HALF-way through the Bridgwater Town Ladies Skittles League season, the top of all three divisions are closer than ever – three points separate the top three in Division 1 and there is same difference at the top of Division 2 while there are only two between the top three in Division 3.

Castle Club A versus bottom club Commercial B in Division 1 was a close battle. Club were 24 up after five hands but the Inn fought back to lose by just seven pins. Gill Greensides top scored in the league this week with 72 for the Inn.

Market A kept up their claim for honours with a 53-pin home win over strugglers White Hart B. Captain Karen Purchase 70 top scored for the Market.

Cross Rifles stay third after a close match at their Cannon Alley against Blake Hall B who almost pulled the game out of the hat when the Rifles hit their lowest hand of the night, 42, leaving the Blake Hall side 53 to win but they could only manage 50 to lose by two.

Crown Inn B won at home by nine against Market D.

Top or the Division Market C won by seven at GWR Club A, despite pulling on five hands with only ever 11 pins between the teams.

And, at Blake Hall, the A team stayed fourth, winning by 14 against Crown Inn A.

Cross Rifles B missed the chance to draw level at the top of Division 2 with Sydenham Centre A, who had a bye, when they lost at the New Foresters B by 14 despite Tracey Harris (Rifles) 70 hitting the only merit score on the alley.

Market B had an easy home win against GWR Club B by 34, captain Kirsty Wilton top for the Market and Mary Cresswell 67 top on the alley for the Club.

Lions Club B closed up to joint second with a home win by 32 over Blake Arms A; only merit Clare Crocker 62 for the Arms.

The battle between the bottom sides saw Bridgwater Squib A pick up their second away win of the season against bottom side Commercial Inn A who have yet to win this year. Star for the Squibs was T. Fursland 65.

Castle Club B closed the gap to one point behind Blake Arms B when they won by 11 on the Blake Alley.

With leaders Lions Club A losing at Bird In Hand by 19, Bunch Of Grapes B moved to within a point of the top with a home win by 55 over British Flag B, whose alley mates Flag A won at home by 45 to move only two point adrift of the top spot.

New Forester A were comfortable winners at bottom club Lime Kiln by 17 and Bridgwater Squib B’s home win by 20 against West India House moved them two points nearer their rivals.

Results: Division 1 – Market A 401(K Purchase 70, P Robertson 63),White Hart B 348; Cross Rifles A 351 (J Swain 65), Blake Hall B 349; Blake Hall A 350, Crown Inn A 336; Crown Inn B 366 (M Blake 60), Market D 357 (S Haste 71); Castle Club A 414 (M Harris 70, R Towsdale 64, P Culverwell S Stoodly 61), Commercial Inn B 407 (G Greensides 72, S. Glover 63); GWR Club A 322, Old Market C 329.

Division 2 – Blake Arms B 354, Castle Club B 365; Commercial Inn A 313, Bridgwater Squib A 344 (T Fursland 65); Lions Club B 375, Blake Arms A 342 (C Crocker 62); Market B 389 (K Wilton 65, E Carter 62, R Stone 60), GWR Club B 355 (M Cresswell 67); New Foresters B 355, Cross Rifles B 341 (T Harris 70).

Division 3 – Bird In Hand 321, Lions Club A 302; Bunch Of Grapes 335, British Flag B 280; Lime Kiln 308, New Foresters A 325; British Flag A 349, Sportsman 304; Bridgwater Squib B 368,West India House 348.