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
Hi Everyone!
The penultimate league week Round 21 is upon us and questions at both ends of the table are starting to become more clearer.
Division 1 is very much in the hands of the reigning champs Stoke WMC with longtime leaders Duke of York having a horrid last 2 weeks it means the lead for Stoke is 6 points and with Duke not playing this week due to Monkey Spankers sunning it up in Portugal there was an opportunity for Stoke to increase the lead further and put big pressure on Duke to beat Spankers on Good Friday. Stoke were at Rusty Axe to play Pornstars who needed points preferably a win to save themselves from a last week shootout with S Club 8 so both ends of the table were affected in this one. Bakers Big Arms could also take advantage of the cancelled match between Duke and Spankers as there was the Bakers Derby as Big Arms hosted Rogues and for the hosts the runners up spot was still up for grabs. Mid-table clash was at Stoke Club on the bottom alley as Seahawks hosted Nobbys Nuts. VIPs hosted Rusty Axe and for the visitors if they were to lose again then relegation will be confirmed and there was also a huge relegation battle at Lord Nelson as hosts Nelsons Nomads faced S Club 8. The hosts win and they are safe and if the visitors win there could be a 3 way battle in the last week. Division 2 leaders Lamb & Larks need 6 points to be champions and were massive favourites as they faced bottom team Thorns & Roses who if the latter lost would confirm the Wooden Spoon. The promotion battle is at a critical stage for Crown Shanks who must not slip as they hosted Ham Boys, and for Split Pins it was the same scenario as they hosted Rosies Rebels. Dolphins who look like their race is run for promotion were away at Bell Ash as they faced Mandys Bell Boys. Mucky Ducks faced Lord Nelson and Stoke Buoys hosted Hotspots in mid-table clashes.
Could the league title, relegation and promotion picture be more clearer in the penultimate week Round 21 round of fixtures! Lets go with the action!!
Division 1
We start this critical round of fixtures at Rusty Axe and this matchup was massive at both ends of the table. Hosts Pornstars knew this was their time for them to secure their Division 1 status for another year and in getting that win here would open up the title race again as their opponents were leaders Stoke WMC who are seizing the moment and their ultra consistency has ground down their rivals Duke of York and now this is the time for them to take advantage of Duke’s no game this week and heap huge pressure on them before the possible league decider between them both. The start was key for the hosts to exert positivity and pressure the leaders but the start again was weak and although Josh and Liam started decently the low scores of 47,53 would mean Stoke could pile the pressure early on here. The leaders started like champions as Jake with a 13 spare and loads of 7s and 9s around it with Tommy adding another 13 spare meant a great start of 70,59 and a big lead of 29 which put Pornstars way behind the game and a positive reaction was needed. The middle hands were better from Pornstars but it started slowly again which meant pressure on the rest, but Josh with a13 spare, Tim with a 9 spare and Liam with a 14 spare showed real fight that they needed to secure their Division 1 status as 70,52 gave them a way back into the game. The reason Stoke are top that when they don’t get spares they continue to hit pins and decent scores and the middle hands was evident of that as they all contributed, but 59,58 cut the lead slightly to 24 and Pornstars needed magic to force issues for the leaders. As hard as they tried the magic just didn’t shine and although scores were ok it wasn’t big enough as 54,52 meant 83 pins to win for Stoke WMC. There was the odd wobble but nothing to concern Stoke as they glided to an important win here 11-1 by 30 pins to extend the lead to 17 points and put the ball back in Dukes court to win their game in a weeks time. Pornstars heavy loss means the relegation fight goes to the last game against S Club 8 where they need 1 point to survive as they drop to 10th.
Duke of York were due to host Monkey Spankers in a key game for Dukes chances to take the league title to the league decider but they were against in form Spankers who wouldn’t roll over easy in this fixture. This was cancelled by Spankers as they had a team break in sunny Portugal so the game will be played on Good Friday (April 3rd) with the gap at 17 points and all eyes will be there.
