Highwaymen Skittle Team Season00-01

This season started full of optimism which soon disappeared . After one game our Vice Captain (Martin Sheppard) from last season left the team due to unforeseen circumstances . This left us with only 13 full time players , therefore it was important for us to sign at least 1 if not 2 more players . Trevor Holmes was appointed Vice Captain Even though we were down to the bear minimum of players our league form was far better than last seasons . After 6 games we were in 3rd place . Compare that to last seasons fourth from bottom at the same stage of the league . It was then we signed on 2 more players , John Duckhouse joined us from the Westsiders while Dave Fuller came from the Hi-Flyers . Prior to these signings we had struggled to get 12 players out on a Friday Night . It was certainly greeted with relief by the captain as a lot of chasing around had been done to ensure we got 12 players on the alley . Our League form was better than last seasons & our record of 28 games played 21 won & 7 lost was good enough to give us at least 3rd place . We may of even got 2nd dependant on last weeks results . We are also in with a shout for the Highest away leg ( 118 V Tower All Stars) & the Highest Away Team score (510 V Tower all Stars) .. Both these achieved during a game which we lost !!!! Our league campaign was destroyed by 2 teams who bowled out of their skins against us !! First the Ruswick Team scored an unbelivable 537 team score . This was then followed later on in the season by the Tower All Stars scoring 521 pins . Both of these teams did not surpass these totals all seasons. If only they could of performed like this against the New Raiders ..Our Cup campaigns were no where near as successful as last season . As Holders of the Doris Styles it was disappointing to lose in the 2nd Round to a full strength Herefordshire House Bulls Team . While in the King Pin we did reach the semi-finals but we were completely outclassed by the League Champions The New Raiders . Up until this game we had bowled very well in the King Pin Knockout . Winning one game with 11 players & scoring over 400 pins in the qtr Final against the Monday League Champions (The Runaways). This season our King Pin teams were chosen regards the highest percentage first ball King pin hits . Do you think this worked well .On an individual front we did not get any pairs through to the finals night . But 2 of our bowlers have reached the Singles Final night . Both Gary Hanson & Trevor Davis will be plying their trade at the Railway club on the 11/5/01 . Lets get a few players down there to support . Top of our averages this season was the newly signed John Duckhouse . He amassed 837 pins from 21 games giving him a good average of 39.86 . He also managed to gain our entry into the highest away league average . He played 11games averaging an outstanding 40.82 . This must stand a very good chance of winning this trophy . Our entrant into the Highest aggregate was Dean Banfield with 1045 pins from 27 games . This probably is not quite enough , but who knows !!!????Overall not a bad season with several bowlers continuing to show there prowess on the Skittle alley .Obviously John Duckhouse was our outstanding bowler . Not only did he top the averages but he bowled with a consistency which raised the game of other players in our team . Mitch Fowles as always bowled well & seemed to feed off the new found competition John Duckhouse had provided . Dean Banfield took off more spares than anybody else in the team . In all he took 15 spares in 27 games . Also worth mentions are Don Hewlett , Rob Jenkins & Trevor Davis , all 3 had dodgy starts to the season but then proved that you cannot buy experience . As they all finished very strongly to all post averages of above 37 pins . !!!!! At the other end of the scale the Steve Dayus (Me!!) did not enjoy the best of seasons with his lowest average for 8 seasons . Apart from Steve Dayus & Dave Fuller everybody averaged above 35 pins which is very good . Even so not all the players were achieving the form they can realise . So if we all bowled to some where near our potential there is no doubt that we can win this league .I would like to thank Trevor Holmes for doing a very good job as Vice Captain . Especially over the last few games when I was unable to arrive at the necessary time to play .

