The top four teams from last week all had big wins tonight and consolidate their positions. A gap between these four; X Factor, Vipers, Skittle Scuttlers and Turkeys and the other teams is now opening up. Out in front is X Factor while Vipers in second narrow their lead to one point. The Scuttlers are a further seven points behind, closely followed by the Turkeys.

Graham French's first match in the season, for Vipers, saw him go to the top of the averages with a 570 series (576 with handicap). Matt Titchard improved his high series by 37 to be next highest scorer on 555 (633 - the best of the night). There were few 200 games; Malcolm Congreve had the best with 210 but Lee Bowman, with 190 scratch had the best handicap game - 232.

Lesley Reeday had a new high series for the season, +2 to 476 (596, third best tonight).


The league scratch average remained at 155.3.

Last weeks leaders, Turkeys have had a good run lately but came back to earth with a 10-2 loss against Skittle Scuttlers and drop to fourth. Long time leaders Brothers Grimm had an even harder landing after losing again, this week to Owls, and drop from second to sixth. X Factor gained 16 points tonight after playing their postponed game from last week, as did Vipers and these two jump to first and second with a five piont lead over third place Skittle Scuttlers.

Thirteen 500+ series tonight although these included only five 200+ games. Top scorer was Rich Lester with 571 (628 with handicap), followed by John Lyons 558 (621). Brian Grayson had the best handicap series of the night, 628 and Harry Hargreaves hit the best game; a clean 213 (241).

Will Bukiel improved his high series by 26 to 531 in the rearranged game against Vipers in a cosmic light storm.

Matt Titchard was successful with a 2-10 split, Keith MacFarlane got a 4-5-10 and Terry Damm a 6-7.

The league scratch average rose by 0.3 to 155.3.

Brothers Grimm were finally knocked off the top of the table tonight after their fifth loss in a row. The Turkeys took all the points off Hit and Miss to lead by two points. The match between last weeks second and third, X Factor and Vipers was postponed until next week though so either of these could take the lead then. Mac Too move up to sixth place, only 8 points below the leaders. There are now only ten points between first and eighth places.

The Turkeys and Mac Too dominated the high score lists: Martin Cook had the best series at scratch and handicap, 567 (633) and the Turkeys team game and series scores were the best for scratch and handicap with Mac Too close behind. Keith MacFarlane had the best game; 224 (246 - also the best this week.)

Keith improved his season high game and series (+10) this week, as did Martin (+12). Lesley Reeday had a new high game, +8 to 185 (227)

The league scratch average fell by 0.2 to 155.0.

Despite their fourth 4-8 defeat in a row, Brothers Grimm hang on to top spot by a point from X-Factor who were beaten 7-5 by Our Balls. Vipers move to within four points of the top in third place with their win over the Brothers. The Turkeys swift rise up the table had another boost when they took all the points from Hit & Miss. They are now in fourth place, behind Vipers but only on pinfall.

The Vipers provided all the high scores tonight: David Sibley hit a 246 game (264 with handicap) starting with seven in a row. In the same game John Lyons had a 224 (246) including six in a row. John also had the best series of the night, 628 (694 - the best of the season). Vipers' team game scores, 470 (510) are also the best of the season for this league, beating X Factor's scores by 30 pins and they also took the high handicap series score from X Factor by five pins with 1,282. In the face of all that, the Brothers were fortunate to get any points at all.

Neil Taylor improved his high game by 6 pins to record his first 200 game of this league (230).

Malcolm was successful with a 5-10 split and Nicky Guest got a 4-6-7. Martin Cook had a clean game of 196 (224)

The league scratch improved to 155.2.

For the second week the top four teams (X Factor, Bros Grimm, Vipers & Our Balls) had a hard time with only the Vipers managing a draw. Brothers Grimm go clear at the top by two points from X Factor who are six points ahead of Vipers. Our Balls drop down to sixth with Mac Too taking over at fourth. The top half of the league is now even closer; only 15 points cover first place to seventh.

Malcolm Congreve and Matt Titchard, Skittle Scuttlers dominate the high score lists this week; Malcolm hit a 621scratch series (675 with handicap) with games of 228 (246) and 200. Brian Grayson improved his best series this league by 10 to 567 (669)

Anne Congreve improved her best series score in this league to 488 (581). Will Bukiel and Matt Titchard had new high games in this league to record their first 200+ games.

