HELPING leaders Maudslay to their sixth win from as many Swan Studley Skittles League matches was Paul Matthews, who starred in the victory over Swan.
After setting a league record in the last campaign with 59 pins, Matthews is the first player this season to top 50 pins as he made 51 (stacks of 16 and ten).
It meant Maudslay could coast home against Swan, who are having an indifferent season.
After leg one Swan were adrift by 16 pins, but they nicked the second leg by a single pin. However, it was as good as it got for Swan as their opponents stepped on the gas to take the remaining three legs comfortably.
Other good scorers for Maudslay were Mark Sanseverino (39) and 34 apiece from Geoff Mayneord and Jack Watson. Swan’s best came from Bob Haycock (36), Helen Racki (35) and Andy and Scott Reynolds with 33 each.
Swingers only lost leg one against Jumbo Jet Set by a single pin, but could not maintain their form and after leg three were 27 pins behind.
Jumbos then dropped in a very poor fourth leg score to let Swingers in with a chance to reduce their deficit, which they did by 14 pins.
Jumbos’ final leg score of 61, however, left Swingers too much to get, despite a bright start to their last leg and they fell away to lose that leg narrowly.
Dan Hill made 36 for Jumbos and Ben Jones and Mick Stanton 34 each. Swingers had Paul Clifton scoring 34 (13-stack) and 32 each from Norman Sutton and Christine Hallam.
There was a slightly flattering maximum points haul for unbeaten Engineers as they won two of the legs by only a single pin and two others by just four and five pins against Lodge Farmers.
Frustrated Farmers could have made the game closer but had a poor leg four score and, when left 81 to win the game, started leg five badly and could not make up the ground despite a strong finish.
Mark Ganderton equalled Engineers’ highest individual score this season with 42 (12-stack) and Phil Jones and Craig Ellis returned 37 each.
Roger Powell, for Lodge Farmers, scored 42 (13-stack), Kim Clewlow 39 (13-stack) and Glyn Morley 36.
Results: Maudslay 9 (345) Swan 2 (298); Swingers 2 (293) Jumbo Jet Set 9 (308); Engineers 10 (333) Lodge Farmers 1 (315).
