IT might be one small step for skittles, but it was one mighty leap for The Lads towards their first Highbridge and District Skittles League Division One title as they defeated the Bombers at the Bristol Bridge by four pins.

The Lads’ hero was anchor man, Les Clutterbuck, who needed ten to win and finished with a 14 flopper.

Clutterbuck was in sparkling form, scoring 81.

Barry Vincent scored 72 for the Bombers.

The Lads’ nearest rivals, Shunters, lost at the Berrow Club to the Social Club and trail by six points.

Norman Quick (76) and Roger Quick (71) helped Social Club to a 34-pin win and they go up to fourth.

The Cowboys are third after defeating Sleepers by 21.

The ex-landlord of the Crown Inn, Kevin Tippetts, hit 89 but it was bettered by Cowboys’ Max Puddy, who scored 90.

Andy Bryant, Paul Edwards, Frank Kidner and Darren Cornish all scored 70-plus for the Cowboys. Paul Burne recorded 81 for the Sleepers.

Another player in the 90s was Lighthouse Boys skittler Dennis Hancock, who recorded 97 at the Lighthouse Inn after starting with two 18s.

Andy Adams chipped in with 82 as the Boys beat The Tryers by nine in a high-scoring match, 557-548.

For the Tryers, Keith Bird hit 90 and Colin Poole 83.

In Division Two, Brent Knoll Inn’s bandwagon rolls on.

They scored an impressive 533 at the Brent Knoll Inn as they crushed Railway Burtle by 53, despite John Burrows 80 which included a 24 double flopper.

Mike Palfrey hit 73 for the Burtle and for the Knoll boys Graham Hoskins, Frank Luff, Bill Hancock and Dave Prowton all scored 70-plus.

Odds and Ends are in hot pursuit after they beat Outcasts by 46 at the Social Club.

Alan Carpenter (72) and Pete Watts (70) top-scored for Odds and Ends.

At the bottom, Nobby’s One had a welcome victory as they defeated Lighthouse Rogues by 13 at the Crossways Inn.

In Division Three, Bobbetts Burntouts remain two points clear after defeating Accrington Stanley by 20.

In Division Four, Little Acorns march on after a 42-pin win over the Top House.

Father and son Dave and Kevin Perrett scored 72 and 79.

Real Ale Burnham lost ground on the leaders after losing to Off The Rails at the Somerset and Dorset.

Legionaires beat bottom team Artyfarts by six.

Results: Division One – Social Club 502 (Norman Quick 76, Roger Quick 710, Shunters 468 (Jon Mear 72); Bombers 464 (Barry Vincent 72), The Lads 470 (Les Clutterbuck 81); Lighthouse Boys 557 (Dennis Hancock 97, Andy Adams 82), The Tryers 548 (Dave Deabill 74, Colin Poole 83, Keith Bird 90); White Rebels 449 (Mike Day 72), Misfits 418 (Dave Barber 65); Steamers 471 (Craig Popham 73), Gunners 484 (Mark Penfold 72, Richard Bamsey 78); Sleepers 536 (Kevin Tippetts 89, Paul Burne 81), Cowboys 557 (Andy Bryant 72, Paul Edwards 71, Frank Kidner 74, Max Puddy 90, Darren Cornish 72).

Division Two – Brent Knoll Inn 533 (Graham Hoskins 72, Frank Luff 70, Bill Hancock 77, Dave Prowton 72), Railway Burtle 480 (John Burrows 80, inc 24, Mike Palfrey 73); Odds & Ends 538 (Pete Watts 70, Alan Carpenter 72), Outcasts 494 (Steve Crook 71); Nobby’s One 423 (Luke Walker 64), Lighthouse Rogues 410 (Paul Timms 60); Snurgers 524 (Dennis Wood 89, Scott Lismore 75), Four Finger Club 432 (Paul Baker 63); Bellends 412 (Steve Willoughby 61), Robins 418 (Phil Cox 68); Berrow Hotel 429 (Alan Bagg 60, Chris Niblett 60), Radio Social 455 (Bill McAllister 71).

Division Three – Wanderers 436 (Mike Morris 64), Rafascals 458 (Steve Giles 66); Trainers 491 (Robert Green 79), Crown Criminals 453 (Donald Burrows 70); Juniors 533 (Martin Pople 70), Poachers 514 (Steve Smith 74); Outsiders 398 (Chris Ashton 62), Bombardiers 418 (John Hill 63); Accrington Stanley 413 (Chris Fairchild 60), Bobbetts Burnouts 433 (Ryan Dean 63); Alleycats, bye.

Division Four – If Only 445 (Garry Close 67), Berrow Basics 463 (Brent Robinson 67); Real Ale Burnham 429 (Ryan Edwards 64), Off The Rails 434 (Jim Dolan 60); Home Guard 411 (Jeff Fisher 59), Ghosttrains 452 (Roger Harris 66); Legionaires 434 (Eric Ash 65), Artyfarts 428 (Roger Stringer 61); Top House 448 (Adie Woods 69), Little Acorns 490 (Kevin Perrett 79, Dave Perrett 72); Mauricemen 434 (Bob Evans 63), Coopermen 417 (Dereck Pope 61); Rovers, bye.