A SLOW start cost Woodpeckers when they opened with a leg of 46 in the Totnes Skittles League, against Wizzards’ 64.

It was certainly a game of two halves with Wizzards winning the first four ends (and one drawn) and ‘Peckers winning the last four but coming up 19 pins short. Two ends of 60+ took Panthers to a 15-pin win over TRFC, the fifth end with an 18 from Alan Hewings and 14 from Jerry Cleverdon giving them the winning lead.

Fords remain top, Steve Wakeham started with three spares and added another in his 104 which was supported with 92 from Paul Trant. Wrecks’ Fred Farleigh replied with a 91 but his team were outgunned by 53.

Millers led Offcuts by two after five ends but Offcuts then hit seven spares in the final four ends, (including Chris Camp with three) pulling them clear to win by 36.

Alley Cats lost out on the last end to Fordetts for the 2nd week running. They went into the final end six up but a 17 spare from Fordetts’ Emily Stolworthy meant Alley Cats were set 35 to win. Sara Ellis did her best with a 12-spare but it wasn’t quite enough as a leg of 32 left them three pins short.

Gems clinched the title with a win over All Stars. Wendy Northway should have got her ‘ton’, she hit five spares but a 10 then an 11 on the last throw left her just four pins short on 96.

Meadowbrooks’ third end of 51 was the deciding factor in the 7-pin win over Odd Westons. Despite the loss Odd Westons stay in 2nd place, one clear of Outsiders and two ahead of Diamonds so final placings will come down to the last round of matches.

Sonia Edwards’ 2-spare 80 sealed the Diamonds win over Outsiders for whom Clare Good also hit two in her 74.