Martock & District Skittles League
Welcome to the Martock & District Skittles League Website
This site is provided for use by all skittlers in the league (and anyone else interested) to find out what is happening – results, tables, meetings, cup finals, presentation nights, AGMs etc. If you have any comments or suggestions on how to improve the site contact one of the administrators. (email addresses on the Contact Us page).
LATEST NEWS
SWAN SHANKS HAVE MOVED!
Sadly, the Black Swan in Langport recently closed its doors. This required the Swan Shanks to quickly find a new alley. They have been lucky enough to be able to move back to the Crown Inn at Fivehead, where they will play their remaining fixtures this season. The closure of the Black Swan also means that Ham Boys “clash” fixtures at Eli’s will now be played at the King’s Head at High Ham. The Captain of teams affected should be (or have already been) contacted by Darren Cousins and Colin Rock. Interesting times!!
SKITTLES FOOD 2025-26
Here is the list of who is and isn’t doing food this season. Any errors or changes let Steve Lonton or Pete Wescott know. NOTE TO CAPTAINS OF TEAMS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE FOOD: Please ensure that the opposing Team Captain is aware of whether your team would like food when playing on their alley.
Steve’s Roving Report
Hello All.
4 weeks left of the league season and nothing is certain in both divisions.
In Division 1, leaders Duke of York entered their biggest fixtures of the season with destiny of the league title in their own hands but the first of the big fixtures was a tough one as they were at Bakers Arms to face 3rd place Bakers Big Arms who are having a great season so this was bound to be a cracker of a match. 2nd place Stoke WMC still hoping for a slip from the leaders had a tricky away match at East Lambrook this week as they faced home team VIPS who are not out of the woods yet with relegation so Stoke had to be at their best here. 4th place Monkey Spankers hoped to continue their recent good form as they were away to Nelsons Nomads who are in the thick of the relegation battle so this was another key battle especially at the bottom end of the table. Bakers Rogues are on a 6 game winning streak and up to 5th at the moment and looked to make it 7 as they travelled to Rusty Axe to face Pornstars who desperately need form to turn as they sit in the relegation spot of 11th so its now or never for them. Seahawks in mid-table were looking for a decent home win as they entertained S Club 8 who have made the relegation picture interesting with their good recent form. Nobbys Nuts look safe for another season and they had a home match this week against bottom team Rusty Axe who are running out of matches to save themselves from the drop and needed to win here to give themselves hope of a escape.
Division 2 leaders Lamb & Larks are looking good for promotion and champions as 14 points clear with 48 to play for means they are realistically 3 wins away but anything can still happen and they had to stay focused on the prize as they were home this week to Ham Boys who have dropped down the table faster than a stone from a tall building and could challenge Thorns & Roses for the Wooden Spoon. Newly crowned Nomination Cup Champions Crown Shanks need to focus on promotion and hope that Larks slip a little as they hosted mid-table Mandys Bell Boys who can throw surprise results here and there.
Split Pins are in the mix for promotion and they had a home match this week as they faced lower half of the table Lord Nelson. 4th place Dolphins are not out of the scene yet regarding promotion and they could score heavy as they were away at Elis to hosts and 5th place Mucky Ducks. Mid-table Stoke Buoys hosted bottom team and Wooden Spoon favourites Thorns & Roses and in lower table action Rosies Rebels hosted Hotspots. I will also cover a recent back match between hosts Ham Boys and Hotspots.
Could Round 19 produce any twists! Lets get on with the action.
Division 1
The obvious place to start is at Bakers Arms as 3rd place and hosts Bakers Big Arms are playing some very decent skittles right now and look good to stay in 3rd but mathematically they can still jump into 2nd and maybe win the league if the top 2 lose, but this was the start of a massive run in for the opposition and leaders Duke of York who have 4 of the top 5 and needed to keep their 11 point lead intact with a crucial win here. The opening hands from Bakers Big Arms were very cold as although Geez got a 10 spare that saved the hands from being horrendous as 49,52 was not the big start they wanted to achieve against the leaders. Duke of York seeing this had the chance to get a big lead here but although the scoring was fairly consistent they could’ve done with a spare to achieve a bigger lead than they had as 56,53 meant they won both hands which was a good start but an 8 pin lead felt like a let off for Big Arms. The middle two hands turned the match in Big Arms favour as from 1 to 8 they were superb as a plethora of 7s, 8s and 9s and Rooster with a 15-spare meant they were back in the match as 61,68 meant huge pressure on Duke to keep pace. Duke certainly warmed to the task but were struggling to get any high scores and Martin Lee bolting a spare was very key as 59,57 meant that it was 2 hands each and Big Arms had a lead of 5. This was now a huge last two hands and Big Arms carried on their form from the middle hands as there was an 11 spare early and then scores were decent as they hit 60,61 and left Duke a mountain to climb as they needed 63,64 to win. It needed heroes and in the past Duke have had them but it didn’t happen as the pressure finally cracked and the lack of spares meant they couldn’t get near and 56,49 meant that Bakers Big Arms won 10-2 by 21 pins to stay 3rd and blow the title race open. Duke of York are still top but the lead has been cut significantly, by how many we will find out next!
