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This week saw a plethora of big wins, with 5 games ending in whitewashes, and some big moves in the league table as a result. Plenty of candidates for performance of the week, but I think we must applaud new boys BGS who become the first team this season to break the 200 barrier - they smashed over a massive 202 pins in their 10-0 thumping of Remnants. It was a real team effort, with all the Birdies scoring over 30, and Mark Dodd, cream of the crop, with his 38 - but no spares remarkably despite legs of 44, 43 & 40 as the alley continues to disappoint skittlers. Remnants struggled to lay a glove on their opponents, though Simon Barton hit a tidy 32. BGS are now ominously placed in 6th, with games in hand on everyone above them. Another great team effort saw Splitz ‘n’ Giggles hit their best ever total (188) on the way to walloping Maclean Smilers. The game was similarly a procession up until leg 5, where Splitz faltered somewhat until an important 8 from Davey Seville got them back on track, and they all the points with a 1-pin victory in the last. 5 out of 6 Splitz made 30 or more, with Ethan Gibbs’ 35 the pick; Richard Harding hit a 32 PB for Smilers. Individual performance of the week was surely Rob Wadsworth’s 45 in Best Sellers’ 10-0 spanking of Sianie’s Angels, Robbie’s best ever score. The game wasn’t a foregone conclusion, with Angels in contention in a couple of legs, not least leg 4 where scores were tied as Rob stepped up. Rob whacked a 15 spare to equal the best of the season; the leg was won with 41 pins, and Sellers followed up with another 41 leg to complete their victory. Aside from Rob, Mike Handley made 34 for Sellers and Mitch Makoka hit a new best of 35 for the Angels. Gutter Nutters completed a maximum of their own against an off-colour Spare Ribs, who hit a season-low total. The result puts Nutters 7 points clear at the top, and the win was built on the solid foundation provided by ABM legend Gerry ‘Smiler’ O’Garr. Gerry showed the full range of his skills, starting the beer leg with a 13 spare and finishing his match with an immaculate zero to end on 34 pins. Ribs only got close in the last leg, but strong work from Nutters’ Dave, Lee & Amy made up for Gerry’s unusual tactical play. Becks Hildred backed O’Garr up with a 33 in this one; Nye Bellis was the only Rib over 30 with 31. Last of the big winners were Alsorts, who tonked Late Knights and moved up to 3rd in the rankings. Alsorts came out of the blocks quickly, with two 9s from Mark Grainger & Rich Greenaway pushing them to a 44 leg in the first. They calmed down, with mid 30s legs over the next three, but finished well with a 39. Late Knights struggled to get anywhere near, toppling just 128 pins altogether. All the ‘Sorts all made 29 or more, with Gary ‘Sparky’ Walker’s 34 their finest work. Lads’ Night Out managed a sizeable win of their own, to keep themselves in touch with the leaders, beating Newcomers 8-2. LNO started as they meant to go on pegging 42 in the 1st, and Newcomers couldn’t match them despite a maiden 11 spare from Janet Buckingham. The game continued in the same vein, until the Lads stumbled in the 4th and Newcomers pounced to steal the points by a single pin, 31-30, after which normal service was resumed. Chairman was top Lad with 34 and John Underhill finest Newcomer with 33. Absolutely Skittled and Big ‘Uns played out a low-scoring game, with AbSki coming out on top 7-3. Big ‘Uns led the way in the match, winning leg 2 after a drawn first leg, but Skittled got their act together in the beer leg and rattled off three straight to win out. Only two players over 30 in this one, with Gary Bridges’ 31 as good as it got. Finally, the best contest of the week saw Rollin’ Pins just get the better of Last Six 6-4, with pin totals of 180 (Pins’ best ever) & 175 respectively. Leg 1 saw the most pins fall and 2 points went to Rollin’ Pins 39-37. Six put the hammer down in legs 2 & 3 to get themselves in front but team “Bell” recorded their best leg of the night (40) to square the match. The decider was close until Bell’s 8 beat Ives’ 5 in the battle of the Andys and Last Six couldn’t recover although Jez Denton’s spare attempt was wide by just a couple of millimeters. Andy B & Olli Henderson made 32 each, which was matched by Jeremy Denton for the Six. Gutter Nutters have another chance to stretch things at the top against Living on a Spare on Monday, with Lads’ Night Out resting this week. The chasing pack of Alsorts, Young & Bald and BGS will also be hoping to put the pressure on… see you there!