On a more personel note , next season Mark Ballard will be missing for the first 1/2 of the season as he will be enjoying himself in Australia .Just a small note about our website which has now had over 2300 visitor since it was first let loose on the world . The web site address for any players who do not know is www.dayus01.freeserve.co.uk

position	Name of player	League Games Played	Total Pins	spares	Front pin hit average (includes king Pin Games)	Average	top score
1	J.DUCKHOUSE	21	837	6	61/90 (67.7%)	39.86	54
2	M.FOWLES	26	1018	12	98/130 (75.4%)	39.15	50
3	D.BANFIELD	27	1045	15	73/120 (60.8%)	38.70	55
4	D.HEWLETT	27	1020	8	90/140 (64.2%)	37.78	49
5	R.JENKINS	19	709	5	44/85 (51.76%)	37.32	46
6	T.DAVIS	25	931	8	62/125 (49.6%)	37.24	47
7	G.HANSON	28	1039	5	96/145 (66.2%)	37.11	45
8	A.TIDDER	22	814	7	55/110 (50.0%)	37.00	46
9	M.CHAMBERS	19	693	7	73/100 (73.0%)	36.47	49
10	M.HUMPHREYS	21	765	5	73/120 (61%)	36.42	47
11	R.FRANKLIN	22	798	3	70/120 (58.33%)	36.27	44
12	M.BALLARD	21	743	3	66/110 (60.0%)	35.38	53
13	T.HOLMES	24	841	3	68/125 (54.4%)	35.04	44
14	M.SHEPPARD	1	35	0	7/10 (70%)	35.00	35
15	S.DAYUS	22	756	4	77/125 (61.6%)	34.36	40
16	D.FULLER	10	313	1	18/45 (40%)	31.30	40
17	M.FUTRILL	1	31	0	2/10 (20%)	31.0	31

This season was blighted by the sad loss of John Duckhouse . Several of our players had known John for a long time . So when John passed away not only did we lose one of the best players in Worcester , several of our team members lost a friend .Our team was well represneted at his funeral & anybody who went to the service would agree it was a fitting send off

. On a happier note Mitch got married to Nina & Mark Chambers had another addition to his growing tribe .

On a skittling front we had several good individual performances throughout the season but pride of place goes to Mitch Fowles who not only gained the highest league aggregate in our team but he also manage to achieve the highest away average in our team this season . This in his first season as captain (Show off !!!) . Unfortunatley Mitch did not do enough to win either the Highest Away Average or Aggregate Trophies. The top individual score goes to Dean Banfield with a total of 53 . It seems that Martin Humphreys & Dean specialise in winning this . Even so Dean was well off the Highest score posted in the league . Four players all scoring 60 . In fact this season we had several players reach the 50 landmark . Below is a list :- D.Hewlett 50 , T.Davis 51 V Tower All Stars (A) / D.Banfield 50 V Legionaires (H)/ I.Chambers 50 V Freshmen (H)/D.Banfield 51 V Rams (H) / D.Banfield 53 V Bulls (H)/ G.Hanson 50 V New Castings (A) / R.Jenkins 51 V Freshmen (A)

It was nice to see Mark Ballard come back from Australia & bowl extremly well for the half a season that he was available . An unforunate accident robbed the Highwaymen of Gary Hanson services over the last 3 games , just as he was hitting top form as well . Hope your hand is up to the job next season. In recent seasons we have normally manage to get a pair to the finals night but this season we were unsucessfull in the pairs & singles competitions. After coming back fron the League A.G.M. it has been confirmed that we achieved the Highest away Team score during last season . This was against the Tower All Stars & was a massive 516 . So we have 2 trophies to pick up at the presentation night . The improvement in our team this season was probably down to having greater depth in our squad . With the bottom of the averages acheiving a creditable 35.91 there is no way we were going to have a bad season . In fact all our players bowled well in patches with others maintaining a good standard all year .The League instigated a sponsorship scheme called Bowling to Beat Cancer . This was due to the loss of several prominant figuares in our league (including John). Our Team raised the creditable amount of £446.60 . This at the time was one of the largest amounts raised by any team . The team which raised the most would get the a new set of Skittles & balls . Trevor Holmes raised a massive £115.00 , well done Trevor for your efforts . The person who raised the most money in each team also recieves a T-Shirt !!!!!! It would be nice if we did raise the most amount considering our close connections with the appeal .I would like to thank all people who donated money or gained sponsorship towards this worthy cause.The league was aiming to raise at least £3000. It appears they are above that amount already.