Next we go to the Bakers Arms for the ‘Bakers Derby’ as hosts Bakers Big Arms with a win here will not only take the bragging rights but also keep pressure on the situation at the top of the league with the chance of finishing runners up still a realistic possibility. Their opponents Bakers Rogues delivered a massive blow to the title race last week beating Duke of York and felt like being the spoilers again to their rival side as they looked to wreck Big Arms chances of possible silverware. Big Arms struggled to start with but the bottom 3 of Rooster, Gaff and Leon got going and got them to a decent start of 54,58. Rogues were similar in their scoring and would’ve probably had a lead but
Paul H with a untimely duck meant that Rogues hit 46,60 and Big Arms had an early 6 pin lead. The middle hands was a war of attrition for Big Arms and the odd 4s thrown in took the gloss of what was looking like decent hands but 57,53 wasn’t too bad but Rogues would feel they could get back in the match with a better reply. Likewise Rogues kept plugging away and 7s,8s and 9s were a feature of their reply and 59,57 meant we headed into the last two hands with both teams all square. Big Arms needed to muscle their way to victory and the last hands was more grit and determination as they kept pinning as much as possible and 59,56 meant that for Rogues to win the bragging rights they needed two 58’s to win. Low scores in the top half meant it was an uphill struggle for Rogues and despite a decent finish they fell away and the might of Babers Big Arms was just too strong as they won 8-4 by 9 pins to stay 3rd and move to 2 points behind Duke of York for 2nd spot. Bakers Rogues were unfortunate here as they are now 6th.
Off to Stoke Club for the first time this week and to the bottom alley as hosts Seahawks are back up to 5th and hoping to finish the season strongly and this week they hoped to do just that as the visitors were Nobbys Nuts who are plodding along to a lower half finish and would like to finish the season strongly as well. Opener and our chairman Barry Cullimore started strongly with an 11 spare but Seahawks struggled a little after that with a mix of scores and hand scores of 55,50 was ok but would’ve liked more. The lack of a spare and a few low scores meant that Nobbys Nuts couldn’t quite get going and 52,44 gave Seahawks a 9 pin lead. The hosts were much more solid in the middle hands as the 7s,8s and 9s came out more and 55,58 was much more like it and put Nobbys Nuts under a bit of pressure. The visitors battled away and got better as anchor Keith M hit a 12 spare and scores of 50,55 meant that Seahawks were 17 up and all 4 hands to the good. James for Seahawks had an interesting night as a 2 early in the night turned on its head as hit an 11 to finish but they went a bit downhill as two 50’s meant that Nobbys Nuts needed an unlikely two 59’s to win. They got 1 half of the job done as Dicky hit a 13 spare for a 62 hand but a 47 to follow meant they fell short of the target and Seahawks won 11-1 by 8 pins to stay in 5th position. Nobbys Nuts tight loss here means they are 8th.
Next we go to Rose & Crown at East Lambrook and to the hosts VIPS who are safe for another year and will be glad after a humbling season in which it was completely different to last and will hope to finish strongly in the last two games. For the visitors Rusty Axe time is up as they have to win this and the last game and hope a miracle happens if they are to stay up but a loss here and they would be confirmed as relegated from Division 1. It was a bit of a average start from the hosts as they battled away and 52,49 wasn’t the start they hoped for but the alley does have a bearing here. Low scores has been the story of Rusty Axe’s season and they came again too frequently as 42,50 meant the hosts were 11 up. The middle hands were much better from VIPS and limited low scores meant the hands had a healthier look as 52,57 wielded the axe on their opponents. Rusty were better themselves but were struggling to keep with VIPS as 52,53 gave VIPS a 15 pin lead. The last hands were very solid with 7s and 8s a feature and 55,59 meant in order for Rusty Axe to save their Division 1 status they had to get two 65s which is a tall order here. It was too much for them in the chase and nothing went right as 54,45 meant that VIPS won 11-1 by 28 pins to stay in 7th. This result confirms Rusty Axe’s relegation but with 1 game to go they can have a relegation party! They are confirmed bottom in 12th.