We next go to Rose & Crown at East Lambrook and to the hosts VIPS who are not yet safe from relegation just yet but they do need a win or 2 to make sure so it was important but also tough this week as the visitors were title chasing Stoke WMC who can only keep winning and hoping at the moment and this signified a tricky match for them so they had too be on it from the start. VIPs started average at best as there was the odd 9 and a couple of 8s but generally the scores were low and two 52s was not the good start they hoped for. Stoke WMC had the chance to impose themselves on the match early but they struggled at times too with Ricky especially starting with two 4s! Despite this though Stoke managed to be better in the opening exchanges as 54,56 meant both hands won and a 6 pin lead. The middle hands took a familiar trend for VIPS as they just couldn’t impose themselves on the match and every time there was a decent score there was a weak one too so two 50’s was pretty much giving Stoke a big chance to wrestle the game away from VIPS. You just don’t give Stoke a second chance as they indeed went to work and Deano with a 15 spare with good scores around it meant a big 65 hand and 53 to follow it meant they were 4-0 up on hands and 24 up. The gravity of the match for VIPS seemed to wake them up as they suddenly all played decently and Craig with a big 17 spare was superb for a score of 50 and 62,58 had the feeling of being too late as Stoke WMC needed 97 pins to win the match which looked fairly mundane. There were a few squeaky moments but skipper Graham Brimble with a 13 spare calmed the choppy waters and 54,56 meant they lost the hands but ended up winning 10-2 by 14 pins to now cut the lead to Duke of York to 3 points. VIPS wished they played like they did in the last hands but the loss means they are still not safe in 8th.
Next we go to Lord Nelson as hosts Nelsons Nomads are right in the thick of the relegation battle and being one of 5 teams in it currently they had to make home advantage count here but it wouldn’t be a simple one as their opponents were 4th placed Monkey Spankers who have found their mojo again after a horrid start to the 2nd half which killed their league title chances but good form is always great at any time so they hoped for another good win here. The start for Nomads was very worrying as they just couldn’t put anything substantial on the board and 52,41 meant this could be a painful night for them. Spankers opening salvo was very good and highly consistent as the odd score of 6 but the rest 7 and above meant 58,63 took them out to a big opening lead of 28 pins. Nomads certainly couldn’t do no worse than their opening and they did indeed improve with a few better scores of 7 and above but 53,50 was still weak and it felt like Spankers were ready to deliver a battering here. They did have a wobble in the middle order but Rosco was up to his old tricks with a 13 spare and 52,60 meant the game was as good as done as the lead was now 37 pins. Nomads need to show some fight and battling qualities if they are to stay up for another season and they certainly did that as the improvement continued but the spares were not there and 55,53 meant a poultry 72 pins to win for Spankers. DS and LR both hit 14 spares to take Spankers to a comfortable 66,58 which meant a big win 11-1 by 53 pins to stay 4th and continue their good form. Nomads are in deep trouble as they drop to 10th.