During the summer the Highwaymen have entered 3 competitions , Herefordshire House,Worcester Football Club & Claines. I would like to take this oppurtunity to thank Don , Mitch & Trevor Holmes for the assitance they have given me this season . As I have not been able to devote as much time to the team as normal .By the way the website is still going so if you want to check on your average or look at last weeks results visit www.highwaymenskittleteam.co.uk. Over 3100 visitors to our site in the 3 seasons we have been up & running . The League website is also going & is run by myself . The address being www.w-f-s-l.co.uk. All up to date league tables , results ,cup draws etc. are posted on this site .

In Edition Here is Mitch Fowles Captains Report for this season !!!!!!!!! *********

It has been a memorable season in many respects as well as an emotional one . Fron a personal point of view Ive enjoyed the extra repsonbilty of being captain - a job made easier than I anticipated beecaose of the help of various TEam members

Steve Dayus as we all know does an excellent job . Not only with the brilliant website but also with the stats /averages which we all enjoy , & the constant team work he does behind the scences.

Thanks also to Donb for the Thankless task of collecting the subs each week.A job he does with his usual politeness & minimum fuss.

I would also like to thank Trevor Holmes for his support to me as Vice Captain.

As i reflect on the season I can't help feel but very proud . I have felt as a team we gelled together superbly . We have always had good players now we have a great team . Throughout the season every player has contributed to a mayc winning spare or & a leg taking pin . . The Highwaymen have always had good team moral / i think this helped us through the loss of our best bowler John duckhouse , a player & man who we all agree just cannot be replaced.

Next season we can look forward with fresh optimism . As a team we can beat anybody . If we has as much self belief as the Raiders then nobody would touch us .We do have the disadvantage as most teams tend to try harder against us as opposed to rolling over against the dry necks.

Im sure however we can overcome this next year let us be the ones celebrating in fine Highwaymen tradition.

I must mention & thank Norma & Paul for their excellent support & Michelle who has done a great job sticking up.

Thanks to one & all for your efforts . Lets get stuck in & do the business next season.

Thanks Mitch for this report it is nice to see the Captain take time out the consider his thoughts about the previous seasons efforts

This seemed a very long season with 43 games played during this season . The way it started it looked as if we
would struggle to stay up with 3 defeats coming in the first 5 games . But a crucial game at the Portobello against
the Vics turned our season around . The team needed a tough 94 last leg . Mitch then showed his metal as captain
by scoring the required 9 to win the game and ultimately kick start our season into action .

After this game we did not look back . Despite being Knocked out by the Bulls in the first round of the Doris Styles
we then proceeded to go on a run where we were beaten only once in 17 cup & league games . This was against
the in form Rams . Even so were lucky on occasions because 3 times we managed to win games by a single pins .

Several players were starting to bowl better with Mitch Fowles leading the way . He was well supported by Ian
Chambers , Rich Franklin , Gary Hanson & Mark Ballard . Mark Ballard was having a really good season on our
home alley which in the past was not to kind to him. We did suffer a blow half way through the season with Mark
Chambers leaving . But we were lucky to get the services of Mike Futrill to cover his loss . Ross Hewlett also played
several games during this season & without his help we would not of done as well .

In the King Pin KO we again reached the semi-finals . As normal we drew the New Raiders who bowled very well to
win . Unfortunately this was an off night for the Highwaymen and the way we bowled was mirrored by our meagre
total . Barely enough to make the Raiders bowl their last leg .

As mentioned above we were knocked out of the Doris Styles by the Bulls in a very tight game . Only losing by 3
pins . It was a good game by both teams but a 15 spare from Colin Beale on the last leg proved to be the turning
point . The Bulls went all the way to the final eventually losing to the Raiders !!!! .

