WESTON NUTTY LADIES 332 MOTLEY CREW LADIES 294

MOTLEY Crew have secured their place in the Butcombe British Championship after beating the Nutty Ladies over two legs.

The Crew, pictured, travelled to Weston-super-Mare for the opening leg and the first pair from each team took to the alley and, despite a score of 14 by the Crew’s Lin Hill in the fifth hand, a total of 65 gave the home side a lead of 11.

Steady skittling throughout the next two pairs put the hosts 25 ahead – with Weston’s Diane Vin-cent standing out with a 14.

The Crew’s final pair could only muster 75 and they were no match for the Nutty Ladies whose 88 secured a 38-pin triumph.

MOTLEY CREW 353 WESTON NUTTY LADIES 292

THE return match at the Chapelhay Tavern was both teams’ final group game in qualifying.

Motley started slowly, managing only 44 in the first hand, a score that the visitors bettered by two.

The second leg saw the Weymouth outfit find their feet, Sam Sibley starting the hand with 15 and Denise Brown 14.

Their scores gave the Crew what was to be the best hand of the match with 74 – Nutty Ladies could only muster 53.

Stickups for both teams in the next, Hayley Guille (14) for the home side and Tammy Walker (11) for the visitors, saw the Crew take a 21-pin lead.

Heading into the fourth, the Crew rallied well and added a 61 to increase their advantage to 38.

Sibley started the Crew off with another fantastic 15 in the penultimate hand and great support from the team saw them total 62.

The Crew produced 56 in the last and with the Nutty Ladies only managing 51 it was a handsome win for the hosts.

That last win saw the Crew top their group and secure them a place in the last 16 of the ladies’ competition at British Champ-ionship Grand Finals.

* Torquay’s Riviera International Centre will host the finals on September 20, when the Motley Crew Ladies join the Motley Crew Mixed A team who have already qualified.