Thursday 6 February 2026

League leaders Cobblers showed the resilience of champions-in-waiting with a gritty second-half comeback at Baker Street, while Painswick Ultras and Maisemore Hornets both stormed to maximum eight-point hauls to keep the chasing pack honest. At the bottom end, Hare & Hounds suffered yet another blank night and look increasingly cut adrift, while in Division 1, runaway leaders Avenue Loungers made it five consecutive maximums to all but seal the title. A remarkable seven players hit the magic 100 mark across both divisions in a week brimming with quality.

Premier Division

St James AllStars 823 (6pts) vs Famous Stampers 739 (2pts) Mid-table St James AllStars produced the highest Premier team score of the week — 823 — but had to do it the hard way. They actually trailed 379–410 at the break against 12th-placed Famous Stampers, before an explosive second half of 444 blew the visitors away, the Stampers managing only 329 in reply. Billy Martin led the charge with a superb 100 for the AllStars, while Bryan Webb matched that century for the Stampers in what proved a losing cause. A useful six points lifts the AllStars to 8th on 102 points.

Impractical Jokers 775 (8pts) vs Hare & Hounds 743 (0pts) A clean sweep for 11th-placed Impractical Jokers, who controlled this one from start to finish — leading 385–373 at the interval and closing it out 390–370 in the second half. For basement side Hare & Hounds, it is now four matches without a single point, and they remain rooted to the foot of the table on just 67 points, a full 14 adrift of 15th-placed Tuffley Robins. Time is running out.

Railway 785 (0pts) vs Maisemore Hornets 820 (8pts) Fourth-placed Maisemore Hornets are in blistering form. An 820 total — just three pins shy of the week's best in the Premier — earned them a third consecutive maximum-point haul. They led 402–394 at half-time and pulled further clear in the second stanza, 418–391. George Green hit 99 in a spirited Railway effort, but 9th-placed Railway came away empty-handed despite posting a very respectable 785. The Hornets climb to 114 points and are firmly in the title conversation.

Tuffley Robins 686 (2pts) vs The Jets 741 (6pts) A tale of two halves — but not in the way 15th-placed Tuffley Robins would have wanted. They held a slender 385–347 advantage at the break, only to collapse to just 301 in the second half as The Jets roared back with 394. The Jets took six points and, sitting 13th on 93 points with a game in hand, will feel they have enough to stay clear of danger. The Robins' wretched run continues — just six points from their last five outings.

Redmans Ten 748 (6pts) vs R.G.H.O.C 702 (2pts) Fifth-placed Redmans Ten delivered a crucial blow to second-placed R.G.H.O.C's title hopes. Trailing 350–364 at half-time, the Redmans stormed back with 398 in the second half while R.G.H.O.C. could only muster 338. The six-point haul moves Redmans Ten to 110 points and continues their strong recent run of 26 points from five matches. R.G.H.O.C, who have managed only 16 points from their last five, slip to six behind leaders Cobblers — though they do have a game in hand.

Matson Wolfhounds 747 (2pts) vs Lion Cubs 793 (6pts) Sixth-placed Lion Cubs announced themselves as genuine title contenders with a thumping first-half display of 440 — the single highest half posted by any Premier team this week — to lead 440–369 at the interval. The Matson Wolfhounds, third in the table, clawed back some ground in the second half (378–353) but the damage was done. Joseph Turner top-scored for the hosts with 99, while Richard Williams replied with 99 of his own for the Lion Cubs. With 26 points from their last five, the Cubs are surging at just the right time — they sit on 108 with a game in hand on the leaders.

Oval Ball S.C 710 (0pts) vs Painswick Ultras 817 (8pts) Tenth-placed Painswick Ultras are the form team nobody wants to face. An emphatic 817 delivered yet another maximum eight points — their fourth in five matches, yielding a staggering 32 points from that run. They bossed the first half 441–360 and never looked back. Oval Ball S.C, 14th on 92 points, were outclassed throughout and came away with nothing. The Ultras, on 98 points with a game in hand, are climbing the table fast and could yet gatecrash the top six.

Fabulous Baker Boys 763 (2pts) vs Cobblers 776 (6pts) The match of the week in the Premier. League leaders Cobblers trailed 345–382 at Baker Street and looked in real trouble against a well-drilled seventh-placed Fabulous Baker Boys side. But the champions-elect turned in a sensational second-half 431 — comfortably the best 40-minute spell of their evening — while the Baker Boys could only manage 381. The final margin of just 13 pins tells you how tight it was. The six points extend the Cobblers' lead at the summit to 132 points, and their recent form is remarkable: 34 points from five matches, including this week's hard-fought away victory. The Baker Boys can take heart from a battling display but will rue a missed opportunity.

Top Premier individual scorer this week: Billy Martin (St James AllStars) and Bryan Webb (Famous Stampers) — both 100.