Because of this we were then entered into the Eric Wild Trophy . This was the first time I have played in this
competition . We played some tough games in this Knock out with the Foxies, Bellmen & Gunshots forcing us to
bowl well to ensure we reached the final . In the end we played the Travellers in a good final . After an early scare
we bowled well as a team to secure a 21 pin win . The game was played in a good sprit . The bowler of the game
was Martin Humphreys with a superb 50 . In fact his late season form was getting better with every game . It was
nice to see Mitch Fowles pick up his first team Trophy as Highwaymen Captain .

The league boiled down to the last game with 4 teams with still a chance to win , but unfortunately for us we put in
one of our worst home scores of the season . With Morganite coming into good form it was never going to be
enough & we were soundly beaten by the better team on the night . We eventually finished 3rd which we should all
agree was astounding after the start we had made.

Due to the squad being down to the bare bones . Players who were out of form were having to bowl every week (me
included ) , thus this was affecting the teams confidence . But credit must be given to the captain and all the team
members who kept on going , even if we did feel like giving up on a weekly basis . For most teams this would be a
very good season . 3rd in the league , semi-finalist in the King Pin & winners of the Eric Wild . So even if we did
feel disappointed after the league campaign , remember that game at the Portobello . The reaction after Mitch got
the winning pins was probably the best all season . Who would of expected us to win a trophy before that game ,
NOBODY I GUESS .

Congratulations to Mitch Fowles who has deservedly won the league aggregate 1197 pins from 30 games . Well
bowled Mitch . Because of this Mitch has won our overall average as well (39.90) . Dean Banfield posted the
Biggest score of the season with a superb 59 on the Saracens Head against the New Castings team . A match
winning performance indeed . Dean not only managed to win this but also has taken the Highest County cup
Average Trophy as well . Well done Dean .

On a more personal note I would like to congratulate Richard & Sarah on the birth of their little girl Bethany . Also
Mitch & Nina on the birth of their boy Norton . The team would like to wish you the best of luck & hope you do not
have to many sleepless nights .

Keep visiting the website :- www.highwaymenskittleteam.co.uk . All match results & match reports averages are on
this site . Nearly 5000 visitors reached . Sorry the updates have not been as consistent this season . But I have
been very busy this year .

With 3 new players starting the season we were hoping for a good and exciting year . With Mike , Simon and Jaime Ballance all bowling well during the summer Knockout competitions we were hopeful of a successful campaign . The season certainly started very well with us winning our first 8 competitive games . But this was halted by 2 league defeats by the Tower all Stars and the Freshmen . After this we then went undefeated until the end of January in the league when we came up against an inform Outlaws who beat us on the Anchor Inn . We did have one other setback in this period of the season when we were then knocked out in the second round of the King Pin Knock out by the New Castings , who gained revenge for their extra leg defeat in the first round on the Doris Styles. But we were then hindered by one of the Highwaymen’s longest serving players leaving the Highwaymen . Trevor Holmes who had played for the Highwaymen for well over 20 years was moving out to Bromyard and was unable to commit himself . Trevor was always a reliable and dependable member of the team and has been missed by the team . As it was with the help o Gary Hanson we were able to sign on another player just before Christmas to bolster the squad . Michael Price proved to be a solid player during the season and provided the Highwaymen with the competition for places we needed . We then produced our best 2 performances of the season by beating the current league champions the Raiders on the Blackpole and followed this up with a superb team performance at the Railway Club against the ever threatening Rams team . We now had a 38 point lead over the 2nd placed team but we were about to throw this away with 2 comprehensive defeats . The first was against the Bulls who scored the highest away team score on our alley this year (461) . Then the Tower All Stars who were the only team in the league to do the double over the Highwaymen . This meant we had lost 4 games and 2 of them were on the Barbourne Ex Servicemen’s Club. The next game in the league was against the Freshmen which was an edgy affair but we managed to scrap a 14-6 win .The next big game was against the team of the moment , Morganite . They were on a long unbeaten run and we were playing them in the Semi-final of the Doris Styles at the difficult Bell Inn Alley.

