THE top-of-the-table clash in the Quantock Vale Skittles League between the two Stockland Club teams saw R and U’s the victors by the narrowest of margins.

They trailed by 11 pins at half time but then immediately pulled 23 on the next hand to lead by 10.

Stockland Club’s last hand of 48 meant R and U’s, with eight in hand, needed 41 to win and it was left to captain Derek Chidgey to hit the winning pins to give them victory by two.

The victory opened a two-point gap at the top of the table because Triards, who were also tying for first place, were beaten by 68 at the Globe. Globetrotters’ win was helped substantially by their third hand of 69 that pulled 26 and gave them a 48-pin advantage and moved them to within three points of the leaders.

The four Greyhound teams went head-tohead this week with Outcasts beating the Alley Boys by 32 on Monday, and Dot’s Gang securing a 58-pin victory over the Greydogs.

Applecrunchers move into the top half of the table after a close game at the Cottage Inn that saw the home team lead from the beginning and, despite Dambusters best efforts, they couldn't take the initiative and lost by five.

The first silverware of the season was won by Globetrotters who were playing Outcasts at the Stockland Club in the final of the Albert Chidgey Cup.

Globetrotters lost an early lead to Stockland Club’s persistence and then hit a fifth hand of 64 that put them 22 pins ahead; they continued to build on this to eventually win by 38.

Results – R and U’s 449 (M.

Hurley 88), Stockland Club 447 (N. Escott 89); Globetrotters 511 (J. Rich 100), Triards 442 (A.

Ingram 85); Alley Boys 389 (M.

Reid 73), Outcasts 421 (C. Harris 78); Greydogs 390 (S. Larcombe 75), Dot’s Gang 448 (S. Fouracre 80); Applecrunchers 409 (R.

Navoy 78), Dambusters 404 (M.

Reid 83).

P Hw Aw D L Ps R and U's 14 6 4 1 3 25 Stockland Club 14 7 3 0 4 23 Triards 14 7 3 0 4 23 Globetrotters 14 5 4 0 5 22 Apple Crunchers 14 5 3 0 6 19 Outcasts 14 2 5 0 7 19 Alley Boys 14 2 4 0 8 16 Dot's Gang 14 3 2 0 9 12 Dambusters 14 2 2 0 10 10 Greydogs 14 0 0 1 13 1 Highest men’s away score – M.

Hurley 116; women’s – T.

Scrimgeour 100