Skittlers of the week – w/c 11 March

Top score in Section A was Graham Rose of Jolly Green Giants at the Goldies with 67.

Top score in Section B was Ross Durston of Puddletown Wanderers on alley one at the Colliton Club with 69.

Top score in Section C was Anthony Swain of Steamers at the New Inn, West Knighton with 71.

Top score in Section D was David Gale of Untouchables at the Bladen SC, Briantspuddle with 71.

Section B & C to be decided by play off

Both Section B and Section C will require a play off match to decide who go up as champions. Puddletown Wanderers will meet Essentials in the Section B play off, while Steamers take on the Brewers Bees in the Section C play off. Both matches will take place on Wednesday 17th April, venues to be confirmed.

Strugglers are champions of Section D

Strugglers beat Easy Beats away at the Victoria Hotel to be crowned champions of Section D. The side from the Goldies have lost just three of their twenty matches in the league this season and finished with a pin difference of +487.

Formed in 1995 when the D&DSL was at its strongest with ten sections, the Piddle Valley Strugglers took their place in Section G, finishing 8th, and played at the Brace of Pheasants, Plush. The following season they found themselves in Section F as Section G was disbanded after five seasons. A fourth place finish was good enough to see them promoted to Section E. In 1997 the team moved alleys to the Poachers, Piddletrenthide and finished fourth in Section E for the next two seasons, and were promoted to Section D for the 99-00 season. The teams first trophy success came in the 02-03 season when they won Section D, by now the Piddle Valley had been dropped from their name. Section C was won in season 04-05. The Strugglers had a new alley for their debut season in Section B as they moved to the Gaggle of Geese, Buckland Newton. Two seasons were spent in Section B before relegation back to Section C after finishing bottom in the 06-07 season. The team were known as the New Strugglers from the 07-08 season, and moved alley’s the following season to play on alley two at the Trinity Club, but the team finished bottom of Section C. For the 09-10 season the team became Trinity Strugglers, moving across to alley 3 at the Trinity Club, and finished as runners up in Section D. The team finished top of Section C in the 14-15 season, but after two seasons in Section B were back in Section C, and then Section D for the 18-19 season. From 2018 the team were known as Strugglers and played their homes matches at Goldies.   

Ladies Singles Competition

Vicki Cooper of Vixens won the Ladies Singles Competition beating Maggs Edwards of Plodders in the final at Tom Browns.

There were 25 entries, with Vicki beating Lauren of Crackerjacs in the semi finals, while Maggs beat Linda of Woodpeckers in her semi final match.

Skittlers of the week – w/c 4 March

Top score in Section A was Chaffey Foster of Wareham Legionaires at the Wareham Legion with 75.

Top score in Section B was Jordan Smith of Country Boys at the Royal Oak, Bere Regis with 83.

Top score in Section C were K Gilbert of Yokels on alley one at the Colliton Club, and B Wrixon of Bullocks at the Victoria Hotel, both with 65.

Top score in Section were D Diment of Strugglers at Goldies, S Crewe of Misfits at Wool Legion and R Haskett of Merrymen at the New Inn, West Knighton, all with 59.

Top score in the Ladies League was Kerry Nottley-Williams of Wonder Women at the Trinity Club with 52.

Chuckers promoted without playing

New Inn Chuckers are heading to Section C after gaining promotion from Section D. The Chuckers had a bye last week but third placed Untouchables lost at home to Colliton Spares, meaning the side from the New Inn cannot be caught.

Cup and Plate date confirmed

Knockout Cup Quarter Finals
A. Puddletown Wanderers v Heathens – Thursday 21st March – Bladen SC, Briantspuddle
B. Country Boys v Essentials – Friday 22nd March – Royal Oak, Bere Regis
C. Steamers v Patriots – Friday 22nd March – Friday 22nd March – New Inn, West Knighton
D. Colliton Magpie Imps v Colliton Wide Boys – Thursday 21st March – Colliton 1

Semi Finals,to be played on Friday 12th April
A v B at The New Inn, West Knighton
C v D at The Three Compasses, Charminster

Final to be played on Friday 26th April at the Victoria Hotel

Plate Quarter Finals
A. Dewlish Monsters v Yokels On Tour @Colliton – Friday 22nd March – Royal Oak, Milborne St Andrew
B. Alcotops v Goldies Wurzels – Wednesday 20th March – Trinity 2
C. Swan Abbots v Merrymen – Thursday 21st March – Swan Inn, Abbotsbury
D. Untouchables v Funseekers – Friday 22nd March – Bladen SC, Briantspuddle

Semi Finals, to be played on Friday 12th April
C v B at The Royal Oak, Milborne St. Andrew
A v D at The Royal Oak, Bere Regis

Final to be played on Friday 26th April at The Spitfire Club, Crossways

Essentials promoted

Essentials will be in Section A next season regardless of the outcome of their last match. Currently they sit in second place in the table 2 points above Heathens, but the Crossways outfit have a better head to head against the Heathens so would be runners up if the two teams finish level on points.

League Presentation Evening

Friday 10th May, 2024 – League Presentation Evening at The Trinity Club
Tickets available from the secretary who will be at most of the end of season competitions or you can contact Brian on 854783, mobile 07909 753467 or email at brian.foxtype@btinternet.com

Message from Brian Newton

As secretary I hope that all teams are considering entering for next season, which will be starting again in September and perhaps we can find more teams and have a longer season. Ladies teams are especially needed so we can continue with a separate league.