But it was not to be the Highwaymen’s night and a disappointing performance ended with a 15 pin defeat . A game in which we could not really get our noses in front. That meant we had lost 3 of our last 4 games and we were in danger of losing the plot . But the Highwaymen then produced a superb run of 8 undefeated league games in which we only dropped 12 points in the process . This gave the Highwaymen the League title . When it came to the last game we only needed 1 point to ensure the title and Captain Mitch Fowles did it in style by taking a superb spare off to win the leg and the league. This then produced some wild celebrations which showed how much it meant to the team . With several players having at least 12 years in the team in meant an awful lot .

We then played in the Champions of Champions and after a win against the Signals were edged out by the Monday Division one Champions the Kingfishers . Both teams struggling with the difficult kit on the Railway Club.

But the Highwaymen had success on a lot of other fronts this season . With the singles and doubles providing the Highwaymen with more success . Don Hewlett and Rob Jenkins were runners up in the pairs Knockout . Mitch Fowles won the Singles Knockout in fine style beating another Highwayman player in the final , Trevor Davis. Also during this night Trevor Davis managed to post the Highest King Pin score of 50 to pick up another trophy for the Highwaymen . I have now had confirmed that the ultra consistent Jaime Ballance has picked up the trophy for the top aggregate in Wednesday Division 1 .

Top of the averages for the season was Jaime Ballance who showed why he is one of the best bowlers in the League . He averaged 39.93 and played in every league game of the season. Jaime also posted the Highwaymen’s top score of the season with a superb 53 on the Anchor Inn against the ?????? . Only Simon Ballance (50 against Morgainte ) and Trevor Davis (50 at singles finals night) got any where near this score. I think the main difference from last season to this season was that the bowlers such as Steve Dayus and Mike Ballance had seasons better than expected and thus the Highwaymen did not have a weak link in the team . with the lowest in the averages posting a creditable 35.73 the Highwaymen were always going to be a difficult team to beat .

We still have the Val Hopkins cup to play in and hopefully we can get further in that than we did in the champions of champions. We have also entered the Worcester City Football club KO , Herefordshire House KO and the Claines RBL . We will of played in the Worcester City by the time we have this meeting

Next season it looks as if we will be without the services of Mark Ballard who may be leaving the area . He has still signed on but will not be available on a week to week basis . We wish Mark the best and hope he still manages to come to some of next seasons games . Certainly a vintage year for the Highwaymen . Not without its disappointments but ultimately culminating in the joy of winning the league . I would like to thank all the players this year , for their commitment . It was also very easy for myself and Mitch to run the team this year . Also I would like to thank Don Hewlett for attending the league meetings as when the meetings fall it makes it difficult for me to attend.

Keep visiting the website :- www.highwaymenskittleteam.co.uk . All match results & match reports averages are on this site . Over 6000 visitors reached . I will update the site but I have had a busier year than normal .

With the team looking more settled than over the last 2 seasons the Highwaymen were looking to repeat last seasons heroics by
retaining the league title . But as always things never go to plan and the early departure of Martin Humphreys due to work and the
relocation of Mark Ballard we were missing 2 stalwart players from last season .

