Weston-super-Mare side SFA are the first of 48 teams through

to the Blackthorn British Skittles Championship grand finals,

to be played in their home town.

Having completed their six group matches with five wins and

only one defeat, they cannot be caught.Ecstatic team captain

Jenny Askins said: "After having a year's rest last year we

have come back bigger and better this year. I am so proud of my

team. They have been brilliant.

"We have had some wonderfully friendly games against the

teams in our group, which have included beer legs and games of

killer. The Championships have progressed every year and got

better and better, but with good teams entering it is becoming

harder to qualify."

She added: "This is going to be our year."

The battle is on to see which of the remaining three teams

can finish second behind SFA to reach the knockout stage.

Two Bristol sides, the Pirates of Posset and Pembroke

Puffins, are level at the moment, with both sides having won

two matches and lost one.

Two newcomers to the men's event, Pilton Working Men's Club

and The Glums, from Paulton, met in a thrilling tight

match.

Hosts Pilton were two pins in front after the first leg, but

The Glums then took the initiative and were ahead after the

third leg.

They increased their lead to four pins after the fourth, but

Pilton fought back and the lead was cut to two by the time the

penultimate leg was finished.

The tension then got to both teams as neither scored well in

their final leg but The Glums scored slightly better to run out

winners by just five pins, 362-357.

Home team captain Kelly Sumner is also the chairman of

Pilton Working Men's Club. He said the club paid the

registration fee for the players because he realised their bar

takings would increase due to the number of visiting skittles

teams.

Worcester side The Highwaymen won the Blackthorn Plate

competition at last year's grand finals and now have their

sights set on becoming the first team from their city to win

the overall title.

Their latest match was against fellow Worcester side

Morganite, who set the early pace with a great first-leg score

of 66. The Highwaymen hit back with a second-leg score of 72,

giving them a nine-pins advantage.

The lead had grown to 27 after four legs, thanks to a 12

spare from Aide Price and spares of 12 and 15 from captain

James Rushton on legs three and four.

Morganite would not go down without a fight, however, and

legs of 69 and 56 left the Highwaymen needing a final leg score

of 45 for victory. They managed to exceed this, scoring 59. The

top score honours were shared by father and son David and James

Rushton, who both claimed 55.

Men's team Spudlers, a Sampford Peverell and District

Skittles League representative side, had their return home game

against Allstars at St Thomas Social Club.

Spudlers were hoping for revenge after a comprehensive

defeat in the first match, but their dreams were dashed.

The writing was on the wall early on. Spudlers went on first

and Allstars beat them by two in each of the first two legs. An

excellent third leg from the visitors then pulled another 12

pins, and although Spudlers reduced the deficit by eight in the

fourth, Allstars gained another five.

Spudlers' last leg of 61 left Allstars needing 49 to win,

which they did despite a slight wobble, taking victory

397-393.

Bridgwater suffered a home alley defeat against another

Wellington team, newcomers Brass Monkeys, when they played at

The Old Market. Only four pins separated the two teams, Brass

Monkeys triumphing 433-429.

Okehampton Men's team Pretoria were jubilant after a two-pin

victory against Cock & Pouletts, from Budleigh Salterton.

The game at the Feathers Hotel was close through the six legs,

but Pretoria edged it at the death thanks to a 14 spare from

anchorman Nicky Holiday, who finished with a score of 62.

The final score was 372-370 to Pretoria.

Joeys, from Peasedown St John, claimed a narrow away win

over Bristol side Hartcliffe.

The hosts were one pin ahead until the last leg, when the

visitors clawed back the difference and just managed to

overhaul their opponents for a one-pin success, 199-198.

Conti Sports, from Cainscross in Gloucestershire, were

ecstatic after an away win over Eliot A at the Fisherman's

Rest, Cirencester.

With the match played in two halves of four, the hosts led

by 17 pins after the first set. However, things took a turn for

the worse for them as the visitors got into their stride and

acclimatised to the different alley.

Conti Sports captain Graham Barnard said: "In the first half

we went fishing, but in the second half we pulled them around

with a 16 spare in the first leg and we didn't look back."

Barnard was the highest scorer of the night with 58,

including that winning 16 spare. Conti Sports were 376-362

overall winners.

The Blackthorn British Skittles Championships consist of

men's, ladies and mixed tournaments.

The group stages have almost been completed and the grand

finals will be held at Sand Bay Leisure Resort,

Weston-super-Mare, on Saturday, September 20.

The winning team in each of the three categories will

receive a share of the £5,250 prize money.

For more details on the event telephone organisers Shootout

Club on 01803 210210 or visit www.shootoutclub.co.uk/bbsc .