We go to Rusty Axe where another team in big trouble in the relegation battle is host team Pornstars who have had horrid form this half and have dropped into the relegation place of 11th and have to really win this match to dig themselves out of the predicament they are in but they faced in form Bakers Rogues who are on a winning run of 6 in a row which like Spankers is a good boost towards the end of the season but probably wished they did that earlier. Pornstars and Rogues always have had great battles in the past and this one had the makings to do the same provided Pornstars got off to a strong start. It wasn’t a bad start from the hosts as they were good with 8’s and 9’s throughout and 53,58 was a fairly decent start. Rogues however are in great form and sped out of the blocks as skipper Paul Gould opened with an 11 spare and then Kev Rawle with a 15 spare was a superb start and Dave with a 15 spare meant with all 3 spares in the opening hand a big 74 hand was achieved to go along with 57 and Rogues were 20 up. That deficit sparked the Stars into life as Dean Male with a 15 spare and Tim Crawley with a 16 spare meant 53,72 for the Stars and they felt they were back in the game. Rogues were keeping their great scoring going though as Paul Batten with a spare and Maf Keates with a 16 spare meant 63,56. The lead though was cut as Rogues led by 14 pins. This match had come to life and was superb from both sides and we hoped for a crescendo ending and Pornstars for once were brilliant as Guy Dare hit two vital spares of 12 and 13 and good backup around him meant 64,65 and they asked the question of Rogues as two 58s were needed for Rogues to win 7 in a row. The wheel that has been going strong for Rogues fell off in a big way as they just couldn’t get to the winning line and desite Maf hitting 53 it was Pornstars who deserved the win here 10-2 by 15 pins with Tim Crawley top scoring with 53, Pornstars are out of the relegation zone and are 9th. Rogues last hands lost them the game here as they stay 5th.
Off to Stoke Club for the first time and to the bottom alley as Seahawks have been mixed with their form and in 6th in mid table means they are meandering to the end of the season. Their opponents were improving S Club 8 who are making this a cracking relegation battle with their good form and wouldn’t be fazed by their stronger opponents and tough alley. The opening hands from Seahawks were not great as the top half struggled but 7s and 8s from the bottom half made the hands a little better as 47,51 was a weak start. S Club struggled in their opening reply as their were too many weak scores of 4s and 5s and despite winning a hand 49,46 meant a lead of 3 for Seahawks. The home team needed to make it count and Pete certainly did that as two spares of 12 and 13 gave a big surge to Seahawks and good scores around him meant 56,64 and big pressure on S Club 8. The continuation of low scores from S Club did not help their cause and 48,50 meant the lead for Seahawks grew to 25.
They needed to finish the match well and leave S Club a target they had no chance of getting but they seemed to go backwards and the low scores flared up again as 52,45 meant S Club still needed 61,62 to win. A bolted 9 spare from Guy was good but mattered little as they got nowhere near the target as 55,45 did mean a consolation of the last two hands for them but Seahawks won 9-3 by 22 pins to stay in 6th place. S Club did pick up more valuable points in defeat though but they drop to 11th.
We go to Bell at Ash as hosts Nobbys Nuts seem to also be meandering a little towards the end of the season as they look pretty much safe from any thoughts of relegation so they had the chance to pile pins and points on as the visitors were bottom team Rusty Axe as they are running out of time to save themselves from relegation and need an escape act like Houdini to help them!
Adam Westlake with a 16 spare and Liam with a 10 spare got Nobbys off to a good start as 57,64 was a good opening. Rusty weren’t bad in their opening but lack of a spare crippled them as 54,56 meant an 11 pin lead for Nobbys Nuts. The middle hands fired Nobbys into hot form as Dicky hit a big 17 spare and Adam continued his good night with a 13 spare and with good backup it meant two 67s and untold pressure on Rusty Axe. The visitors fought well though as Paul with a 15 spare and Dale with a 10 spare gave good impetus but 59,56 meant the lead for Nobbys grew to 30 and all 4 hands won. No spares for Nobbys in the last hands but lots of 8s was decent and Adam Westlake top scoring with 57 gave Nobbys 59,62 as their final hands and Rusty needed an impossible 75,76 to win. They did their best and Paul top scored with 52 but 53,59 was not enough as Nobbys Nuts got a big win here 12-0 by 39 pins to stay in 7th. If results go against them next week and they don’t win Rusty Axe will be confirmed as relegated to Division 2.
