The ABM Merchandise webshop is packed full of clothing goodies, including a range of technical polo shirts and T-shirts, along with some beenies and baseball caps. Just click on any of the items below to be taken to the shop…

supported by JAMES GESNER - ESTATE AGENTS -

That’s it for the first phase of the Winter League this season, and the divisional split is upon us. Two teams started the week uncertain of which division they might end up (along with Best Sellers, technically, but they had two games to reach Div 1). Last Six faced off against Maclean Smilers, needing to secure 7 points to be sure of a place in the top half. The pressure told in leg 1, with Smilers sneaking it by a pin, 34-33, but the Six got themselves in front in the 2nd and held on to get 2 points, 33-31. The beer leg saw the veterans wobble again, and the works team from Howbery took full advantage winning 32-29 with 3 drinks secured. Last Six properly got going in the 4th, whacking 39 down on the way to the leg, but Smilers looked to be back in the box seat in leg 5, before a late-order collapse was seized on by Six to take the victory 6-4. Jeremy Denton topped the charts with 33, whilst Nathan Rickards hit 32, and Last Six were left hoping Cross Keys didn’t manage a whitewash over Living On A Spare the next evening. Cross Keys started well enough in their match, winning the first leg 33-29, and things were close in the second, but captain Wright stepped up in anchor with a 12 spare and the dream was gone for the Keys. They held it together to win the beer and last, whilst Matt’s lot took the 4th, but a 6-4 victory wasn’t enough - they do start Division 2 with a decent points cushion, though. Matt finished with a mighty 41 pins; Kevin Allen smashed a new PB of 35 for the Keys. Earlier in the week, Best Sellers had held firm in their double-header to secure just enough points to finish 9th at this halfway stage. First, their match against BGS ended with the points shared and pin count 172 (BGS) to 176 (Sellers). Wadsworth’s charges got off to a flier with a 38 pin leg, drew the 2nd 36 all and took 4 drinks and the points in the beer to put them 5-1 up. Birdies found their fight in the 4th, posting legs of 36 & 41 to square the match by the finish. Mark Dodd hit a tidy 36 for BGS, and Steve Lee made 34 for Sellers. Next up it was Late Knights who made light of their position in the league and shocked Best Sellers with a 6-4 victory. Sellers started brightly enough, winning the first two legs with scores of 34 & 36, but they ran out of puff in the beer leg - clearly the double-header tested the fitness of these veterans of the alley. Knights took 5 out of 6 drinks and the leg 33-22 as Sellers crumbled. From then on, it was one-way traffic with Late Knights closing the match out with scores of 35 & 33. Graham Meacham was top skittler here with 32, whilst no Seller made more than 30. The other three games affected things at the top of the league this week. Gutter Nutters whitewashed Maclean Smilers 10-0 - the effort of their first game against Last Six clearly fatigued the scientists. Quinn’s selection were in good voice, hitting leg scores in the mid-30s across the game, and Smilers struggled to match their pace. Early on, things were more competitive with only a couple of pins separating the teams across legs 2 & 3, but each time Nutters did what was required. It was ladies night in terms of quality, with Becks Hildred and Amy Evans both hitting 32; nobody was Smiling across the alley, with no scores in the 30s at all. This victory put the pressure back on Lads’ Night Out at the top, but they too did the necessary with an efficient 8-2 win over a plucky Big ‘Uns side. The first leg was a great battle, with LNO surging ahead before Big ‘Uns reined them in and eventually triumphed 38-37. The match continued in the same vein, but LNO kept themselves ahead each leg, and took the points. Bert Lovegrove rolled back the years with his 34, matched by Alex Slezak for Lads. Last game of the first phase saw Absolutely Skittled make a big move up the table with a statement 8-2 win over Splitz ‘n’ Giggles. Splitz started brightly, taking the first leg by a single pin, 30-29. Skittled were riled and smashed a huge 49 leg in the 2nd, thanks to spares of 11 from Mike Norris & 14 from Reece Collis. The beer leg was tight, with drinks shared but the points went to the Norris clan, 38-36. AbSki finished with consecutive 40s to take the last two legs, with Splitz unable to match them, and victory was complete. Reece Collis made score of the week with his massive 42, and there were PBs for Mike Norris (36 for the 2nd time) and Danny Paxton (35). Rob Perry was once again the best Splitter with his 33. Ok, there we have it - two weeks off now for Easter and to sort the fixtures for Part 2. We’ll see you back down there on 13th April…

Team statistics for the first half of the season have been posted. Just follow the Team Stats in the navigation menu - or click here…