BOB Netherway's Commuters have won the Newton Abbot and District Skittles League Championship for the first time, writes John Balment.

They took the title with a 381-373 away defeat of Gulls on Forde Hall alley one.

Had Gulls won the game the two sides would have decided the outcome in a play-off, but Gulls, for whom John Palmer scored 59, now have to be content with the runners-up berth.

They still have plenty of silverware to go for – they are in the finals of the Brinton and Woodbine Cups and in the semi-final of the Plate.

For Netherway, who top scored for his side with 55, it was a Newton Abbot-Torquay Skittles League double, his side Willows having won the top division in Torquay.

Aardvarks 424-374 win over Newton Rangers at the Oakford Club gave them the Division One title, Pam Murray coming up with 60, while Adi Metters had 58 for Rangers.

Runners-up were King Pins who had a 439-390 away win at the Oakford over Jokers, skipper and anchor Paul Taper was certainly the king pin when he scored 67. Dave Nicholls had 59 for Jokers.

Keith Milbery's 70 (6, 17, 15, 7, 18, 7) for No Norts was the highest individual score of the week as his side took out Kango Gang 382-344 on their visit to Forde Hall one, in Division One.

Kango Gang, for whom Colin Cake had 49, play Jokers this week in a game previously put off during the snow, and need a point to stave off the possibility of relegation.

Jokers had two games this week and if they won both, Kango Gang and U2's would go through the trap door.

In Division Two, Strange Brew faced a tough assignment when they visited champions Dee Gees at Teignbridge 76 Club, but pulled out all the stops to win 370-368 to ensure a place in Division One next season.

Marlene Andrews was on form with 52 for the winners and Bill Beech 54 for Dee Gees.

A run of five wins on the trot saw Tumblers take second place in Division Three, while Nomads had already flown though suffered a rare reverse when losing their local derby against Southern Comforts on Kingsteignton RBL one.

Dumplings, Hounds and Knighton Tigers face a play-off to decide who is relegated along with Teign Village.

Division Four was sewn up by The Kings and Breakaways some way out, while Black Diamonds have won Division Five and Mutineers could force a play-off with Triards for runners-up if they defeat Dynamos this week.

Having only lost once, Fordealls cantered away with Division Six and unless After 8's beat them on Wednesday, After 8's face an extra game with Strollers for second place.

Premier Division – Cricketers 416 (Richard Blood 68), Telecoms 400 (Keith Harris 69); Barbarians 376 (Shaun Caunter 62), Harvesters 377 (Kevin Cock 57); Gulls 373 (John Palmer 59), Commuters 381 (Bob Netherway 55); Bottlewashers 381 (Michelle Wilson 61), Force 8 425 (Joel Carnell 59); Crusaders 322 (Mike Stevens 49), Saracens 307 (Colin Uglow 48); Kestrels 380 (Jon Martin 60), Bovey Bees 387 (Gordon Williams 59).

Division One – No Norts 343 (Howard Foster 47), Prospectors 354 (N Saunders, R Beach 48); Rough Diamonds 360 (Simon Jones 54), Livewires 376 (Keith Mortimore, Trevor Chapman 54); Jokers 390 (Dave Nicholls 59), King Pins 439 (Paul Taper 67); Aardvarks 424 (Pam Murray 60), Newton Rangers 374 (Adi Metters 58); Kango Gang 344 (Colin Cake 49), No Norts 382 (Keith Milbery 70); Prospectors 371 (Bernie Bolt 45), U2's 351 (Barbara Pomeroy 50); Livewires 384 (Robin Fitzpatrick 53), Two Legions 424 (Nick Wathen 63).

Division Two – Castaways 364 (Shane Tozer 55), Blake's 8 356 (Darren Baker 52); Checkmates 390 (Martin Bovey 59), Teignton Stars 370 (Roy Shapland 56); Dee Gees 368 (Bill Beech 54), Strange Brew 370 (Marlene Andrews 52); Raiders 412 (Chris Webb 63), Mauricemen 386 (Lee Martin 58); All Whites 365 (Dominic Holmes 53), Pedlars 339 (Shaun Buckley 55); Late'uns 371 (Mark Blane 65), Clay Pigeons 302 (John Davey 48).

Division Three – Turkeys 376 (Sue Groft 56), Ringers 384 (Jeanette Taylor 61); Dumplings 339 (Dave Tucker 53), Teign Village 326 (Geraldine Beer 46); Nomads 363 (Les Woodger 57), Southern Comforts 377 (Nick Raisey 56); Allsorts 375 (Sheila Underhay 59), Tumblers 381 (Dave Frankpitt 51); Falcons 338 (Kevin Hyde 49), Hounds 332 (Jim Gorman 52); Knighton Tigers 359 (Nicola Brown 53), Anglers 369 (Mark Thompson 53).

Division Four – Bookworms 404 (John Moore 67), Shipmates 339 (Liza Langmead, Terry Langmead, Clive Langmead 44); Goldtops 373 (John Norish 56), Moby's Mob 341 (Gail Hewitson 48); The Kings 439 (Chris Underhill 77), Breakaways 376 (Merv Sanders 64); Alleycats 336 (Dave Webber 49), The Kings 390 (Ian Foster 56); Breakaways 343 (Merv Sanders 56), Sports 318 (Darren Wills 53); Boilersuits 378 (Simon Collins 56), NAGS 351 (Steve Lacklison 53).

Division Five – Yo Yo's 385 (Roger Turner 60), Triards 389 (Marilyn Stephens 60); Mutineers 372 (Elaine Wood 59), Bovey Drones 361 (Austin Evans 55); Riff Raff 349 (Ben van Weede 57), Strikers 365 (Alan Hayden 62); Ladybirds 329 (Teresa Stephens 48), Dynamos 333 (John Price 49); Black Diamonds 348 (Ian Perkins 53), Abbots 312 (Christine Dryland 52).

Division Six – Fordealls 382 (Mike Osborn 57), Oakapples 352 (Elizabeth Pratt and Pat Whane 51).

Brinton Cup semi-final – Late'uns 370 (Mark Blane 60), Gulls 402 (Bill Walling 58).