THE Highbridge & District Skittles League pairs champions are Pat Hancock and Max Puddy, who play for Cowboys.

In a great final played at the Highbridge Social Club, every one of the 10 pairs had a chance to win it at some time during the night.

The winners were last after three hands but one spare on the next three hands guided them into contention.

Although Hancock and Puddy were only fourth going into the last hand, being drawn first on meant they could apply pressure to the other pairs.

With Puddy finishing with a spare it meant that all the other pairs needed at least one spare, which didn’t happen.

The Cowboys won by five after scoring 142, Max Puddy doing the damage as he scored 77.

Runners-up were The Poachers pairing of Paul Stewart and Stuart Smith (137) and third were brothers Richard and Chris Orledge (136).

Result
1 Pat Hancock 65 & Max Puddy 77 (Cowboys) 142; 2 Paul Stewart 72 & Stuart Smith 65 (The Poachers) 137; 3 Rich Orledge 79 & Chris Orledge 58 (Steamers) 136; 4 Chris Organ 76 & Dave Kelland 54 (Robins) 130; 4 Roger Quick 71 & Steve Tindall 59 (Social Club) 130; 6 Ashley Stokes 56 & Dan Hodge 65 (Four Finger Club) 121; 7 Rob Stiddard 59 & Chris Taylor 61 (Outsiders) 120; 7 Rich Bamsey 55 & Lee Trumper 65 (Gunners) 120; 9 Paul Cozens 61 & Lee Miller 57 (Steamers) 118; 10 Chris Jays 64 & Ash Harrison 53 (The Poachers) 117.

In the 4-a-side final The Poachers defeated The Lads by 20 at the Basonbridge Inn.

In the semi-finals, The Poachers beat The Goodfellas by 25, Chris Jays topping the board with 54.

In the other, The Lads crushed The Robins by 65.

The Lads’ first two hands of 44 and 48 pulled 39 and it was always going to be an uphill struggle for The Robins from then on.

Brain Read and Tom Skelding both scored 67 for The Lads as they posted a huge total of 229.

The final was a much closer affair; after three hands, only a pin separated The Poachers and The Lads, but a fifth hand of only five gifted the match to The Poachers.

They went on to win by 20, Chris Jays (56) and Daniel Griffiths (54) doing the damage.

In the third and fourth place play-off The Robins defeated The Goodfellas by only four.

The Highbridge & District Skittles League presentation night, scheduled for this Saturday, June 9, has been postponed, due to unforeseen circumstances.

It has been re-arranged for Friday, June 22, in the Tyler Suite at the Highbridge Social Club (8pm start), and support would be much appreciated.