WITH a new year comes new leaders of the Premier Division in the Watchet & District Skittles League after this week’s round of matches, writes Alan Bulpin.

In their home match, bottom placed Has Beens produced the shock of the week, recording a single pin victory over previous leaders Bell All Stars, Peter Sullivan scoring a top of the alley 113 for the hosts with Warren Knight hitting 102 for the visitors.

Taking full advantage of this result, Bottoms Up now lead the table after amassing a team score of 678 in their 87 pin away win against Three Ferrets with Mathew Phillips topping the scoring with 135, Rob Norman hitting 106 for the home side.

Third placed Allsorts once again fashioned another superb team performance, hitting 701 in their 79 pin defeat of Rebels, Graham Rogers leading their scoring with a noteworthy 130 and Mark Whitemore scoring 106 for away side.

A score of 117 from Castaways’ Steve Duck led them to a comfortable 49 pin home win over White Horse Stallions for whom Matty Fairman knocked 104 and Mike Stout scored a round 100 for Q C Guys as they overcame Jack by eight pins, whose Steve Bosley knocked 104.

Phoenix Knights’ Brandon Jones topped the alley with 112 as they picked up three valuable points after defeating Railway Steamers by a narrow six pins who had Callum Tarr leading their scoring with 106. Highest Away Score Archie Walsh 144 Q C Guys

All the top three sides recorded victories in Division A. On a sweating alley at Williton Club that made skittling difficult a noteworthy 109 from Steve King led them to a 39 pin success over high flying but under strength Wyndham Warriors whose captain Phil Trunks topped the alley with 110.

Dungbeetles remain second after a nail biting eight pin home win over Barn Owls. Gary Kendall hit 110 for the home side while John Gray topped the night’s scoring with 112.

Wyndham Pinheads’ Robbie Whitehead hit a top of the alley 109 as they defeated Haddon Hillbillies by six pins whose Ollie Mathews scored 100 and 109 apiece from Dean Thomson and Michael Shopland brought Footy Fockers much needed points as they overcame Dizzy’s Boys by 24 pins whose Bernie Woodbury hit 101. Away Score. Phil Champion 126 Wyndham Warriors

Results - Premier Division: Three Ferrets 591 (Rob Norman 106), Bottoms Up 678 (Mathew Phillips 135); R’way Steamers 545 (Callum Carr 106), Phoenix Knights 551 (Brandon Jones 112); Has Beens 582 (Peter Sullivan 113), Bell All Stars 581 (Warren Knight 102); Castaways 587 (Steve Duck 117), WH Stallions 538 (Matty Fairman 104); Allsorts 701 (Graham Rogers 130), Rebels 622 (Mark Whitemore 109); QC Guys 570 (Mike Stout 100), Jack 562 (Steve Bosley 104).

Division A: Williton Club 587 (Steve King 109), W’dham Warriors 548 (Phil Trunks 110); Rams v Watchet Specials (no result); Haddon Hillbillies 554 (Ollie Mathews 100), W’dham Pinheads 560 (Robbie Whitehead 109); Footy Fockers 592 (D Thomson, M Shopland 109), Dizzy’s Boys 568 (Bernie Woodbury 101); Dungbeetles 572 (Gary Kendall 110), Barn Owls 564 (John Bray 112).

Meanwhile, last season Has Beens won Division A but, sadly, Tony Clausen, who was a playing member of that side, passed away suddenly.

The team had their photograph taken recently but left a space in the back row, so an image of Tony could be added.