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Martock & District Skittles League

Hello Everyone,

Firstly apologies for the delay in this report coming out, all results are in and the 1^st half has concluded. 

Captains please note that our Secretary and Treasurer Pete Wescott has sent out the details for League Fees and at the moment half the teams have paid, so can the rest please send the money across before  31st December please.

Round 13 had a couple of matches that stood out in Division 1. One was at The Bell at Ash as these 2 teams have been a revelation this season so far and have really turned the division on its head as Nobbys Nuts hosted leaders VIPs in a match that looking at form you could not be sure who would come out victorious as both teams have been brilliant.

The other was at the Bakers as we had a Christmas derby match as Bakers Big Arms wanted to get one over on their ‘reserve’ team Bakers Rogues and this match had all the makings of a festive cracker!

The other matches in Division 1 were very much a case of top teams v bottom teams as Stoke WMC looked to keep the pressure on VIPS as they were heavy favourites as they hosted struggling Lamb Shanks.

Duke of York have woken up in recent weeks and were going for 3 wins in a row as they hosted Nelsons Nomads who in turn have flip flopped in the 1^st half and will consider they’ve had a decent half.

Monkey Spankers grip on the title is about as loose as a goose! They are more in danger of the relegation places than where they normally are near the top and after some bad results they needed a big response against bottom team Yorkies at Rusty who in turn are in a relegation scrap and need points badly.

Middle of the table match on the bottom alley at Stoke as well as Seahawks have had a drop in form since their blazing start and they looked to end the year with a positive result against Pornstars who likewise have been up and down and needed a positive result to stay in the top half. Stoke Buoys started their Christmas break early as thye had the bye.

Division 2 leaders are Hit & Hopes and clearly have been the most consistent team this 1^st half, they looked to end the year top as they hosted mini league leaders Rosies Rebels who in turn havent had  good season so far but optimism can spring with their good form in the mini league.

Scores were to be had at Eli’s as Mucky Ducks hosted Dolphins, Thorns & Roses were up against it as they were home to S Club 8.

There was also a Lamb & Lark Christmas derby match as Hotspots hosted Lamb & Larks and with both teams needing points for their promotion push it had the promise of a close match. Bottom of the table clash was at South Petherton Club as Split Pins hosted Ham Boys which was cancelled and then played on Friday 20th.

Christmas Jumpers were worn by some teams but who came out with a big present of a win and who was the turkey!! Lets find out.

Division 1

We start the final week of the 1^st half at Bell at Ash where we look at Nobbys Nuts who have been positively Nuts! They have only lost twice this season and one of them was in the first week, so their form has been sublime and they wouldn’t want to end the half like they started it, but their opponents have been the story of the half and Chris Cox’s VIPs have been at times sensational, at times lucky, but no one can deny their top spot and a win 10-2 or more would confirm top spot going into 2025 which is a fabulous achievement. One reason VIPS are top is exceptional teamwork and this bared fruitful as they went 10 up after 2 hands and controlled the match serenely, 7 spares from 7 different players was superb and led to a 10-2 win by 21 pins to finish the half top by 3 points and a big well done. Despite Tim Nobbs leading from the front again with a top of the night score of 62 Nobbys Nuts couldn’t quite find the form that has been great all season and with this loss they drop to 5th.

Although finishing top, VIPs have champion team Stoke WMC breathing down their necks and staying on their coat tails. Graham Brimble’s men have been again very good and at times very powerful in their results and they wanted to finish off the half with a good win at home against relegation threatened Lamb Shanks who in turn have had a very turbulent season already with being at 2 different home venues. This always looked like a home win but Darren Cousins Shanks team were up for a tasty match. Stoke WMC were not at their powerful best as spares were hard to come by and a 12 spare from Deano helped them to go 8 up after 4 hands and 2 points each. This was a bit sticky from Stoke, but 2 60+ hands was just what was needed from them and too much for the Shanks as Stoke WMC finished the half in 2^nd with a 10-2 win by 31 pins. Shanks are in their own battle to stay up and despite a good battle here were eventually outclassed as they finish the half in 12th.

