NEEDING to win their last two games, both away, to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Gasket Guy British Skittles Championships, the Renegades successfully managed the first half of their target by completing the double over Reckers of Evesham.

The Studley Skittles league representative team, got off to the best of starts by winning the first leg by two pins before extending the lead after leg two to eight pins, but were grateful that Graham Howells made a 14 pin stack in leg three.

It meant that Reckers’ fightback reduced Renegades lead by only a single pin to seven pins which was then extended to 10 at the end of leg four.

Although Andy Clewlow, Renegades skipper, had an 11 stack in leg five, Richard Townsend for Reckers responded with a 15 stack as the home side again reduced Renegades lead, this time to sevens and threatened to get back into the game going into the last leg Reckers, needing a good last leg total,made a good fist of it with 59 pin total – their second best leg score of the game.

But it left Renegades needing only 53 pins to collect four very valuable away points and by consistent bowling, each Renegade player scored seven or eight pins, Renegades comfortably notching their highest leg total to take the game 345-336.

Reckers’ Townsend was the game’s top scorer on the night making 53 pins, while Clewlow (Renegades) scored 49 pins.

Clewlow was confident that Renegades can win their final group game against Fabulous Baker Boys, to finish third with 11 points.