by 18 points (from 24) from Duo who are just two clear of the Dominoes. Hit and Miss move up two places to fourth after their 12-0 win tonight and are 6 points behind third place.

The Bartons continue to dominate the scratch high score lists: Alan was top scorer again with 587 (641 with handicap) and Rose was next best with 556 (613) Alan also had the best game and another new high game for the season, 225 (243). The Dominoes also head the team high score lists.

Harry Hargreaves raised his game to beat Brothers Grimm with an improvement of 33 in his high series for the league to 555 (657 - the best of the week) Keith MacFarlane and Brian Grayson had new high games for the league.


The league scratch average improved by 0.2 to 149.1

Once again the top three positions are unchanged after position night but Brothers Grimm have extended their lead to 24 points over Duo in second. Third place Dominoes drew with the rapidly improving Glitter Girls in a very tight match but retain third place. LAPD move up a place to fourth after beating the Turkeys and are the fifth team so far to break the 1,000 pins team series level.

For the second week Alan Barton had the best scratch series (555, 609 with handicap) and moves ahead of Rose in their private battle for top of the scratch averages. Sarah Standley beat her previous high series by a massive 86 to score 530 (683 - the third best this season) Terry Emmony had the best scratch and handicap game of the night with 231 (264 - second best of the season) Alan Barton had a new high game this week, +3 to 215 (233)

Kim Stone improved her high series by seven to 478 (610)


The league scratch average fell by 0.2 to 148.9

No change in the top three positions tonight but Brothers Grimm have built a big lead of 18 points over Duo who have a game in hand. Third place Dominoes beat fourth place Turkeys by 9-3 to keep in touch. Glitter Girls move up two places to fourth with a 10-2 win over Lightning Strikes.

The Dominoes/Turkeys match provided many of the high scores tonight: Alan Barton had the best scratch series (579, 639 with handicap) and game (212 - his best of this league so far, 232) and Dominoes had the highest team game and series. In the first game of this match, Dominoes hit a 417 handicap game but were beaten by the Turkeys with 439.

Steve Emmony had his first 500 series of the season, an improvement of 18 to 515 (623) Janet Neale also had her best series for the season: higher by 7 to 466 (601). Tim Hill hit his best game of the league - +8 to 178 (224)

Rose Barton was successful with a 4-7-10.

The league scratch average improved again by a further 0.1 to 149.1

Brothers Grimm increased their lead to six points over Duo in second who are now a further 14 points clear of Dominoes in third place. The Turkeys are the new fourth place, moving up from sixth last week.

Top scorer by a long way was John Bryer with 584 (668 with handicap) which also included the only 200 game this week: 235 (263). Four other bowlers scored 500 or over, including Berenice Davies who improved her season high series by 19 to hit 505 (631)

Janet Neale had her best game for some time with 183 (230) and Diane MacFarlane improved her high game by one pin to 182 (222) while getting her second 500 series in a row.

Berenice got a 6-7-10, a 3-9-10 and a 5-6 in the course of two matches and Tony Pearce converted a 2-4-10.

The league scratch average improved by a further 0.1 to 149.0