Division 1

Killer Instinct 793 (8pts) vs Rockets 773 (0pts) Seventh-placed Killer Instinct are the division's hottest team right now. This maximum-point victory was their fourth consecutive eight-pointer, amassing a remarkable 32 points from five matches. They edged the first half 403–397 and pulled away 390–376 in the second. Rockets, 14th and winless in five, desperately need to arrest a slide that is dragging them towards the relegation places — just three points separate them from bottom side Exiles S.C.

Slingers 719 (6pts) vs Valiants 707 (2pts) A low-scoring but keenly contested affair between two sides in the bottom half. Tenth-placed Slingers led 354–338 at half-time and, despite Valiants drawing the second period level at 365–369, held on for six points. The margin was only 12 pins across the match. Valiants, 13th on 85 points, have taken just four points from their last five and are sliding dangerously close to trouble.

Kingpins 769 (0pts) vs Exiles S.C 814 (8pts) The result of the night in Division 1. Bottom-of-the-table Exiles S.C posted a magnificent 814 — the highest Division 1 team score of the week — to blow ninth-placed Kingpins away. Billy Owen struck 100 and Andrew Clarke added 98 in a supreme collective effort. The Exiles led 429–393 at the break and were never threatened, completing an emphatic clean sweep. It was a third maximum in their last five and a huge boost for a side that remains 16th on 77 points but is now showing real fight. Dennis Williams hit 100 for the Kingpins, but it was scant consolation on a chastening evening.

Indians 751 (2pts) vs Biji's 766 (6pts) Sixth-placed Indians trailed 330–378 at half-time and, despite a roaring second-half comeback of 421, ultimately fell 15 pins short. Adam Cook's magnificent 100 anchored the Biji's attack as the 12th-placed visitors held firm with 388 in the second period. A valuable six points lifts Biji's to 86, edging them away from the bottom four, while the Indians will be frustrated to have left points on the table despite that superb second-half fightback.

Walls Monkeys 767 (8pts) vs Holmleigh Rangers 738 (0pts) Fourth-placed Walls Monkeys ground out a maximum-point haul against 15th-placed Holmleigh Rangers in a match that was closer than the final scoreline suggests — just two pins separated the sides at half-time (372–370). But Bruce Brown's 100 helped the Monkeys pull clear in the second half, 395–368. It's 26 points from five for the Walls Monkeys, who move to 115 and keep their promotion ambitions alive. Holmleigh Rangers, stuck on 80 points, are winless in their last two and looking nervously over their shoulders.

Avenue Loungers 796 (8pts) vs Hip Hips 765 (0pts) Division 1 leaders Avenue Loungers continue to steamroller all before them. A fifth consecutive maximum — and 38 points from five matches — underlines their utter dominance at the top. They led 381–379 at the break before pulling away emphatically with 415 in the second half, while 11th-placed Hip Hips could only reply with 386. At 151 points from 25 matches, the Loungers lead second-placed St James Extras by 13 points and are closing in on the title at a canter.

Rugger Sports 759 (2pts) vs Arcadians 767 (6pts) A tight, absorbing contest that went down to the wire, separated by just eight pins. Eighth-placed Arcadians trailed 375–366 at half-time but turned the match around with 392 in the second half to the hosts' 393 — crucially, their first-half deficit was small enough to overcome. Sean Brooks struck 98 for the Arcadians in a welcome six-point haul — their first points in five matches. Fifth-placed Rugger Sports took the second half by a single pin but it wasn't enough to prevent a frustrating evening. Charles Dixon's 99 was the standout individual effort for the hosts.

St James Extras 775 (8pts) vs Willows 738 (0pts) Second-placed St James Extras matched the leaders' relentless pace with a fifth consecutive maximum-point victory. Michael Hill's 100 set the tone as the hosts led 393–381 at half-time and maintained control in the second period, 382–357. Third-placed Willows, on 118 points, were well in the contest at the break but faded badly. The Extras sit on 138 points and, while the title may be beyond them with Avenue Loungers 13 clear, they have all but secured promotion with a 20-point cushion over third.

Top Division 1 individual scorers this week: Billy Owen (Exiles S.C), Adam Cook (Biji's), Bruce Brown (Walls Monkeys), Michael Hill (St James Extras) and Dennis Williams (Kingpins) — all 100.

Week 22 at a Glance

• Highest team score: St James AllStars — 823 (Premier Division)
• Top individual score: Seven players shared the honour with 100 — Billy Martin (St James AllStars), Bryan Webb (Famous Stampers), Billy Owen (Exiles S.C), Adam Cook (Biji's), Bruce Brown (Walls Monkeys), Michael Hill (St James Extras), Dennis Williams (Kingpins)
• Match of the week: Fabulous Baker Boys 763 vs Cobblers 776 — the leaders trailed at half-time before a stunning second-half 431 snatched a vital six points by just 13 pins
• Biggest winning margin (Premier): Painswick Ultras beat Oval Ball S.C by 107 pins
• Biggest winning margin (Division 1): Avenue Loungers beat Hip Hips by 31 pins