IT'S very tight at the top of Division A of the Sampford Peverell and district league with only two points separating first and fifth.

In Division B, where it’s even tighter, All Blacks have been knocked off the top of the table for the first time since November 5 and Barley Mow have taken their place.

In Division C, Lion Cubs’ lead over Catherine Wheel has been reduced to two points following a defeat.

DIVISION A – results: Elmore Club 364, Globe Appley 367; Bradninch C Club 462, Calverleigh 469; Globe Appley B 402, Bellies 374; The Hounds 363, Lumberjacks 340; Settler Boys, bye; Castaways 356, Redwoods 361; Brass Monkeys 344, Queens Head 360; Barmy Army 406, Globetrotters 423.

High Scores: 69 – Phil Saunders (Calverleigh, three spares); 67 – C Hatherley (Bradninch C Club, three spares); 66 – T Thompson (Barmy Army, two spares), Martin Rose (Calverleigh, three spares).

Reports: A close game between Elmore Club and Globe Appley went the visitors’ way. The home boys were on alley first and after three hands had good lead but saw it wiped away by GA in the fourth.

In the game featuring Bradninch C Club and Calverleigh the legs were shared, but the visitors had enough pins on the board to take the game.

Globe Appley B overtook Bellies after the first leg and though both teams shared the legs, the home team won their legs to take a comfortable win and stay in joint third place.

The Hounds are moving up the table to joint fourth place after their winning streak increased to eight with victory over Lumberjacks. Though the home team lost the first leg and the third was shared they won the rest.

Castaways entertained bottom-of-the-table Redwoods who were in their best form, winning their first game in this half of the season. It was another close game with Redwoods just running out winners.

Brass Monkeys are struggling to find home form and conceded the points to Queen’s Head. Although the third and fourth legs were shared Queen’s took the rest.

Barmy Army could not set Globetrotters enough of a target and when the latter took the advantage after the fourth leg, that was game over.

DIVISION B – results: Barley Mow 406, Bradninch RBL 389; HCC1, bye; Crossways 385, Oggies 401; The Merriemeade 400, Bickleigh 428; The Beare 382, All Blacks 371; Bullocks 355, The Agri-Nuts 373; Ayshford Arms 411, Roy’s Rebels 404; Uplowman 383, The Ponies 380.

High Scores: 79 – T French (Oggies, four spares); 68 – Roger Butler (Barley Mow, three spares); 65 – M Simpson (Bickleigh, three spares).

Reports: Barley Mow went four behind after the first rub against Bradninch RBL but that was the last time they had to play catch up as they won four of the remaining rubs to win by 17. Barlow Mow are now top with five games to go.

Crossways are fast running out of time to get out of the bottom two. Oggies started too strong, and though the home side pulled 17 on the last the game was already lost.

The Merriemeade’s run of three wins came to an end as did Bickleigh’s run of three losses. The away team only won three rubs but did enough damage in them to win by 28.

The Beare spoil the party as All Blacks lost their fifth game in six along with top spot thanks to a home team rub of 81, (17 higher than any other rub), in the fifth to win the game by 11.

Bullocks missed the chance to go joint top as The Agri-Nuts took an 18 pin away win, winning half the rubs.

Ayshford Arms went six up after the first two rubs against Roy’s Rebels but even though the away side fought hard they could not peg the pins back and dropped one more to lose by seven.

Uplowman took the chance of going top away from The Ponies who went 17 down after two. They fought hard to get back a three pin lead only to see it wiped out again with the home team winning by three.

DIVISION C – results: Tiverton Chiefs 388, Lion Cubs 387; Ashill Inn 378, HCC2 345; Huntsham A 354, The Travellers 351; Halfway House 412, Booze Cruzers 365; Rose & Crown 388, Heathcoat Hulas 359; Knock Em Down 343, The Farmers 315; Catherine Wheel 376, Tiverton RBL 329.

High Scores: 70 – K Bere (Halfway House, three spares); 67 – Paul Blackman (Ashill Inn, three spares).

Reports: Lion Cubs’ lead at the top of the table has been cut to just two points after their single pin loss away at Tiverton Chiefs. Cubs were cruising after four legs at 26 up, but Chiefs got right back in it with a 24 pin reverse on the fifth. That set up a thrilling finish that saw Cubs pulling up one short on the last leg.

Ashill Inn brought to an end a five game losing run with a 33 pin home win against HCC2. Ashill were 33 up after two legs and kept on an even keel for the much-needed win.

Huntsham A beat The Travellers at home by three pins. Huntsham were ten up after two legs, then 14 after four. Travellers found some form to peg the deficit back to eight, but Huntsham delivered on the last leg for the win.

Halfway House stay in with a promotion chance after a comprehensive home win against Booze Cruzers. Halfway were ten up after two legs, increasing to 14 after four. The real damage came in the last two legs, which Halfway won by some margin for a 47 pin win.

Rose and Crown’s winning form continued with their fifth victory in a row, this time against Heathcoat Hulas. R&C leapt into a first leg lead of 14, but then lost the next three legs to be just three in front. A further six gain on the fifth and a modest last leg from Hulas gave them an easy target, which they smashed to win by 29.

Knock Em Down had the better of The Farmers at home, winning by 28. Farmers managed to win the last leg and draw the second in a game that was otherwise dominated by KED.

Catherine Wheel made it a clean sweep of home wins and reduced the gap to Lion Cubs with a 47 pin win against Tiverton RBL. Catherine Wheel steadily built a lead and effectively won the match in the fifth leg with a 24 pin gain.