Word on the street is that our closest rivals failed to turn up to their match in hand and therefore lost by default. If that's so, then it's a sad way to end the season for them, but a great way to end the season for us. Looks like we're the Champions fella's!

We finished what's been a great seaosn with a win over the Cons A. But will it be enough to be crowned champions. We don't know yet. According to the League website we were 2 points ahead (now 4 after the win) but 2nd placed Ex's C's have two games in hand. If they win both it'll be a playoff. Nervous times.
Last nights win was just what was needed, and with Exocet (33) shown right and Stabber (30) leading the way, we won a low scoring match against the Cons A. Nightmare floored a 9, whilst Trigger missed the lot on his first roll to notch a sunshine. Watch it on YouTube here

Stockings is this years Champion Skittler with an average of 26.91 and he also tops the Strike Rate table with an average of 85.22% Congratulations to him.

It's a good job we got promotion last time out. This was very much a case of after the Lord Mayor's show, which only the outstanding Stockings (right) really in form as he hit a massive £60 Diddler winning 36 including a spare of 14. Gilo hit a 9 but struggled that apart, , whilst Exocet was closest to Stocks with 27.

BIG apology to Nightmare for omitting to mention his superb 31 last week - sorry mate - I'll make sure I mention your 21 this week!

Don't forget the last outing of the season is now next Wednesday, 16th April at home.

It's not yet official, although we think it's certain, but our vistory against old foes the DP Legion is enough to ensure 1st Division skittles next term. In a tough old match scores of 31, and a pair of 30's from Harv, JR and Gilo respectively led the way as we edged out the opposition to claim the points. It's not over yet though, and we'd like to go up as Champions so the next two matches are vital.

At worst we're equal top, and at worst we're level at the top depending on this weeks results, and we have three games to play. The 3rd place team is 5 points behind with a game in hand, so another 2 wins and promotion will be ours, but we'd like to do it as champions. We put the Whalers to the sword on the treacherous Cons alley, Gilo (right) top socring with a fluid 29, whilst others, notable Trigger and Exocet struggled, but as the points are in the bag, who cares? Just a point of note lads, the 3 cheers for the Whalers last night was shocking as some people had wandered off and others didn't appear to be taking any notice. Apologies to the Whalers, and more effort in our cheering in future boys.

Into the fag end of the season, and it's tight at the top. The Ex's are right up there with us, so this was always going to be a tough one, and so it proved. However, for the first time in months we recorded over 300 on our gnome alley, as we took both points in a scintillating contest. Top Dog was Stocks, but there were fine performances from Gilo and Stabber, and no-one scored less than 23. It's in our own hands. The question is, "How badly do we want it?"

The Coro alley's a funny one to call. It's not the worst alley in the world, but you have to work hard for your pins. Luckliy we had this one sewn up by the 4th roll, because we weren't that great, but the Oldies were worse. Trigger (left) & Mavis (right) led the way with a pair of 28's, whilst the favourite score of the night was 22 with 4 recording that. Still, it's another win, and promotion remains in our own hands.

Chanmpagne moment of the night was on Exocet's 4th roll, when one of his master blasters wanged a pin onto the back wall and then back onto Stabber's nut (no nut, not nuts). Much hilarity ensued once we ensured he wasn't dead.

This match was rearranged to enable us to cherish our loved ones on St Valentines Day, but all returning skipper Sparky saw was a St Valentines Day massacre as we fell to our 3rd defeat in the last 4 matches. A dip in form at this time of the season is not what the Doctor ordered. Only Stockings (29) pictured right and Gilo with 27 really got to grips with the deep Pilot alley, and our first two rolls were littered with double bolters.

Let's not beat about the bush. This was a poor show given our recent form. Like last week we threw away a strong lead, but unlike last week we didn't have the wherewithal to fight back, and two poor rolls saw us lose a match by 4 pins that we should have won comfortably. The fact that the top score on our home alley were a pair of 27's from Exocet & Harv reflects the ordinaryness of this outing, and there were far too many bolters missing wide on each side. That's also the second time in a row we've failed to hit the 300 mark at home. More target practice needed if we're to be serious about our promotion challenge. What must Ted (right) be thinking up in Scotland?
The skipper's back next week, and like Fabio Capello, he'll have no compunction about dropping those not in form or fitness, regardless of how many caps they've got!

Please note next week's match scheduled for Thursday 14th February away at the Pilot v Pilot Regulars has been changed and will now take place the day before, Wednesday 13th February.
No excuses for not taking the missus out now for Valentines....

This was a strange match. Back at the Old Pens for the first time in a few years for a league match we collected all the points winning by 22 pins. It wasn't that straightforward though - 17 up on roll 1, it was level after 2! Then we opened up a 29 pin advantage on the 3rd roll. That proved decisive in the end. Star man was Rossi (right) with 31, but the main thing is another solid performance and a win after last weeks disappointing loss, to keep us right up there.

We've also added info on the Old Pens alley to our Alley's Page as we haven't played here for a long time. Remember, this is the definitive guide to skittles alleys' in Penarth.

