FARMER Boys move to the top of the Puriton & District Skittles League’s Division 1 table after completing the double over Pirates with a fine 12-pin away win.

Simon Puddy starred for the victors with an impressive 82; Liam Birch hit 78 for Pirates.

Nomads remain in third after another close call. They beat Knowle Otters by two pins – this was their third home win by two pins or less.

Russell Burt hit 74 for the winners, with Steve Harris getting 73 for the Otters.

Polden Bears also had a narrow victory, beating Somerset Vaults by four at Basonbridge Inn.

Wasters pulled 10 on the last hand to beat Barstewards and remain in fourth.

Woolavington Boys broke away from the pack after a home win over Stop-Outs by 30, pulling 26 on the fifth hand after going down with 88 and 17 on the last hand after hitting 85.

Mike Oxman hit 72 for the winners with Jason Ratcliffe top scoring for the defeated team with 64.

At the bottom, Crown Jewels failed to win at home again, this week going down by 20 to Wanderers, who had Chris Gould hitting three consecutive spares in his hand of 73. Colin Pople finished with two floppers for the Crown Jewels in his 68.

The top two in Division 2 both lost – Landlords Rejects going down by 20 to Haymakers and Herdsmen losing by the same score to Oddsquad.

This allowed Crusaders to move into second place after they defeated Ruggerites by 35 at Coopers Arms, with father and son duo, Brian and George Scott, both hitting 67.

Ruggerites remain three points clear of bottom side Cross Your Hart, who also lost at home by 34 to Huntspill Boys, who had Phil White hitting 71.

Closest game in the division was at Pawlett Legion, where Ash Andrews, of Three Cees, hit a last-hand 18 to allow his team to pull seven on the hand for a five-pin win.