BIRD in Hand A hosted the Squib B in Division A of the Bridgwater Town Skittles League.

The opening hand of 64 allowed Squib to pull three pins and they posted a second hand of 83 following spares from Tom Presley, Scott Collard and Simon Caddy.

Birds’ second hand was saved by Nick Pimm and his 18 flopper, however Squib still led now by 20. Bird pulled six back in the third hand and a further eight in the fourth.

By the penultimate hand, Bird were leading by three but a low target of 63 for the win allowed Squib back in, who took advantage and won by two pins.

In Division B, Flag B played at the Rugby Club, facing the B team.

Flag opened with a 75 after a 17 flopper from Adam Richards, pulling five. A second hand of 73 started well when Rod Cook also hit a 17 flopper.

Rugby Club’s lead steadily increased up to 24 entering the penultimate hand, before Flag started pulling them back, nine in the sixth hand and 14 in the final hand. Flag had left it late but Rugby Club had done enough, winning by one single pin.

Sydenham Centre B hosted the Rugby Club A team in Division C and opened the match with a 67, Julian Lawrence hitting a 14 spare.

Rugby Club settled into the alley immediately with first man on Garry Martin hitting a 16 flopper, only to be followed later by a 17 flopper from Tim Billings and a spare from Garry Flack, resulting in a lead of 11.

Sydenham won the next two hands to lead by four entering the fourth hand, before another big hand from the guests edged them into second by six. The penultimate hand saw the game tied following a game high score of 82 for Sydenham, Gary Crocker and Dave Thistleton doing the damage.

The scene was set for a final hand shoot out.

A lowly 61 put the game firmly within the Rugby clubs reach and they were not disappointed, finally winning by 11.

In Division D, Duke B and Malt Shovel B played an exceptionally close match at the Duke this week, initially the game went Dukes way but Malt shovel pulled enough pins early on to keep themselves in contention later.

Entering the final hand, Duke set a target of 63 to win, which The Shovel looked set to take after a rare spare (only five all game) came from Alex Clapp.

However, a succession of sixes left last man on Martyn Clapp needing a nine to win; sadly, for the Shovel, only an eight was achieved, leading to a well deserved point each.