Pandora's Delight lose once again (From Penarth Times)

Pandora's Delight lose once again

IN THE Skittles League this week, I start with a surprising scoop.

After years of decrying everything there is to do with country music, one of our respected captains took to the floor whilst on holiday recently to engage in Line Dancing.

Do not be misled by his insistence that he was dancing a Samba. From now on he wishes to be known as Cotton-Eyed Bob!

To more important matters.

It just so happens that Cotton-Eyed Bob's team were playing D P Athletic B in a match they simply had to win if they were to maintain their challenge for promotion.

In the event the Colts were just too good for the opposition on the night.

Twelve pins up on the first roll, became 25 after only three rolls and the points were in the bag.

Old twinkle toes himself hit a creditable 29, but was outscored by team-mate Ron Maggs and the home side's Simon Hiscocks. Athletic B remain four points behind division leaders Clive Arms, but must be looking over their shoulders with some concern as Legion Colts close the gap.

In the ladies' section, Pandoras Delight are sitting uncomfortably in one of the relegation places and are in danger of losing their Premiership status, although a win or two would do their cause no harm at all.

After three rolls against Old Pennies at the Old Penarthians Club, the Delights were in front by a margin of ten pins as the home side struggled to find any form.

But it all went pear shaped in the final two rolls as the Pennies began to splash and the pins for the Delights dried up.

What at one stage was a match that appeared to be heading for an upset became a predictable ten pin victory for the home side.

Hazel Warman floored a nine and Jayne Griffiths hit a splendid 33 for Old Pennies. Meanwhile Pandoras Delight can only hope their luck changes quickly.

After a good start to their first season in the men's premier division, Pilot Regulars have fallen away in recent weeks and are being sucked into the relegation battle.

A trip to the Coronation Club to tackle the high flying Cwrt-y-Vil must have been a daunting prospect and their fears were realised as they soon fell nine pins adrift.

However the dreaded third roll saw a complete change and as Cwrt-y-Vil lost their momentum, the Regulars stepped up their game and won the last three rolls, and more importantly, took the two precious points that eased their plight at the foot of the table.

Cwrt-y-Vil will rue the loss of the points as Cavaliers continued their winning ways to increase the gap between the two at the top of the table to five points.

Elsewhere, Coronation Exiles were 16 pins behind Con Men after three rolls, but roared back to take the points with a clear margin of 11 pins.

Unsportsmans lost for the 11th time in a row and now prop up the table, two points adrift of Willy Watchers.

Christine Gore hit her first ever nine in the League, which was the only bright spot in a match that saw The Blues win again despite both sides doing their best to lose.

Breezers crashed to Mo's Misfits, and also lost their leadership of the division. Athletic Ladies take over by a single point.

RESULTS W/e Friday, February 14 Men's Premier Division: Conservative B 276, Unsportsmans 254; Coronation Exiles 287, Con Men 276; Cavaliers 283, Willy Watchers 257; Lower Boys 286, Ex's Sets 271; Bulldogs 341, Coronation Sports 324; Cwrt-y-Vil 281, Pilot Regulars 292; Labour A 294, Railway Sleepers 282.

Men's First Division: Albion Wanderers 282, Marauders 270; Legion Nomads 256, Llandough Stars 276; Cogan Sprouts 303, Ex Teens 273; Conservative C 282, Terriers 255; D P Athletic A 315, Llandough B 281; Cefn A 261, Malthouse Stars 250; Llandough C 284, Dinas Powys Legion 284.

Men's Second Division: Legion A 313, Cutters 299; Penarth Athletic 295, Legion B 247; D P Athletic 293, Legion Colts 322; Ex's Bees 301, Conservative A 285.

Ladies Premier Division: Old Pennies 277, Pandoras Delight 267; Cariads 277, Breakaways 262; Ex Isles 321, Conservative Ladies 278; Cogan Wombles 278, Swan E Brooks 269.

Ladies First Division: Brandy Belles 291, Kestrels 282; The Blues 238, Jubilees 227; Swan Jokers 277, Allsorts 240; New Faces 295, Lower Girls 265; Sexpots 297, Wanderers 283; Llandough Ladies 223, Penny Farthings 265.

Ladies Second Division: Mo's Misfits 287, Breezers 276; Dolly Mixtures 253, Malthoppers 254; Cliverbirds 284, Goosey Ganders 281; Leo's Lassies 296, Athletic Ladies 303. Late result: Cliverbirds 281*, Legion Ducks 258. *=1 point deducted for late card.

Men's highest scores: 35 D Garner; 34 P Fackrell (Bulldogs), H John, R May, D Wyer; 33 R Louch, S Hiscocks, E Fackrell, R Ryan; 32 R Green, F Fackrell, G Hamlin, T Patterson, K Watts, T Bullough; 31 K Woodhead, J Summerhayes, J Barker, C Benyon, K Stephans, P Naylor, R Maggs.

Mens Nines: A Richards (11), R Louch (11), F Fackrell, T Patterson, H John, M Escott, J Summerhayes, J Lloyd, D Wyer, D Williams (Penarth Athletic). Bolter Kings: R Nurse, R Cull, K Edros, C Young, T Angove, L Wingren, I Thomas, A Bagwell, D Williams (Terriers), S Hamilton, N Giles, M Baker, C Harrington, M Davies, P Fackrell (Marauders), D Baird, C King, G Lacney, D Winstone.

Ladies highest scores: 35 J Langford; 34 P Simons; 33 J Griffiths, K Hagon; 32 J Brunker, S Letts, S Hatch; 31 J Dyer, F Spillier; 30 M Pearce, K Beesley, K Deacon, S Brito, I McCarthy, J Driscoll, J Parkinson.

Ladies Nines: H Warman, K Hagon, C Gore, S Campbell, C Morris. Bolter Queens: L Shapley (2 sets), M McGarrigle, S Brazier, M Coughlan, J Union. G Gray, J Smith, L Turner, A Davies, G O'Neil, L Marsh, J Cavannagh, C Hurley, K Parfitt, J Bullough, V Hunt, K Broadbent, J Restell, S Sparks, J Taylor, J Toye, C Dwyer, L Chapman, D Morris, P Phillips, M Pope, M Edwards, J Perry, C Morris.