To a big game at Lord Nelson as hosts Nelsons Nomads are in the relegation battle to stay afloat but this match was a key game as the visitors are 1 place below them and likewise battling to stay afloat in S Club 8. This was massive as if Nelsons Nomads won they would effectively be safe but if S Club 8 won the there would be 3 teams in a battle on the last week to save themselves. As always the start sets the tone and Nomads had a pretty decent start and maybe were unlucky to not have a few more but 51,59 was a good decent start. The start was also important for the visitors and at times it was good but a mix of low scores meant that it blighted them and 43,55 gave Nomads a 12 pin lead. Adam with an 11 spare started Nomads off well but it was very mixed from Nomads as they badly struggled on 1 hand with a total of 44 but Neil also had a 12 spare to back up Adams spare and 63 to follow was a good recovery and meant that S Club had to find something from somewhere if they were too get back in the match. Fortune favours the brave but S Club had no fortune and too many low scores meant they actually tied the 44 hand which was the worst thing that could happen and even with a great effort of 57 to follow it meant Nomads won all 4 hands and were up by 18. The hosts went into overdrive and played some of the best skittles they have played all season with everyone contributing greatly. Mocky with a 9 spare, and Harry with an 11 spare gave Nomads 66,59 which was brilliant for them and left S Clubs chances in tatters as they needed two 72s to win! That was way too much and they got nowhere near as the pressure was too much and 47,42 meant that Nomads had the perfect result of 12-0 by 54 pins and with that have confirmed their Division 1 status for another season. This was a very bad result for S Club 8 and in the do or die last match against Pornstars at home they have to win 12-0 otherwise they are down with Rusty Axe, they are 11th.
Division 2
Lamb & Larks are confirmed as promoted to Division 1, but this week was the golden ticket as any win would mean they are confirmed as deserved champions of Division 2. They’re opponents Thorns & Roses are bottom, and a defeat here would mean they would take the Wooden Spoon, and the likelihood of this happening was very likely as the hosts and leaders were massive favourites here. Opener Rearon is also their sticker up and a player for the future as he has played brilliantly all season and nothing changed here as he hit a 14 spare, but after that the hands were a tale of two halves as the top half were good and the bottom half not so good which led to 46,55 and not a brilliant start from the champs in waiting. Opener Taylor replied to Rearon with his own spare of 13 but being bottom of the table means you generally struggle with scores and after that they were not at the races as 47,42 meant that Larks were up by 12 pins. It was hard graft in the middle hands for the hosts as there was mixed success for everyone and 51,56 kept the pressure on
Thorns & Roses. The visitors reply by in large very decent with 7s, 8s and 9s a feature and 53,57 meant they were 3-1 up in hands but Larks were 9 up. The top 3 for Larks have been superb all season and Rearon top scored with 49 and Andy Webb hit a 13 spare and with general decent backup it meant their best hands consistently of the night as 52,60 meant that to stop them being champions Thorns & Roses needed two 61s to win. Taylor finished superbly with 49 but the target was too much and 44,54 meant that Lamb & Larks are……
Congratulations to Lamb & Larks as they are confirmed Division 2 Champions with a battling 9-3 win by 23 pins and can have a champions party on the last week. The loss for Thorns & Roses means they are also confirmed bottom and win the Wooden Spoon!