Martin Humphreys was a particular blow as his loss was unexpected .So we were on the look out for a replacement . We were very lucky
to get a very good bowler in Keith Collins from the New Castings team . He joined the team early on in the season and to his credit he
blended in as if he had been playing for us for as long as Don Hewlett and Bob Jenkins (well maybe not that long !!!!).
The league season started in very patchy style with 2 defeats in the first 4 games . The first against the bogey team that is Tower All
Stars and the second was against the Morganite.In contrast to that our first 2 cup games ended in resounding wins . We beat our fellow
Anchor Inn team the Fat Anchors in the Doris Styles by 42 pins , with Steve Dayus posting what turned out to be a rare 40 plus score
(49) .We followed this up with a thumping of the Monday Division one leaders the Travellers (299-360).
We started November in bad style and a home defeat against the Outlaws was followed by probably our biggest beating of the season by
the New Castings. But after this we improved considerably and 7 league wins on the bounce brought us back into contention . With all
teams at the top losing the odd game. During this period we also won a further 2 Doris Styles games (Barbarians and Rushwick) and a
King pin match against the Vics. All decent teams to beat in the early stages of these cups.
After Christmas we turned in a big performance against the Polecats on their alley and things looked to be on the up but another
disappointing home score against the Rams brought right down to earth and kept us in the chasing pack for the league title.

As was our luck we drew the New Castings in the last 16 of the Doris Styles . This was always going to be a tough match with both
teams being capable of winning this trophy. During the early stages of the game the New Castings had the upper hand but in the end a
vital spare on the 4th leg by Steve Dayus turned the game the Highwaymen’s way and some good bowling on the last leg ensured the
Highwaymen scraped home by 2 pins. Was this to be our Cup year. For us to win the league we knew we had to win 13 form the last 14
league games . This we almost achieved as we did win 12 from our last 14 league games but crucially our looses were against the
morganite (the only team to do the double over us) and the eventual winners the New Raiders . During the second half of the season our
home improved dramatically with teams finding very difficult to take any bonus points from us never mind winning the games . The
Highlight being a 475 score against the New Castings which included the highest individual Highwaymen score of the season a 56 from
young Mike Ballance . From our last 7 home games we only dropped 14 points in total .

In the cups the Morganite completed 3 victories over us in the season with a narrow 6 pin win in the King Pin qtr finals , while in the Doris
Styles we progressed to the final with comfortable wins against the Casuals and Countymen.
In the final we played the Runnaways . This game was a tense affair but in the end the Highwaymen fought back from a 4 pin deficit to
win by a slightly flattering 10 pins on the night. . The vital period of the game was 2 spares on the final leg after a poor start , they came
from Gary Hanson and the reliable Mike Price . It could all been different if these spares had not been taken off. So We have now for 3
seasons on the trot picked up a winners trophy . Our best run for some considerable time . In the end we were runners up in the League
with the Highwaymen making a good fist in trying to defend our title .

Individually Jaime Ballance did well and got to the final in the singles but in the end lost to the Fat Anchors Gary Baker . Jaime amassed
1151 pins during the season and must be in with a chance of the regaining the aggregate Trophy and also the league also averages .

As regards our team Jaime again showed what a consistent bowler by toping our Average s again. Mike Futrill showed his old form by
getting 2nd place in our overall averages. Mitch Fowles , Dean Banfield and Simon Ballance were next in the averages with hardly
anything to chose between them . Don Hewlett also showed some superb flash of his old skills . Adie and Mike Price were very steady
during the season while Gary Hanson has a great finish to the year after a poor start compared to his normal standards.
On the other hand players who had a good previous season did not perform as well . Bob Jenkins missed a few game to regain his
confidence (which did seem to work) . Trevor Davis who last season was as good as anybody got one good score followed by one bad
one and Stephen Dayus who was 4th in last years averages could not get a good run in the team mainly due to his bad home form . Any
way enough of the excuses .
In the champions of champions we were determined to do well after 2 seasons of poor performance s . But again we under achieved
and were beaten on the Bridge Inn by the Division 3 winners the Fat Anchors . We are hoping to have Martin Humphreys back for next
season with the potential of 1 or 2 further signings we are hoping to maintain our streak of winning a trophy every season . I will inform
you of the presentation evening when I have the details to hand .

I would like to thank all the people who helped in the running of this team , Don , Mitch and Deano.

