THE first Champions of the Bridgwater Town Ladies’ Skittles League 2014 Season are Division 2 Sydenham Centre A, who have topped the division all season.

They clinched the title by winning at Blake Arms B by 52, winning every hand.

Centre’s outstanding player on the night, 19 pins above the next best, was Carol Kent with 74, the only merit score on the night.

With three matches remaining, four teams have a chance of runners-up. Lion s Club B’s Tina Woodberry’s 71 was the only merit score on the alley as they won at home by 13 against New Foresters B. They appear to have lost their chance of honours, now three point adrift of the Lions who are one point behind second-placed Market B who won at home by 26 over Blake Arms A, Market’s Emma Carter top scoring with 60.

Cross Rifles B stay level joint third with the Lions when they squeaked home by one pin against lowly GWR Club B who are now safe from relegation despite losing. The Shack’s Mary Cresswell 60 with the only high score on the night.

The Division 1 battle for the title is really getting warm with leaders Market A losing the Blake Hall by 21.

Market C could not take advantage and slipped to third as they went down at home to Cross Rifles A by just four.

Sue Knight 71 and Alison Lazenby 61 top scored for the Market while Norah Lewis hit 84 for the Rifles – the highest away score this season and also giving the Cannon side a chance of honours.

With all this going on, last season’s runnersup Crown Inn A moved into second place when they defeated Castle Club A away by six.

Castle almost pulled the match out of the fire as they hit a last hand of 74, pulling 28, but fell just short.

High scores for the Club were Marlene Matthews 70, Pauline Culverwell 64 and, for the Inn, Pat Lynham 68, Shelly Fidoe 67 and Betty French 65.

Commercial Inn B are relegated, losing at fellow strugglers White Hart B by 21.

In Division 3, thirdplaced Bunch of Grapes B closed to within a point of second placed Lions Club A who they defeated at home by 72 pulling on every hand.

Sydenham Centre B looked to have blown their chance of finishing in the top two spots as the went down at home to Bridgwater Squib B by 17. Vicky Modley hit 63 for the Centre and Jo Hale 70 for the Fireworks.

West India House’s home win by 34 over The Sportsman means they have an outside chance of second spot.

New Foresters A won at home by 23 against Bird in Hand with D.

Buttle 66 and Chris Clayton 60 their top scorers.

Results: Division 1 – GWR Club A 317, Market D 345; Castle Club A 390 (M Matthews 70, P Culverwell 64), Crown Inn A 396 (P Lynham 68, S Fidoe 67, B French 65); White Hart B 323, Commercial Inn B 302; Blake Hall A 356, Market A 335; Crown Inn B 305, Blake Hall B 321; Market C 391(S Knight 71, A Lazenby 61), Cross Rifles A 395 (N Lewis 84).

Division 2 – Blake Arms B 322, Sydenham Centre A 374 (C Kent 74); Lions Club B 358 (T Woodberry 71), New Foresters B 345; Commercial Inn A 303, Castle Club B 281; Cross Rifles B 351, GWRClub B 350 (M Cresswell 60); Market B 365 (E Carter 60), Blake Arms A 339.

Division 3 – Lime Kiln 328, British Flag B 343; Bunch of Grapes B 346, Lions Club A 274; West India House 324, Sportsman 292; Sydenham Centre B 363 (V Modley 63), Bridgwater Squib B 380 (J Hale 70); New Foresters A 352 (D Buttle 66, C Clayton 60), Bird In Hand 329.