CASTLE Club A are this season’s Bridgwater Town Ladies Skittles League’s Division 1 champions after a last-hand away victory over Crown Inn A.

Crown were one pin up with the last hand to play the home side hit their lowest hand of the night 45, which left the Castle Club needing 47 to win but they won in style with a last hand of 61 to pull 16 pins and win by 15.

Second-placed GWR Club A lost away to the Cross Rifles A (Sheila Green 68) by 35 and the Railway Club’s match to night against the Blake Hall A, who had a convincing home win over Market B by 59, might well decide the runners-up spot in the division but it is still possible for one of four teams to come second – the closest finish to a season for a long time.

The Division 2 title is still up for grabs.

Leaders British Flag A, despite losing 11 pins on the opening hand, ran out easy winners at home to Commercial Inn B by 35 thanks mainly to veteran Mary Pollock (73) who played the anchor role for the Chilton Street side and Helen Innalls’ 62.

Bunch of Grapes B kept up their title hopes with a convincing away whitewash of the Castle Club B, who have lost their form in recent weeks. The margin of the win was 57. Melanie Palmer 83, Nikki Frampton 67 and Stacey Richard 64 were the stars for the Bunch while Lyn Marshal 68 and Sheila Bennett 65 topped the scoreboard for the Castle Club.

Third-placed Lion’s Club B also stayed in the race for one of the top spots, winning at home by 18. If the other two sides slip up they may still pull the title from under their noses.

West India House (Lorraine Folan 64) have won promotion from the third tier with an away win over Bridgwater Squib B (Muriel Ainsworth 66) by 27 but may still need to win their remaining two games to be champions.

Second-placed New Foresters A need at least a point from their remaining two home matches to secure promotion and must hope West India House slip up. Joint third team Sydenham Centre A (Vicky Modley 65) won away to new club Malt Shovel by 31 but may live to rue the fact they could not field a side and gave away two matches. The other joint third side Blake Arms just ran out of games The relegation battles in the First and Second Divisions have still to be decided. In the top tier, Blake Hall B are relegated plus one of three – Bunch of Grapes A (last season’s runners-up Division 1), Market B or Sydenham Centre A (last season’s Division 2 champions).

In Division 2, Lion’s Club A – promoted last season due to teams leaving the league – are relegated, plus one of two – GWR Club B or Commercial Inn A.