Division 2
The Division 2 title is ever looking likely to go to Lamb & Larks as they have 1 hand on the title and with every win that second hand is tightening its grip. They were home this week to struggling Ham Boys who just can’t buy a win this half and are in a position where they could challenge for the Wooden Spoon with Thorns & Roses. Larks were ok in the opening hands with a few 8s involved but Tiz with a 10 spare gave the hands a decent look as 54,57 was not a bad start but could’ve been better. It was a mixture from Ham Boys in the opening reply as the first hand was dire but the second was decent as 7s, the odd 8 and 9 was achieved as 46,59 meant that it was 1 hand each and Larks were 6 up. It was a struggle for Larks in the middle hands as they couldn’t seem to get the big scores they needed to make the match more comfortable for them and mixes of 5 through to 9 meant the hands were low and 52,53 meant a chance for Ham Boys here. That chance looked lost on them as they couldn’t score heavily and 44,54 meant somehow Larks had a lead of 13. Friar had a 14 spare which helped the leaders greatly but the struggles still happened for them and 53,57 meant an unlikely two 62’s to win for Ham Boys. The chase was not going great but the bottom 2 sparked into life and Colin S with a 16 spare to hit a total of 52 and Bex with a 14 spare for 51 gave Larks a fright as they hit 58,56 but Larks ground out a 9-3 win by 9 pins to extend the lead to 21 points and are possibly one win away from promotion and champions. Ham Boys gave Larks all they could handle but the loss means they stay 11th.
Off to Fivehead now and to a crucial clash for the hosts Crown Shanks who firstly must be congratulated for being the new Nomination Cup Champions!! They still have hopes of doing the double and being Division 2 champions but their recent results have most likely meant they will have to settle for 2nd and promotion but they needed to focus and win here against their opponents Mandys Bell Boys who are always game and will give a battle to anyone they play. Ollie started well with two 9s but Chels with a 1 meant an oh dear moment! Skipper Darren with a 10 spare meant low scores of 58,51 and not a good start. Nick for Mandys Bell Boys hit a 14 spare which was brilliant for them and a 9 spare from Dan T meant 62,59 and both hands were won and a 12 pin lead for Mandys Bell Boys. It needed a big response from Shanks and it got one from Ollie as he was bang in form with a 17 spare and Rob L with a 13 spare followed that up nicely and good backup meant 62,72 and much more like Shanks with their scoring. Dan S with a 14 spare, Juls with a 12 spare and Mandy Cornelius with an 11 spare was good stuff from the visitors and 63,61 did meant though the lead for Mandys was still there but cut to 2 pins and a big last two hands from both teams was needed. It just wasn’t happening for Shanks thought and despite a 12 spare and a 14 spare from skipper Darren meant 64,62 and Mandys needed 125 pins to win. Dan S started the chase well with a 12 spare and hit a total of 52 but Mandy was superb as a 17 spare turned the game back in their favour and 125 pins was achieved as 59,66 meant that Mandys Bell Boys got a shock win here by 1 pin 10-2 and are 7th. Division 2 is all but gone now for Shanks as they are 21 points behind in 2nd but promotion must be their aim.
Next we go to South Petherton Club and to hosts Split Pins who continue to show good form in the race for promotion and with Crown Shanks coming back into reach for them it was now imperative they don’t slip. They hosted lower table Lord Nelson who have had a bit of an up and down season and certainly were the underdogs going into this match. Josh started superbly for Split Pins with a 13 spare, but there was a mix of scores which led to 52,61 and not a bad start. Mike with a duck did not help the start for Lord Nelson and it led to a first hand score of 39 which was bad but 56 to follow was ok, Split Pins lead was 18 and 2 hands up. Harvs with a 15 spare turned the screw on Nelson and despite Split Pins having another 52 hand there was a 64 as well and Nelson already had to do something special to make a game of it. Nelsons mixed bag of scoring continued and without any spares they just couldn’t arrest the slide as 53,51 meant Split Pins were in the ascendency a they were 30 up and all 4 hands won. Dave had a hero moment with a 14 spare then a zero moment with a 2! Flunky hit a 12 spare which led to Split Pins hitting 59,58 and Lord Nelson needing an improbable two 74s to win. They did well in the chase with Shaun hitting an 11 spare and skipper Chris Westwood finishing off with a 13 spare but they were nowhere near as 61,52 meant that Split Pins won comfortably 11-1 by 34 pins to stay 3rd and close to 5 points behind Crown Shanks in 3rd. Lord Nelson were well beaten here and are 9th.
