Pillaton Skittles League Match Reports, 2011-12 Season
October 2011
The first round of this season’s campaign was a chalk and cheese affair. The first games on the Thursday saw high scoring and close games with three players scoring over 40 in their three game matches. Hill Billies started with a fine 6 – 1 win over the ever consistent Dare Devils thank to a fine 42 from Pam Lees. Not to be out done Jack Lees then weighed in with an even better 43 in their game against the Wild Indians, including the frowned upon deliberate use of the side walls, Hill Billies winning 5 to 2. The rest of the Leagues' teams hoping their return to the Spanish sunshine is swift and extended! In another close match, Dare Devils beat Wild Indians 5 to 2 with match scores of 169 against 162 which both would normally be considered winning scores. For Wild Indians, captain Helen Edwards and Sue Archer with match score of 33 were Wild Indians top scorers, with Jane Wilcock scoring a 31 in the match against Dare Devils. For Dare Devils the other 40 plus score was from John Stannard with 3 spares and a final score of 44. Captain Dave Dolley also helped rescue his team with a match score of 37 in the match against the Wild Indians.
In the Saturday matches last season’s winners Gargoyles were up against Knackered Monks. Unfortunately Quasimodo’s were unable to field a team and only giving a short notification they unfortunately forfeited their games. In a very relaxed and jovial atmosphere a very intense and low score match ensued. Only 3 spares were scored all evening, Jennifer Woollins in the first game to give Gargoyles a 2 shot win. Paul Brewer' spare in the second game was not enough to get Knackered Monks the win but Gary Sims' fine 17 ensured the final game win and overall win by one point giving a 4 to 3 result for Gargoyles.
December 2011
In the first of the second month’s matches Dare Devils played an inspired Gargoyles led by captain Ian Edwards producing the highest ever match score of 55, starting with a first and second ball strikes then a 6, together with spares in the 2nd and 3rd games, including another strike. He was ably supported by Jennifer Woollins with a match score of 38 with two spares and Brian Woollins and Dave Floyd with a spare each. Gargoyles winning 7 – 0, with a total match score of 183. For Dare Devils Roger Hoskin with 30 and Roy Levack 29 were their high scorers.
The second match between Dare Devils and Knackered Monks, Dare Devils were back to the normal good performances, with Roger and Roy scoring 35 and 33 respectively and John Stannard also with 33. For Knackered Monks, Paul Brewer with 30 and Evelyn Brewer with 27 were their top players. This match was also notable for the scoring of John and Jenny Wheeley in the 2nd game for both scoring a 3 a 0 and a 1 in their games, knocking over the exact same skittles! Dare Devils winning 5 to 2.
The last game saw the Knackered Monks beat Gargoyles 5 to 2, Gargoyles being unable to match the previous high scoring match. Gary Sims and Paul Brewer, 35 and 29 respectively, were KM’s best scores whilst Gargoyles could not produce a single spare between them with Les Wyatt top player with 26.
The second night's matches were again marred by the late withdrawal of the Tower Bell team Quasimodos. So in the only match played, Hill Billies maintained their impressive start to the season with a close but emphatic 7 to 0 win. June Hutfield for Hill Billies with 30 and Helen Edwards and Eric Long with 28 apiece were the top scorers.
Hill Billies retain their top spot in the league with an increased gap to second place Gargoyles, who are 3 points clear of third placed Knackered Monks. It is hoped that Quasimodo will be able to field a team for the three rounds still remaining in the New Year.
January 2012
Quasimodo finally gave up altogether so the remaining fixtures have been rearranged and the League table adjusted to delete the Quasimodo’s forfeited games from the previous rounds. The next matches taking place on the 4th February. These matches saw double header games for Gargoyles against Wild Indians and Knackered Monks against league leaders Hill Billies.
In a low scoring match Hill Billies edged out Knackered Monks 4 to 3 with only Paul Brewer for the Knackered Monks scoring well in the last game with a fine 18 to give the KM’s the higher score bonus point. In the second of the encounters Hill Billies really applied the pressure with good scores from Andy Bazley and the new overseas player Bill Bowden both scoring in the 30’s. Only Gary Sims with 31 came close to matching them. Hill Billies running out 7 – 0 winners to further consolidate their top position.
Gargoyles needed two good results against bottom team Wild Indians if they were to stay in touch with the Hill Billies. They failed in both matches. Steady bowling from Lindsay Rust and Rosemary Long eased the WI to a 5 to 2 win in the first game. The second game saw improved bowling from Gargoyles with Shirley Floyd’s two handed method, scoring a good 30 and Ian Edwards with 33, however all the good scores came in the last game, which Gargoyles won convincingly and the overall highest match score. Wild Indians won the first two games so ended up 4 to 3 winners and improving their league position.
