IN Division One of the Puriton & District Skittles League, Pirates are top of the table after a close win against Nomads.

Pirates’ last hand 85, with spares from Adrian Tew, Danny Palfrey and Roger Palfrey, was their highest of the night, and left Nomads needing 77 to win, but they fell short with 74 and lost by two.

Palfrey hit four spares in a total of 86, while John Inder replied with 78 for the beaten team.

Stop-Outs stumbled for the second week in a row, this time losing at home to Barstewards by nine pins, whose captain Dave Quick was in fine form, hitting two spares in his 71.

Polden Bears’ good form continued with a 15-pin win over Farmer Boys, Colin Higgs making a rare appearance and top scoring for the victors with 68, assisted by Chris Organ and Chris Lush (both 66).

Polden Turkeys had their third win of the season, this time a 22-pin defeat of Foxes & Ferrets, Paul Jasinski top scoring with 68, but it was not enough to lift them off the bottom due to wins for Barstewards and Polden Bears.

In Division 2, Landlords Rejects extended their lead at the top to three points after beating Ruggerites at the Coopers Arms by seven pins, six of them gained on the last hand.

Their nearest rivals last week, Odds & Sods and Oddsquad, both lost.