Bakers Arms is next and this had the festive feel as Bakers Big Arms have had a decent 1^st half to their 1^st season in the top division, and they had a tough task as they faced their more experienced rival team in Bakers Rogues, who after a sticky start to the season are flying now and with a win they would finish the half in 3^rd . Teams are to be applauded for their Christmas jumpers with a photo later in the report. The Christmas spirit was in full swing and according to Leon Taylor the Big Arms fancied a go left handed! Which may have been the reason why this result was so wide as Bakers Rogues hit 2 70+ hands in the first 3 to surge to a 39 pin lead which killed off their younger rivals as Rogues won 11-1 by 50 pins to finish the half in 3^rd and look good to push hard in the 2^nd half for league honours. Big Arms have had a decent 1^st half and have been competitive throughout as they are 10th.

Off to the bottom alley at Stoke Club now where home team Seahawks have been very steady all half and have been one of the teams that’s impressed so far albeit a mixed patch of form recently. They finish the half with a home match against Pornstars who in turn have flattered, and deceived at times throughout the season hence their mid-table position, both teams wanted to finish the half strong. The alley is a devil to play on and there wasn’t much of note in the way of spares as there was only 2, 1 each team and to both anchor men as Paul for Seahawks hit a 16 and Pornstars skipper Liam Male hit a 13. The scoring itself was tight all the way through, but Seahawks middle hands changed the game as they went from 1 down first 2 hands to 9 up, and with both teams sharing the last 2 hands in terms of points it was Seahawks who ground out a 10-2 win by 7 pins to move up to 4th. Pornstars mixed form continues as they now drop to their lowest position so far in 8th.

We go to another team in mixed form as Duke of York have had a torrid 1^st half with some strange losses this season and have found themselves in the bottom half of the table, but back to back wins against Lamb Shanks and an impressive comeback win against Monkey Spankers means that a win at home this week could get them into the top half if other results went their way. They hosted a usual bottom half team in Nelsons Nomads who were another team who donned the festive jumpers and they looked great. Nomads were up against it here with Duke winning 5 from 6 home matches. The alley played very tough as usual with hardly any spare chances although myself missing 1 pin for one! The man of the match was Martin Lee as he went anchorman this week and played a blinder for a no spare 50 as Duke showed resilience to go 1 up, then 3 up to end up winning 10-2 by 9 pins to win 3 in a row to jump in the top half for the first time and are 6th. Nomads fought hard and although lost the match, they were brilliant for the Christmas jumpers. They are 9th.

We finish Division 1 for the week at Rusty Axe as hosts Yorkies are finding the season tough right now and are in the mix of a 3 way relegation battle, so any points are vital for them, but their opponents, the champs Monkey Spankers are having the mother of all shockers right now as they are getting beaten left, right and centre and find themselves in 10^th and out of the running to defend their title. A win was needed for Spankers to get any kind of momentum and they did just that as this was much better as a massive 4^th hand of 87 which included 4 spares meant for a comfortable night as Spankers won 12-0 by 54 pins to shoot up to 7^th . Yorkies were rumbled and drop to 13^th and bottom.

Stoke Buoys had an extended week to their Christmas Break as they stay in 11th.

Division 2

Hit & Hopes have been clearly the most consistent in form team in Division 2 this 1^st half and fully deserve the top spot. They looked to finish the year there in their new home of Black Swan as they hosted Rosies Rebels who in turn have struggled so far this season with only 2 wins so far and looked very unlikely that it could be a 3^rd as they were up against it here. Hit & Hopes started really well and were 18 up after 4 hands, despite the immeasurable deficit, Rebels fought back and won the last 2 hands, but to no avail as Hit & Hopes won a competitive and enjoyable match 9-3 by 12 pins to finish the year top by 6 points. Rosies Rebels dropped to 2^nd bottom in 11^th and will hope for a better 2025.