February 2012
In the first of the February fixtures Knackered Monks played the Wild Indians in what is probably the lowest scoring fixture since this skittles league started. Neither team could get a spare, with both Janet Wilcock and Lesley Allibone for the WI recording season lows of just one skittle down with the three balls, going for the end of season booby prize? In the end Knackered Monks ran out 5 to 2 winners with a total score of 127 against Wild Indians 119, normal average being around 145/150 for the three games. The second game featured Top of the league Hill Billies against second place Gargoyles, who could only field 5 players due to players recovering from an operation, pending hospital admission and injuries. For Hill Billies Andy Bazley with 39 and June Hutfield with 34 were their star bowlers whilst yet again Shirley Floyd top scored for the Gargoyles with 35, Hill Billies winning 5 to 2 with a total score of 161 against 149 for the Gargoyles. I would say that Hill Billies are almost assured of the league title for the first time, barring losing 7 nil in their last two matches and Dare Devils and Gargoyles winning theirs 7 nil, when all three teams play each other in the final March matches.
The third match of the evening had Dare Devils against Knackered Monks. A greatly improve KM scored heavily to win 5 to 2 scoring 163 total only losing the last game by 1 at 55 to 56.
For the Knackered Monks John Wheeley, Gary Sims and Sue White all scored in the 30’s. For the Dare Devils, Audrey Levack was having her first games since her new hip, but John Stannard with 28 was their top scorer.
The last game of the evening was between Dare Devils and Wild Indians. Dare Devils winning the first game by 3 thanks to Audrey Levack’s spare. However despite a fine 18 from Dave Dolley, WI won the next by 3 with spares from Felicity Wyer and Captain Helen Edwards. In the last game WI annihilated Dare Devils 64 to 45 with Lindsay Rust 16 and Trisha Bobbin 18 the main scorers in that game.
As a result of these games Hill Billies have an almost unassailable lead with Knackered Monks second but having played one more match. Wild Indians and Gargoyles are equal on points in third with Dare Devils bringing up the rear.
March 2012
The final matches of the season had all 5 teams playing on the single night. The big question was, not who was going to be the top team as Hill Billies had just about claimed that, but who was the be the wooden spoonists. All four of the remaining teams were in contention and this night would decide.
First match up was Hill Billies against last year’s winner Gargoyles. Strong bowling from June Hutfield and Andy Bazley ensured a close but comfortable win for the Hill Billies 5 to 2. For Gargoyles Les Wyatt was the top scorer.
The second match was between Wild Indians and Knackered Monks, both teams only having the one match. KMs won the first game easily, won the second game by a single skittle and drew the last game with good scores of 55 each. This gave Knackered Monks 6 points and Wild Indians just 1, leaving them vulnerable to being overtaken by Dare Devils who were only 6 points behind with both matches still to play. Highest scorer for Knackered Monks was Marie Sims with an excellent match score of 38, followed by Jenny Wheeley with 31 and Gary Sims with 30. For the Wild Indians their top scorer was Janet Willcocks with 32 and Rosemary Long with 30.
The third match between Hill Billies and Dare Devils was a close run affair with Dare Devils needing all the point they could. HB’s won the first game 57 to 47 drew the second game 46 each, but Dare Devils won the last due to a fine 16 from Audrey Levack, 55 to 50. Overall HBs won 153 to 148 so took 4 points to Dare Devils 3. For Hill Billies Des Hoskin top scored with 33 including two spares. Audrey Levack with 33 was DD’s top player.
The last match of the season saw Dare Devils needing at least 4 points to go above Wild Indians and so avoid the Wooden Spoon. Their opponents being Gargoyles, who had beaten them 7 – 0 earlier in the season. The first game didn’t bode well for DD’s as Gargoyles hit form with a high score of 69 with 15 from Les Wyatt and 17’s from John and Val Tucker. Dare Devils responded well with 18 from Ruth Stannard and 15 from Audrey Levack but just failing to overtake GG’s score for 64. The second game was a more subdued scoring with Gargoyles edging in 48 to 46. The last game DD’s needed a high scoring win, win they did but only by a single skittle 53 to 52, thus giving Gargoyles the overall match win extra point to win 5 to 2.
This left Dare Devils as the wooden spoon winners, a single point behind Wild Indians. Hill Billies were the league winners for the first time but with the biggest margin of victory ever, having amassed a final points score of 43 to Knackered Monks in second place with 29. Gargoyles came third with 27 points then Wild Indians with 21 points and lastly Dare Devils with 20.
The end of season meal and awards evening will take place on 21st April.
The next season's matches will commence in October 2012 and unless another team or teams enter the league it will be run on a basis of playing each league team three time during the season.
Any interested players or new teams please contact Ian Edwards or Sue White.
Final league table (April 2012).
Winners and High Scorers (April 2012).
Highest Averages and Highest Game Scores (April 2012).