ANDREW Palfrey was the player of the week in the Sampford Peverell and district league, producing a three-spare 72 for The Beare against The Ponies in Division B.

League champions Elmore club won the first game of their campaign at the expense of Bradninch C Club.

Division A, results – Elmore Club 391, Bradninch C Club 378; Brass Monkeys 346, Globe Appley B 365; Barmy Army 406, The Hounds 392; Globetrotters 421, Settler Boys 411; Queens Head 365, Redwoods 353; Globe Appley, bye; Calverleigh 369, Lumberjacks 352; Castaways 343, Bellies 334.

High Scores: 68 – Scott Sobey (Settler Boys, two spares); S Dryhurst (Globetrotters, two spares).

Reports: Elmore Club started the defence of their championship with a win over last season’s runners-up Bradninch C Club. They were 16 pins up after two legs, and though the cricketers finished with a flourish they had left themselves too much to do.

Brass Monkeys were not able to dominate their game against Globe Appley B who overtook the home team after the second leg and stayed in front to the end.

Barmy Army hosted The Hounds, newly promoted from B, and though they did not lead the home team, they certainly were not routed, only going down by 14 pins.

The derby between Globetrotters and Settler Boys saw first blood to the Trotters, though the Boys went ahead after the first two legs. Two poor legs then followed, letting the home team get ahead. And even a four-spare 98 fifth leg was too little too late!

Queens Head played new promoted Redwoods and by posting more spares than their opponents took the win.

Calverleigh managed to pass Lumberjacks after the first two legs, albeit by one pin, but they added to that as they won by 15.

Castaways, playing against Bellies, celebrated their first league game on their new alley with a win. The home team went on alley first and the second leg of a two spare 71 was crucial to their first two points of the season.

Division B, results – Barley Mow 398, HCC1 369; Uplowman 363, The Merriemeade 369; The Ponies 408, The Beare 414; Roy’s Rebels 331, The Agri-Nuts 310; Bradninch RBL 400, All Blacks 374; Bickleigh, bye; Bullocks 393, Oggies 341.

High Scores: 72 – A Palfrey (The Beare, three spares); 70 – Marc Billing (Barley Mow, three spares); 66 – D Groves (The Ponies, three spares).

Reports: Barley Mow newly promoted like their opponents HCC1, set the standard for the game, going into an 11 pin lead after two legs, with the third leg being shared. After that BM won the rest of the legs and took the points.

A close game took place between Uplowman and The Merriemeade, and though the home team set up a lead of 18 pins after two legs, the away team came back with a vengeance finished six pins to the good.

The Ponies and The Beare, both relegated last season, had a close game with the away team just edging the win to claim the points. Man of the Match was Andrew Palfrey with a three-spare 72.

Roy’s Rebels’ first game on their new alley was a win over The Agri-Nuts as they won the first five legs to take a comfortable two points.

Bradninch RBL and All Blacks were level after two legs, but then the home team overtook their opponents after the fourth leg and took command of the game.

Bullocks entertained Oggies who were unable to get to grips with the alley and only won the last leg, with the home team posting five 60+ legs.

DIVISION C, results – Tiverton Chiefs 368, Ashill Inn 367; Tiverton RBL 376, Booze Cruzers 355; The Farmers 383, Heathcoat Hulas 446; Rose & Crown 399, The Travellers 381.

High Scores: 70 – T Palmer (Heathcoat Hulas, three spares).

Reports: A nail-biting game took place between Tiverton Chiefs and Ashill Inn. In the second leg Ashill pulled 19 pins but the Chiefs immediately responded by taking 23 pins in the third. At the end of the game the two points went to the home team by one pin.

Tiverton RBL followed Booze Cruzers onto the alley, got their noses ahead after the first two legs, and stayed there to claim the points.

The Farmers watched as Heathcoat Hulas, on alley first, just went ahead by four pins after two legs. But a 22 pin pull on the fourth leg was the killer and HH proceeded to pile up the pins to the end.

Rose & Crown made a winning start to their campaign as they took two points off The Travellers. The away team on alley first were six pins clear after two legs, but the home team were not to be denied and made steady progress to get their noses in front.