The first v second clash between Vipers and Owls resulted in a comprehensive 12-0 win for the Owls and they turn a 5 point deficit into a 7 point lead. Vipers slip back to equal second with Turkeys and Brothers Grimm but hold onto second through a higher average pinfall.

Martin Cook returned to hit a 244 game (270 with handicap) and third best series, 569 (647). Seven other players scored more than 500 with Ricahrd Lester the best with 581 (668) but Steve Emmony hit 578, 680 with handicap - the best of the night.

Many players had new best scores for the league: Mike and Berenice Davies both improved their game and series scores. John Bryer hit 563 (+45), Nigel Winks 482 (+56) and Kim Stone 437 (+24 )

The league scratch average increased this week by 0.7 to 148.5

The Owls slip back to second place after only picking up 4 points against Duo while Vipers, with a 10-2 win over Lightning Strikes go to the top with a five point lead. The Turkeys were understrength tonight and lost 2-10 to Dominoes and slip to fourth. Brothers Grimm, with new brother, Des, climb to third with a 12-0 win over PinPals.

Harry Hargreaves, bowling without Martin Cook was top scorer with his best series of the season by 68 pins - 553 (673 with handicap). Andy Ong was the only player over 200 tonight with 213 (231)

Alan Barton (+6 to 544), Neil Taylor (+15 to 484) and Janet Neale (+22 to 475) all had new high scratch scores for this season.

The league scratch average fell again this week by 0.3 to 147.8

The Owls return for another spell at the top of the table after a return to form and a
12-0 win over X Factor. Vipers and Turkeys, last weeks leaders both lost 4-8 and slip one place. Mac Too rise two places to fourth after winning a close game with Hit & Miss by 10-2.

Rose Barton was once again top scorer with 529 (604 with handicap) and Alan was just behind Steve Emmony in the top scratch series this week. Still not many 200+ games though - only three tonight, the best being by John Bryer, 213 (241) his first 200 game of the season.

Berenice Davies and Anita Highton both had new high series for the season in their good 10-2 win over Balls Up. Ian Highton (Lightning Strikes) improved his high series by 15 to 430 (598)

Mary Grayson converted a 6-7 split.

The league scratch average fell by a further 0.3 to 148.1

Even though Vipers won 8-4 tonight against Dominoes and retain top spot in the table, their lead over Turkeys in second place is cut from six points to just two. Turkeys thrashed Duo 12-0 tonight and recorded the best scratch team series and game of the week in the process.

Martin Cook was once again top scorer with a scratch series of 549 (615 with handicap) including a 216 (238) game. John Lyons was next best with 532 (604) and had the only other 200+ game of the night. Keith MacFarlane finally found some form and had the best handicap game, 243 and series, 644 of the week (509 scratch).

Richard Springthorpe hit a new high series for this league; +16 to 497 (611), as did John Bryer, +3 to 518 (605). Anita Highton had a new high game, +20 to 184 (234).

Finally, welcome back to Ted Hubbard who was a founder member of the Monday night league 15 years ago and has joined John Lyons in the Vipers team.

Terry Emmony converted a 5-8-10.

The league scratch average fell by a further 0.1 to 148.4.

Vipers took advantage of The Owls faltering against strong opposition (Brothers Grimm) to go to the top of the table after a 10-2 win over PinPals. The Owls slip down to fourth behind X Factor in third and Turkeys in second. The Turkeys improved by three places this week with a 12-0 win against Mac Too but are six points adrift of the leaders.

Martin Cook was this weeks top scorer with a scratch series of 572 (647 with handicap) including a 223 (248) game. Terry Emmony finally hit the head pin a few times to score 523 (646) including a clean 216 (257)

Mike Davies (Lightning Strikes) improved his best series of the season by 86 to 463 (643) and his highest game by 16 to 166. Kim Stone set a new high game, 167 (219) and series, 413 (569) this week.

John Bodicoat converted another 5-10 this week.

The league scratch average fell by 0.3 to 148.5.

The Owls go straight back to the top of the table after only one week with a comprehensive 12-0 win over Balls Up. Last weeks leaders Mac Too were beaten 2-10 by Vipers and slip down to fourth while Vipers rise to second place just one point behind the leaders. X Factor rise three places to third, five points adrift of top place.

Mary Grayson and the Owls feature well in the high score lists tonight - Mary was top scorer with a new season's best 526 (643 with handicap) and the Owls had the best team series both at scratch and with handicap 1,019 and 1,217.

Paul Simmons (Hit & Miss) hit the best scratch game and the only one over 200; 208 (249) but Janet Neale had the best handicap game, 250

Mike Davies (Lightning Strikes) was successfull with a 6-7 split and Rose Barton got an equally difficult 4-10. John Bodicoat got both a 5-7 and a 5-10.

The league scratch average fell slightly to148.8.

After three weeks at the top, the Owls came a cropper against Mac Too, losing 12-0. Mac Too jump from fourth to Top and the Owls take their place in fourth. Dominoes stay in second place and Vipers in third but only three points separate first from fourth.

Richard Lester was top scorer tonight with 552 (615 with handicap) with Terry Highton next best with 542 (629, the best handicap series).Four others broke the 500 scratch mark. Liz Lake started the second game with six strikes in a row and finished with 217 (257) the best game tonight.

The league scratch average remained at 148.9.

The Owls maintain their grip of top place with another big win this week. They keep their three point gap to new second place Dominoes with Vipers another six points behind in third.

Many congratulations to Rose Barton (Dominoes) who hit a new personal best series of 627 (714 with handicap), her first time over 600 and including a high game of 224 (253). Rose is now second in all of the high scoring lists behind Andy Ong's high score in week 2.

Richard Lester hit a 561(660) to be second best bowler tonight and three others broke through the 500 mark.

The league scratch average improved by 1.1 to 148.9.

With a second good win - 11-1 against Glitter Girls - The Owls retain top spot in the table, three points ahead of Vipers and five ahead of three others: Dominoes, Brothers Grimm and X Factor.

High scores were dominated by the Vipers and Andy Ong. Andy hit a magnificent 652 series (724 with handicap) including games of 246 (270) and 231. Andy and the Vipers head all of the high scoring lists by a good margin.

Five other bowlers scored 500+ tonight and Steve Emmony was only the second player so far to get a 200+ game with 210 (245)

Any Ong successfully converted a 6-7 split and Steve Emmony got a 5-7-9

The league scratch average improved by 0.4 to 147.8.

All matches were close tonight - the first week of calculating new handicaps - and a few pins made the difference in most results.

No 200 games tonight and only four series over 500 with Martin Cook highest scorer on 538.

Diane MacFarlane converted a 2-10 split. Steve Emmony got another 5-10.

The league scratch average started at 147.4.