No split conversions were reported. The Brothers Grimm had plenty of practice.

The league scratch average fell to 155.1.

Last weeks' top four teams (X Factor, Bros Grimm, Vipers & Mac Too) were all beaten tonight but Mac Too were the only ones to drop a place in the table. Brothers Grimm are now level on points with X Factor but with an inferior pinfall. Our Balls move up to fourth with a narrow 8-4 win over the Brothers. The top half of the league is now much closer; only 21 points cover first place to seventh.

No big scores from anybody this week although the overall league average is unchanged. The high score lists are dominated by the Turkeys: Martin and Harry had the best series and game scores both scratch and handicap and their team scores were also the best in all categories.

Matt Titchard improved his best scratch series by 6 to 518 (602 with handicap).

David Sibley was successful with a 3-6-7-10 split

The league scratch average remained at 155.2.

X Factor regained top spot after winning 8-4 against Brothers Grimm in what was, in the end, a close match. Two points separate the teams with another eight to third place Vipers who were beaten 4-8 by Mac Too.

Richard Lester hit all the high scores this week: 573 series (633 with handicap) and a 232 game (252). Martin Cook had his best series of this league with 555 (627) and Des Sands was next highest with 542 which included two games of 199 (and a wobbling 200th pin in each game!).

Both the Standley girls hit 500 series this week with Elaine having her best game - 191 (223) and series 503 (599) and Sarah scoring 516 (618).

Martin Cook successfullty converted a 5-7 split

The league scratch average improved by 0.2 to 155.2.

Brothers Grimm move back to their rightful place at the top after beating X-Men 8-4 in a hard fought match that came down to the last ball. X Factor on the other hand only took 2 points from the Skittle Scuttlers and slip to second place, two points behind. Vipers move up to third, a further six points behind X-Factor.

Malcolm Congreve was top scorer again with 559 (619 with handicap) including a 220 game (240). Rich Lester was close behind with 554 (614). Brian Grayson inproved his high game score for the league with 224 (259), the best of the week.

Anne Congreve again improved her high series, this week by 10 to 487. Richard Springthorpe had his best series for some seasons - 505 (622, the best of the week)

Elaine Standley converted the difficult 4-6-7 split (and a 5-7 as well). Paul Wilkinson got a 6-7-10 split and Neil Taylor converted a 5-10.

The league scratch average improved by 0.1 to 155.0

X Factor take over at the top of the table after winning 8-4 against Hit & Miss while Brothers Grimm, leaders for the last few weeks, struck out against Skittle Scuttlers. X Factor are four points clear and the Brothers are eight points clear of new third place Our Balls who won 8-4 tonight. Vipers slip back to fourth.

There weren't any big scores tonight but eight bowlers were over 500, Rich Lester the best with 553 (619 with handicap) closely followed by Martin Cook 549 (624 - the best handicap series) an Keith MacFarlane 546 (618). David Sibley had the highest game, 211 (229)

Anne Congreve improved her high game and series again this week by 17 and 41 to 190 and 477.

Martin Cook managed a clean game of 197.
The league scratch average improved by 0.2 to 154.9

A poor week for the top teams this week, only Brothers Grimm (a postponed match against Duo) and Vipers of last weeks top four won. The result is that the Brothers regain top spot by four points from X Factor. Vipers move up one place to third, still 16 points behind X Factor. Level on points in fourth place are Our Balls.

Although there were seven series over 500, unusually there were no games over 200 this week. Terry Emmony had the best series, 549 (624 with handicap) with Malc Congreve next (I don't get to write that very often!) on 525 (591).

John Bodicoat had another good series, 482 (608) and it included the best handicap game of the week; 232. Mary Grayson improved her high game in this league by 12 to 191 (231). Nicky Guest, Liz Lake and Anne Congreve all improved their high series in this league.

Keith MacFarlane succesfully dealt with a 4-7-10 split and David Sibley converted a 5-7.

In spite of the lack of big scores the league scratch average improved by 0.1 to 154.7