We go to Elis next for 5th vs 4th as host team and 5th placed Mucky Ducks are best of the rest as there’s a massive gap to the top 4 to the point where the top 4 are pretty much set for the end of the season so Mucky Ducks could have a bit of fun here on their high scoring alley and so could their 4th placed visitors in Dolphins who still harbour hopes of promotion especially with Crown Shanks being reigned in now so this was important for Dolphins chances to get a good win here. A decent start from Mucky Ducks as their anchorman hit a 16 spare and opening hands of 69,58 was not too bad but maybe a few light perhaps. It certainly was light as Russ with a 10 spare, skipper Pete with a opening 17, and Marc Webber with a 15 spare meant 68,75 and Dolphins led by 16 pins. Ducks struggled in the middle hands but a 14 spare meant hands of 64,55 which weren’t great considering Dolphins big scoring. The visitors continued to score big and Joe with a 14 spare and Marc with his 2nd spare of 17 and hands of 72,64 meant Dolphins had a big lead of 33 and looked good for a big win and a big team score. Ducks refused to give in though and a 16 spare in the top half meant decent hands of 67,59 but Dolphins only needed 47,46 to win this which considering their powerful scoring looked a walk in the park. Pete finished with a brilliant 57, Paule with 52 and Joe with 54 but undoubtedly the man of the moment was Marc Webber with a 3rd spare of 11 narrowly missed out on the highest away individual score as he hit a fantastic 68 as Dolphins hit 67,62 for a total of 408 and won 11-1 by 36 pins to stay 4th and well in the hunt for promotion. Ducks were outplayed here and stay 5th.
The 2nd match at Stoke Club was on the top alley with mid-table hosts Stoke Buoys looking to continue decent form and despite losing out in the Nomination Plate final to Pornstars they wanted to continue decent form in the 2nd half. The visitors were bottom placed and still Wooden Spoon favourites Thorns & Roses who are now being challenged to that bottom spot now by Ham Boys so we will see what will transpire at the end of the season, but they did have a decent chance here. Stoke Buoys started mildly with a mixture of scores and ended up with 53,47 which wasn’t quite the start they wanted. Likewise a mixture of scores from Thorns but they tied the first hand of 53 and won the 2nd with 50 so the lead for Thorns was 3 and 2 hands to the good. It got better for the Buoys as they hit decent scores in the middle hands with 7s,8s and 9s involved and 57,50 meant a bit of pressure on Thorns. Apart from Taylor with an 8,9 it was a real struggle for Thorns and 45,49 gave Stoke Buoys both hands and were now 10 up. There were a couple of 9s in Stoke Buoys final hands but a real mix of scores meant only 52,50 was hit and left Thorns a possible 57,56 to win. Taylor was superb for Thorns and two 9s gave him top score of 48 but the rest couldn’t get near and 44,54 meant a low scoring win for Stoke Buoys 9-3 by 14 pins and they stay 6th. Thorns & Roses stay bottom in 12th.
Next to Rose & Crown Bower Hinton and to the hosts Rosies Rebels who I fully believe will not retain the Wooden Spoon this season as they have had a much better season than previous! They are in the lower half but were favourites as they hosted 2nd bottom Hotspots who continue to have their struggles getting wins on the board but as long as they are enjoying their Friday nights then that’s all that matters. It was a typically low scoring affair as Rosies had mixes of low scores early on but Kev with two 8s and Wayne with 9,8 gave Rebels 49,54 and a fairly decent start. Hotspots also had their issues with low scores aplenty but a 9 spare was decent but 44,50 for them meant a lead for Rebels as they were 9 to the good. Kev continued his good form with 8,9 but Rebels only hit 51,49 which gave Hotspots hope of a comeback into the match. The middle of the hands was decent from Hotspots as there was another 9 spare from the same man which is a bit unlucky! They didn’t score great though as 46,52 meant an 11 pin lead for Rebels and a home win looked likely. Rebels did their best to chuck it away though and although Kev top scored with 46, it was final hands of 49,47 meaning that Hotspots needed two 54’s to win which wasn’t insurmountable. As hard as they tried and a top score of 47 just wasn’t quite enough and they got so close but Rebels held on for the win 9-3 by 4 pins and they are 8th. Hotspots were unlucky to lose here but stay 11th.
In the backmatch played a few days before these matches, Elis was the venue for the hosts Ham Boys and the visitors were Hotspots in a lower table clash of experienced teams. It was a decent match with Car hitting an 11 spare and Colin S hitting a 16 spare for Ham Boys. The undoubted stars were Hotspots though as Glen with a 17 spare for a total of 55 and Olly had a man of the match performance with two spares of 14 and 15 for a total of 61 and Hotspots won 10-2 by 31 pins.
Duke of York’s loss this week has mad the title race a big cliffhanger now and with 3 matches to go and the top 2 playing each other it could be a title showdown! Division 2 could be the coronation for Lamb & Larks as a big win could see them champions but playing Dolphins is tricky for them.
Cheers all
Steve