Last time skipper Sparky took a break and Stabber stepped up to the helm, our season nosedived. At the Penarth Legion though things were different. Although not in the finest of form himself, Stabber steered his charges to an impressive 16 pin win over a good Legion side. Exocet (right) was the pick of the bunch with a fine Diddler winning 35 including a 9 on his final roll, whilst 3 other hit 30 and 2 scored 29. This is good form and promotion is still our aim, and sooner rather than later. Let's hope we can keep this run going next week as we entertain the Swanderers at home. Stabber, please take not of the opposition's team name, ready for the cheers.

Generally we don't like the Cef alley much - it's short and the gaps are big. Our Alley's page suggests a par score here is 50, but we might need to revisit that, because last night we averaged 61.8 as we won a good game over the Originals. Trigger's 9 in the 4th was the highlight of a great evening's rolling (Statto's 18 aside), and Harv (right) finally came to the party with 31 on an alley he traditionally misses out on because he has to work late. Hmmm. The win keeps us close to, or even top of the league - we haven't seen a table for a few weeks), so promotion is still within our grasp. We have a telling couple of weeks now though as the skipper is off to sunnier climes and has handed over the reigns to Nightmare.

Finally, a reminder to all to set your video recorders and Sky+ boxes to BBC1 (Wales presumably) ext Wednesday 16th January at 10am for "Under the Hammer" when our very own "Stabber" will be making a complete monkey of himself on the telly. He'll be signing autographs at the match in the evenings (free) but photo's with him will be a tenner a pop.

"Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to see Dinas win away"
And win we did in fine style, sweeping the Cutters aside by 49 pins, as Rossi (right) landed the Diddler as his Christmas bonus. Both he and Gilo floored 9's in an impressive performance that keeps us right in the mix for promotion.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all our readers

next league match, Wed 9th January at the Cefn Mably

A fine win on the Swan's tough alley keeps us right up there. Nightmare (right) led the way with a fine 27 well supported by Swan old boy Gilo with a good 26. Stabber put his foot in it by raising three cheers for the Swanderers when in fact we were playing the other team from the Swan, the DP Legion. I hope they didn't mind.....

Playing the Whalers (a new team in an old guise) a solid, consistent if unspectacular performance secured all 2 points to keep us in contention. Stockings led from the fron (again) with a fine 31, with Tankerman pictured right (29) in an excellent supporting role. Strangely, the alley appears to have stopped splashing, and we know not why. Still 309 is a better performance than last week.

Back to winning ways against teh Cons A, but it wasn't convincing it has to be said. The skipper led the way (again) with a fine 29 in what was an otherwise unforgettable performance as we fired 50 bolters down.
Frankly our winning score of 283 would have seen us comin off second best 9 times out of 10 on this, our home alley. Still, it's 2 point in the bag. What England could have done for a point last night.....

We like the Ex's alley. Always good for a splash, and things looked good after an opening 67. Then either nerves, complacency or pressure kicked in and we didn't get another roll over 61. Even big guns like Stockings and Harv got "bolteritis", and only Sparky and Stabber with 29 apiece brought home the bacon. After a great start to the season we're faltering a bit and need to get back amongst the points next week at home.

Perhaps we were complacent, perhaps the last week's rest wasn;t what we needed. Either way a poor performance on our home alley (and a warm one at that) let the Oldis take advantage - and in fact they nearly (and really should have) taken all the points. Instead it went to the last roll and ended in a tie. Only DJ (31) pictured right shone on a night when bolters were rife.

I suppose it had to happen sooner or later, but the manner of our loss to the Pilot at home was disappointing. On a cold alley, we never really got going and a top socre of 63 on the second roll was as good as it got. the "Big Three" Teddings, Harv and Stocks could't manage a score above 25 between them, and 6 players registered 5 bolters. Stabber and Trigger led the way with 31 apiece.

We have a week off next week due to the City v Liverpool game.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks, and this week's Top Dog is none other than Mr Veteran himself "Gilo" (right) who tapped his extensive years of experience and knowledge of the Ex's alley to bag a 30 and lead the way as we brought the bacon home (or rather the points) to make it 4 from 4 this season.

Next week's game is Tuesday NOT Wednesday
due to City v Wolves being on Wednesday.

The following week's game v Cefn Originals (31st Oct)
is postponed due to the clash between City & Liverpool

Harvey's back (right), and his form continues from last season as his 33 leads the way to a 16 pin win over the Terriers. A comfortable game sees us 3 from 3, and Sparky's boys are looking good just now. Stockings hit another 30, although everyone played their part, with the lowest score being 23. Highlight of the night though was Stabber winning the footie card!

The mutterings about the Swan alley began last week, and continued in the pre-match build up, but we had nothing to worry about. We've got this alley down as a par 56 on our alleys page, but here we averaged over 61.5 as we blew the opposition away. Leading the charge was Stockings (right) with a Diddler winning 36, with Exocet & Statto helping out with 29 apiece. There's a long way to go this season but we've started well with 2 resounding wins, and there's no sign of Harvey yet!

Our season got off to the best possible start with a rip roaring win over the Legion A. Skipper Sparky (right) led from the front with a superb 39 including a spare of 15, whilst Stabber also joined in the fun with 32. A couple of new faces this year with "Si" Wilton, and it's a very warm welcome back to an old DPAB hand Neil "Gilo" Giles, who brings years of skittling experience and a highly original nickname to the team

The 2007 / 2008 Winter Season Approaches..........

Fixtures now available