We now look at the promotion race and we go to Crown at Fivehead and to Crown Shanks who knew their title chances had gone weeks ago but they must keep their belief as they do have promotion to sort out and that is not sealed yet as their battle with Split Pins enters the penultimate week and could yet go to the final week when they play each other. Shanks were massive favourites as it was 2nd vs 2nd bottom as the visitors were Ham Boys who were very likely to continue their massive losing run but who knows as they are very capable of some big scores. There was the odd blip in the opening hands from Shanks but by in large they hit very decently and Shane with a big 16 spare got Shanks off to a decent start with 64,61. Ham Boys reply was exactly like their form as they just haven’t played well at all and there was big struggles in the opening hands as they hit 54,46 and Shanks were 25 up. The importance for Shanks was to keep up their scoring form and not let anything slip and the middle hands were really good especially from Rob Cornelius who hit a 15 spare and the bottom half finished well with anchorman and skipper Darren Cousins hitting a 13 spare and 54 and a big 72 hand effectively killed any chances Ham Boys had unless an earthquake started to form. To their credit they always battle hard and there were a few 9s in the mix but 54,57 which extended Shanks lead to 40. This was much more like the Shanks we have seen for most of the season and Shane with a huge 18 spare to hit 57, Rob L had an 11 spare and Matt Irving was supreme with a 12 spare for 52 all in the same hand as that was a 78 hand and although the other hand was a 53 Ham Boys needed a massive two 86s to win which was impossible. The visitors skittled well though despite the task in front of them and 8s and 9s gave them two very decent hands of 57,63 but Crown Shanks won comfortably 11-1 by 51 pins to stay 2nd and will see if they are promoted or not? Ham Boys toiled under lots of pressure as they are 11th.
We are off to South Petherton Club and to hosts Split Pins who need to win both their last matches to give themselves every chance and when the last one is their promotion rivals Crown Shanks away it was massive that they win this game to give themselves a chance. Their opponents were lower half team Rosies Rebels and will have a mini celebration that they can give the Wooden Spoon to Thorns & Roses! The home team was the favourite, but promotion pressure can have an effect. The start was decent from Split Pins as Kev hit an 11 spare and skipper George McCarthy hit a 14 spare as 54,59 was a good opening from them. Rebels did well in their opening reply with plenty of 8s but Tracy with an unfortunate 0 (Duck) meant that thy were slightly short as 52,54 meant that Split Pins were 7 pins up. Opener Dave for Split Pins went from rags to riches as a 4 then a big 16 spare was scored but most had mixed scores which led to mixed hands as 47 and 61 kept Rebels interested. 8s were the story for Rebels especially with Phil Rowswell who had all 8s so far and 52,58 cut the lead as Split Pins were now 5 up. The home team needed a strong finish, but it was a struggle at times and they had to rely on George as he had a fabulous evening as he had a 9 spare and finished with 53. This meant hands of 50,52 and Rebels had a very achievable target of two 54s to win. They started terribly as a duck from Luke and a 1 from Kym put them under immense pressure but Kym did finish strongly with a 13 spare which turned things around for them, but they were behind and needed a hero and Phil Rowswell was that with a 13 spare to hit a total of 51 and give anchorman Wayne a chance to win the match as an 8 and a 9 would do just that. He hit a 6 and a 7 and Split Pins scraped through with a 10-2 win by 3 pins and stay 3rd but they are 9 points behind Crown Shanks and with them plating each other Split Pins need 11-1 or more to be promoted, anything less and Crown Shanks will be promoted. Rosies Rebels were unlucky here as they are 9th.
Off to Bell at Ash for hosts Mandys Bell Boys who have spent most of their time in the lower half of the division but they are definitely a fun team and a team all teams look forward to playing for that reason. Their opponents were Dolphins who will spend another season in Division 2 but again their challenge has faltered but a great season nonetheless and they will have another crack at promotion again next season. Opener Dan S started like a firework as two spares of 16 and 13 lit the blue touch paper for the match and scoring was pretty good generally and 64,66 was a brilliant opening. The opening for Dolphins was mixed to start with but the bottom 3 went berserk as Paul S hit two 9s, Joe hit a 15 spare and then Marc Webber who is in scintillating form hit a 18 spare and that gave them hands of 65,66 and a 1 pin lead. The middle hands lacked punch from Mandys Bell Boys as the scoring was decent, it just needed a couple of spares to accelerate them as 56,57 was a bit low. Skipper Pete Wescott got a 10 spare which was then followed by the other two Pauls as Paul E hit a 16 spare and then followed by Paul B as he had a 9 spare which meant 65,58 which advanced the lead for Dolphins to 11 pins. Juls pulled a cracking 14 spare for Bell Boys and Dan S finished with 53, but Mandys Bell Boys decent scores of 62,53 felt light and left Dolphins needing 52,53 to win. It was a superb chase from Dolphins as Derek Goad hit a 13 spare which was then followed by decent scores from the rest and then the express train of Marc Webber finished with a 12 spare for another fantastic score of 61 as total scores of 55,70 meant that Dolphins won 11-1 by 21 to stay in 4th and whatever happens they will stay there and another great season they have had. Mandys Bell Boys lost out in a great game here as they are 7th.