We next go to Eli’s where there was a festive feel here and especially the visitors in Dolphins who we will see in a photo later, but Dolphins aim was to finish the year in 2^nd and with also a rearranged game as well against Ham Boys later in the month it was important to get the win here. It wouldn’t be easy against the hosts Mucky Ducks who can be fantastic at times here and be off the boil too. Dolphins had players who could challenge for highest individual and the team score, but as much as they were impressive here, this didn’t happen as Pete Wescott continued his recent impressive with a high score of 60 and Dolphins finished with 408 including an 80 4^th hand as they cruised and glided to an 11-1 win by 50 pins to move to drop to 5^th but they had the game in hand to potentially move up to 2nd. Ducks have slipped at times this season, but 4 losses so far isn’t too bad as they are 6th.

We go to the 2^nd festive derby of the week as we go to Lamb & Lark to look at hosts Hotspots who at times have been superb this season with a noted win over Dolphins, but like Mucky Ducks they have slipped, and slipped when least expected too and find themselves in mid-table. They hosted their rival team Lamb & Larks who in turn are slowly but surely quietly working their way into promotion contention and find themselves in that very spot in 2nd. This had a cracker written on this one and promised to be a tight affair. This was not tight at all as only 1 side turned up and that was Lamb & Larks as Lofty top scored with 52 and the Larks were never troubled as they won the bragging rights 12-0 by 46 pins to stay 2^nd for the time being. Hotspots finished 2024 in 5^th spot and will want to challenge in 2025.

Next up we are off to Rose & Crown Bower Hinton. Hosts Thorns & Roses keep battling away in the bottom half of the table, but I do applaud them for the youngsters they have in their team as they continue to improve and enjoy their night out which for the latter is the reason we all play. Opponents S Club 8 are a very experienced team and have had a fairly decent 1^st half, but they need to get a run of form going if they are to be up in the top places. Thorns started well and were 11 up after the first 2 hands, but that’s as good as it went for them as S Club slowly but surely with better consistency of scoring reduced the deficit as they were 2 down after 4 hands. S Club then put their best hands in at the decisive stage of the match as they won 10-2 by 10 pins and moved up to 4^th with a genuine chance of being a serious contender for promotion in 2025. Thorns will continue to keep battling and finish the year in 9th.

We move to South Petherton Club where this match was originally cancelled, and then played on the 20^th as hosts Split Pins after issues with player illness managed to get the game played. This was a lower table match against bottom team Ham Boys who after usual struggles of lack of wins had suddenly hit recent good form, so this match had the feel it could go either way. This did go either way for 4 hands as Split Pins went 6 up after 2 hands, then Ham Boys were 4 up after 4 hands, but the match swung decisively in Split Pins favour as a win hand of 20 pins meant that despite a tight last hand win from Ham Boys it didn’t matter, as Split Pins won 9-3 by 15 pins to finish the year in 10^th and Ham Boys stay 12th.

Before that match there was another rearrangement as Dolphins had a big chance to finish the year in 2^nd spot, as they hosted Ham Boys who were on that recent good form I said about, but even that recent good form for Ham Boys would’ve needed that and some more if they were to compete against a strong Dolphins  side. Ham Boys were looking for the shock as they were 8 up after the first 2 hands. Sligh improvement from Dolphins meant the lead for Ham Boys was cut to 6, but the dram unfolded at the end as there was not much improvement from Dolphins which left Ham Boys a real chance of the shock win, but all the good that came from Ham Boys unravelled spectacularly as they somehow managed to blow needing 26 from the last 5 to the result being Dolphins winning by 3 pins 9-3. Dolphins will count themselves very lucky and huge relief was had as they indeed finish the half in 2nd. Ham Boys 2 losses in those week mean they finish bottom in 12th.

The last Mini League match of the 1^st half was at Lord Nelson as Chris Westwood and his merry men hosted Mandys Bell Boys in a clash for more points to rise up the table. This was a low scoring affair and never got going, but hosts Lord Nelson won 10-2 by 9 pins to move up to 4th. Mandys Bell Boys are winless in 10th.

This has published after the Christmas festivities, but from myself and all the committee we hope you have all had a brilliant Christmas with your families and a prosperous and happy 2025. Here are some team photos and I thank everyone for your continued support. What will happen in 2025!