11/10/2026
SKITTLE TALK - WEEK 4
GAME OF THE WEEK
Our game of the week this week takes us to The Belvedere, in a Division 1 fixture that saw Whistlers host Park Street Stars. With the hosts rooted to the bottom of the league and winless so far this season, they welcomed a Stars side who had picked up one of each in their opening 3 games - 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss.
The game as a whole was incredibly close and the Whistlers kept it competitive throughout. Alas, it was the Park Street side that nudged into a narrow lead of just 2 pins after the opening hand, as 57 played 59.
Despite it only being 2 pins, the away side managed to defend this lead well and as the game ebbed and flowed, they never fell behind, but, they were also never more than 5 up as the Whistlers continued to give them something to chase while throwing first - a 66 and 60 hand were matched just as fittingly by the away side.
As we enter hand 6, the Stars were 4 to the good. The Whistlers threw in a solid 64 hand without a box - of which there was only 1 in the whole game. It was for the home side, courtesy of S.Jones. The Park Street outfit responded with 60, leaving the game all square with 1 to play! How close do you like it?!
Throwing for the biggest total possible, The Whistlers didn't really take advantage as much as they'd like and a 9 on the end from the ever-dangerous anchorman, Adam Laing, was much needed. Finishing with a 58, Park Street Stars returned to the alley for the final time knowing they needed 59 to get the job done.
Ben Sibley and his opening pair, N.Adams, got them off to a terrific start, opening with 17 a pair. However, with a couple of 7's and a 5 thrown in, it all came down to the Anchor - Liam Reid. He's starting to get a bit of a reputation for needing a number and getting it to win games. I guess that's why he's down there! Needing a 7, Reidy got the job done to take his team's total to 420, securing the 2 points by a solitary pin.
Heartbreak for the Whistlers, whose winless run continues in the harshest of fashions.
Full time at The Belvedere:
Whistlers 419 (Adam Laing, 57) vs 420 Park Street Stars (Ben Sibley, Dan Gates, 58).
DIVISION 1 - Record Scores
Highest Score: Kevin Warburton, 77 at Wyke Social Club 9/10/2026
Highest Hand: 78 - Wyke Social at the Chapelhay Tavern 11/9/2026, Chapelhay W's at The Rock 18/9/2026
Some big fixtures early on in the season at the top end of the table - lots of teams joint top with 2 wins from 3, some of which facing off this week.
Shamrocks visited Wyke Social to face the champions, who were looking to dust themselves off after a first round cup exit last week. It was in fact the visitors who walked away with two points though as the title defense has got off to a bumpy start. A Kev Warburton masterclass got the Shamrocks over the line by 16 pins (and secured himself the top score of the season so far).
In another clash at the top, the Barrels played host to the W's in a Chapelhay Derby which saw the W's win by 17 in a low scoring affair. W's youth programme is still producing the goods though, as Luke Williams topped the pack with 65.
On the flipside of the quiet night at the Chapel, pins were certainly flying at the Rock as the Army beat Chapelhay Wobblers by 14 as Harry Rupp's 67 contributed to a total of 461.
69ers got back to winning ways at Wyke Workies vs The Stingers as they won by 8 - with Christian Sheppard topping the scoring with 58.
The W's were the only Chapelhay-based side to get a win this week, as The Charmers also lost at home vs Lucky Barstars. Martin Thomas's 64 was a welcomed score as his team won by 6.
Finally, Leg Irons picked up an excellent win away vs Do-Nuts at Weymouth Workies (downstairs). The Do-Nuts are notoriously hard to beat at home, so a win by 3 was just the ticket! Liam Sharp top scored with 61.
DIVISION 2 - Record Scores
Highest Score: Matthew Apsey, 84 at The Admiral Hardy 18/9/2026 (Skittler of the Week)
Highest Hand: Chapelhay Blues , 81 at The Admiral Hardy, 17/9/2026
All good things come to an end and a side who feel that more than any other is Kelvin Day's Legionaires, as their undefeated start has gone up in smoke as they lost at home to Pin Ups by 14 pins. Jason Corbridge's 62 is a great knock on what has to be one of the toughest alleys left in the league now, Portland Social.
One streak that is continuing though, is the winning run of Spit Roast Eagles, who now move top of the pack with a game in hand. A convincing win of 57 pins vs Shipmates secured 3/3 wins to start their season. Paul Giblin top scored with 51.
Putting the pressure on early, Hardy's Admirals secured another 2 points in the Admiral Derby as they beat Zulu Mechanics in a great game that saw 446 play 436. Matt Apsey was back and up to his usual tricks; he only managed 69 this time though.
Down at the Belvedere, Likely Lads saw off the Bees by 10 - with Mark Powell scoring the best with 57. At the Chapelhay, and on those ever-tricky, tiny, pink balls, the Wizards gave All Stars a cracking run for their money as they narrowly missed out on 2 points by 3 pins. Dylan O'Donovan scored a monster 58; it doesn't bare thinking about what he'd have scored if he was throwing some normal balls down the alley!
Elsewhere, Hardy's Hitmen buffed the Diamonds by 8 pins at Wellworthies. Lee Hanson's 53 enough to secure top spot.
DIVISION 3 - Record Scores
Highest Score: Greg Black, 69 at Wyke Social 25/9/2026
Highest Hand: Wyke Missorts, 77 at Wyke Social 17/9/2026
It was a huge night for Shipwrecked, as they smashed in a whopping 445 as they visited Aussie Rocks. With a score that wouldn't look out of place in the top flight, Ronnie Belcher, who top scored with 66, and their side won by 75.
Karen Coombs was up to her usual tricks of top scoring again! A 60 this week got the Allsorts across the line by 5 pins as they won vs Yo-Yo's.
In a low-scoring affair, Pasmen won by 7 vs Piranhas. Although, Jayden Walburn's 55 was a tidy score as his side secured the 2 points.
Loose Women got their season kickstarted at home as they beat Admirals Assassins by 40. Di Green's 55 topping the pack!
Finally, Wyke Abbots had a great night vs Atoms as they hit 429 away from home. Connor Allison's 60 contributed to his team winning by 74.
Good skittling ladies and gents and those league tables are now really starting to take early shape.
Good luck to all teams for their upcoming fixtures!
Tom