We go to a mid-table match now and the venue is Eli’s as hosts Mucky Ducks will rue their first half form as if they had good form then we would be talking about them for promotion but they are where they are and 5th is a pretty good position. With a couple of games to go they would hope to finish well and their hosts were lower mid-table Lord Nelson who have had a up and down season but they are always fun to play against and will hope for a positive last two matches to finish on a high. A 13 spare in the mid-order from Mucky Ducks was superb and a 14 to finish the hands was nice too and 69,57 was a decent start. Lord Nelson would rue spares in the opening hands here as their scoring was very decent with plenty of 8s and 9s as 61,63 meant that Ducks led by 2 pins. Ducks home form has been very decent generally and the middle hands they powered on and plenty of 8s and 9s themselves and a 17 gave them 61,70 and an uphill task for Lord Nelson. Peter had a 14 spare but Nelson struggled after that under the pressure of keeping with Ducks and two 57s gave the hosts a 19 pin lead. Mucky Ducks were great all night and three spares of 12,15 and 16 gave them final hands of 65,70 which for Lord Nelson was a huge task to win the game as they needed a highly unlikely 78,77. What a brave effort Lord Nelson gave though as it was an immense effort as Peter with a 13 spare, Shaun with a 12 spare, Paul with a 13 spare and John with a 14 spare gave them 67,77 which for a chase was superb but they fell short as Ducks breathed a huge sigh of relief as they won 9-3 by 10 pins and stay 5th. Lord Nelson were brave in defeat as they are 8th.
Last off we go back to Stoke Club and to the top alley where mid-table Stoke Buoys are going through the motions of finishing the season but they have had a decent 2nd half and in 6th have had a decent season. Their opponents were Hotspots who have wallowed a bit down in the trenches near the bottom of the league but they have picked up the odd win here and there and in 10th will hope for a nice boost to finish the league season well. A mixed start from the hosts, but the bottom half were very decent and 45,64 was a decent beginning to the match. Hotspots started with a duck! And that was the catalyst for a struggling opening and despite Olly scoring well it was 41,46 and a 22 pin lead for Stoke Buoys. The hosts in the middle hands were Luke warm at best as there was a mix of decent and low hands and two 52s gave Hotspots a way back into the match. Indeed the visitors were a lot better and 7s,8s and 9s happened quite a bit which led to two 57s and the lead was cut as Stoke Buoys led by 12. The last hands were a continuation of struggle for the Buoys but the bottom 3 saved them and 52,48 gave Hotspots a target of 113 pins to win the match. I think frustration was probably there for Hotspots as there was a 2 early on and then that was made up by a 13 spare later in the chase, but as hard as they fought it just wasn’t to be and 58,45 gave Stoke Buoys the win by 9 pins 9-3 and they stay 6th. Hotspots were unlucky and unfortunate as they are 10th.
On Good Friday is a huge match which the leaders Stoke WMC will keep an eye on as Duke of York will have to win at home to Monkey Spankers otherwise the title chase dies for them and Stoke WMC will be champions. A win for the hosts means a title showdown on the last week between them both. On the last week on the 10th S Club 8 host Pornstars and for the hosts they have to win 12-0 or they are down which means that the Stars only need 1 point to survive. Division 2 on the last week is a promotion showdown as Crown Shanks hosts Split Pins for all the marbles and 2 points for the hosts will secure them promotion and for the visitors it has to be 11-1 or better.
Its a massive ending to the season which is great for the neutral and for the teams involved heroes can be made. Time will tell on this fantastic season.
Cheers all.
Steve
