BELLIES have claimed the lead in Division One of the Sampford Peverell and district league after previous pacesetters Settler Boys suffered a third defeat in fourth matches.

They are followed in joint third place by Elmore Club and Globe Appley B are in joint third place.

In Division B All Blacks stay one point ahead of the chasing pack of Barley Mow, Bullocks and The Ponies.

DIVISION A – results: Lumberjacks 353, Elmore Club 329; Bradninch C Club, bye; Redwoods 359, Globe Appley B 389; Settler Boys 381, The Hounds 395; Bellies 421, Brass Monkeys 401; Calverleigh 377, Barmy Army 408; Globe Appley 372, Globetrotters 380; Queens Head 363, Castaways 329. Late Result: Brass Monkeys 361, Lumberjacks 366.

High Scores: 72 – D Ingersent (Bellies, three spares).

Reports: Although the first leg was shared between Lumberjacks and Elmore Club, the home team then started to pull away and by the fifth leg had won the game, with the last leg shared.

Redwoods’ torrid season continued as they lost to Globe Appley B. The second and third legs were shared, but the away boys won the rest.

Settler Boys have now lost three of their last four games after going down to The Hounds who now go into joint fourth place. By the end of the fourth leg the away team were 14 pins up and The Boys had no answer.

There were only two pins between Bellies and Brass Monkeys after two legs, but the home team added to them on the third leg. And although they lost the next two, they won the last to take the points that put them on top of the League.

Calverleigh’s losing run went to three as they were beaten by Barmy Army, taking just one leg.

Globe Appley and Globetrotters shared the first leg. Although Trotters lost the second and third, they overtook the home team on the fifth to win the points.

Queens Head overtook Castaways by the end of the first two legs, and increased their lead, winning every leg.

DIVISION B – results: Bickleigh 403, Barley Mow 406; All Blacks 384, HCC1 409; The Agri-Nuts 376, Crossways 375; The Beare 363, The Merriemeade 368; Oggies 391, Ayshford Arms 356; Uplowman, bye; Bradninch RBL 408, The Ponies 439; Roy’s Rebels 364, Bullocks 375. Late Result: Barley Mow 409, All Blacks 389.

High Scores: 74 – A Rawlings (The Ponies, four spares); 66 – Jamie Drew (HCC1, two spares); 65 – Peter Rosser (Barley Mow, three spares), J Norman (Bickleigh, two spares).

Reports: Bickleigh played home to seven-man Barley Mow. They shared the rubs three apiece but the man down away side managed to edge out their opponents by three pins.

All Blacks fell back to just one point above the chasing pack as HCC1 dropped pins in only one rub to take a 25 pin win over the table-toppers.

The Agri-Nuts went 18 pins up against Crossways over the first four rubs. But the away side staged a comeback, pulling six and 11 over the last two, to agonisingly fall one pin short.

The Beare started well against The Merriemeade going nine pins clear but the away side turned things around in the second half and pulled 18 to win by five.

Oggies were five down after three against Ayshford Arms but moved up a few gears, pulling 40 pins in the last three to run out comfortable victors and keep them just two off the top.

Bradninch RBL started well against The Ponies going 14 up without dropping a pin, but to say the away side upped a gear is an understatement as they pulled 20 and 25 in the last two to go screaming past the stunned home side.

Roy’s Rebels went 11 up after two against Bullocks but the away side reversed the form over the last four to win by 11 to keep a share of second spot.

DIVISION C – results: Ashill Inn 377, Tiverton Chiefs 392; Heathcoat Hulas 417, Huntsham A 381; Booze Cruzers 411, Halfway House 461; The Travellers 414, Knock Em Down 435; Lion Cubs 455, Tiverton RBL 422; The Farmers 384, Rose & Crown 421. Late Result – Ashill Inn 360, Heathcoat Hulas 380.

High Scores: 77 – K Bere (Halfway House, four spares one of 22); 68 – S Prescott (Huntham A, three spares); 67 – Simon Coombs (Rose & Crown, three spares); 66 – J Fyles-Legg (Lion Cubs, two spares); 65 – L Waterman (Heathcoat Hulas, three spares).

Reports: Tiverton Chiefs staged a comeback at Ashill Inn to take the game by 15 pins. Chiefs were 20 down after two legs, but soon reduced that to five after four. On first, Chiefs set the hosts a tough target with two good final legs and it proved enough for the win.

Heathcoat Hulas moved clear of visitors Huntsham A into fourth after their 36 pin home win. Hulas took the first leg by a massive 27 pins and didn’t look back.

Halfway House scored big in their away win at Booze Cruzers. Cruzers took just one leg on the way to a hefty 50 pin loss. Kevin Bere had a four-spare 77, which included one of 22.

Knock Em Down were on good form away at The Travellers, taking the game by 21 pins. KED took all but one leg during the game and the win lifts them above Ashill Inn towards the bottom of the table.

Lion Cubs were two down after two legs at home to Tiverton RBL, but took the remaining four legs to win by 33 and stay six points clear at the top of the table.

Rose and Crown had a 37 pin away win at The Farmers. R&C were on first and pulled three in the first two legs. A 14 pin advantage on the third set the away side on their way and they went on to take the remaining legs.