The team had to rebuild over the summer with the unavailability of Martin Humphreys and the 3 Ballance Brothers jumping ship itwas going to be a different looking team for the 2005-2006 season . But with Rich Franklin coming back and Gary Rudge signing on, the team certainly did not look any weaker on paper than it did last season

The first couple of months started reasonably well . In the league we had won our first 6 games . But in the cups we had been beaten well by the Prince ‘A’ team in our defence of the Doris Styles . We had also been knocked out by the Scorpions in the firstround of the Eric Wild Trophy .One of the early highlights was our team score of 515 at the Barbourne Ex Servicemen’s club . Topscore that night was yours truly (Steve D) with 55 . This proving to be the top score by a Highwayman all season . It could well ofbeen more with 2 spares missed.

November and December carried on in the same vein with the Highwaymen only suffering 2 league defeats before Xmas andmanaging to top the table . While in the only cup competition we were left in we beat the New Castings in the King Pin.

In January the league season was going from better to better with 4 further league wins but we were well beaten by the NewRaiders in the King Pin . One low leg letting us down and giving the Raiders the edge in the game.

But the good league form deserted the Highwaymen in February with 3 defeats in 4 games which began with a 20-0 trouncing byTower All Stars on our home Alley .BRM & E bowled well to beat us on the Railway then the Raiders gained a crucial win on ourhome alley to send us slipping back to 4th place in the league table.The Highwaymen recovered well after this set back and wewon 8 of our last 10 games losing to the New Castings and Rushwick . The only teams to do the home and away doubles over us. This secured a creditable 3rd position for us in the league . Not enough for us to win a trophy but certainly good enough forScouser and Keith to fill their pockets with money !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dean Banfield and Mitch Fowles after years of trying deservedly won the pairs competition keeping up our recent good fortunes inthis competition of late, In the singles we managed to get 5 players in the last 16 . A very good feat indeed .

Over the season captain Mitch Fowles was our outstanding bowler . He topped the overall averages with 40.07 over the season . Hewas also the top away average with a creditable 40.15 over the season. He was pipped for the highest aggreagte by Dean Banfeildwho overtook him with a 22 pin turn around on the last match. Dean amassed 1093 pins over the season.With all but one of our bowlers averaging above 34 pins the team had a consistent look to it . We only needed one or 2 morebowlers to match Mitch’s form all season and we could well of won the league.

A decent season for the Highwaymen but it was the first time for 5 seasons that we had not won a team trophy . It was a very goodleague season with 5 teams viaing for the title up until the last 2 weeks . With 3 teams including ourselves still with a chance ofwinning the league. on the final week of the season.

It was good see to Gary Rudge and Rich Franklin finish the season very strongly with both players bowling to a high standard. DonHewlett showed he has still got it and finished a very good third in our averages . Dean Banfield was bowling very well towards the
end of the season . But too many of us bowled very well in patches but not consistently throughout the season.
I would like to thank all the people who helped in the running of this team .Don Hewlett for hounding everybody for their subs ,Mitch for ensuring that we had 12 players every week. Deano for stepping into the breach when Mitch was not there.

I will not be standing as Secretary for next season as currently I am unable to attend league meetings on a Tuesday and my timehas become more limited due to family commitments .I have already asked Adie Price to take over the reins of the secretary position . I hope all team members will vote for Adie andgive him the support I have had over the last 7 seasons.

I will try to keep the website more up todate than I have this season . I will have update the site to some degree by the time thisAGM has been held . The address is www.highwaymenskittleteam.co.uk

This was going to be a season which several new players would be starting with the Highwaymen.. With Don Hewlett , Rob Jenkins , Mike Futrill not signing on it was a changing of the guard for the Highwaymen. James Rushton , Dave Ruston , Kevin Albone and Martin Jones were all new players in a season which in the end proved to be a good one for the Highwaymen. In fact the Highwaymen's first trophy was not long in the waiting with the Highwaymen winning the Here House KO.This we thought would be the first of many but te early season form did not mirror the Here House form.

The squad looked stronger than it did for years but the Highwaymen flattered to deceive in the league with several players struggling to come to terms with the new home kit. In fact after the first half of the season the Highwaymen were well entrenched in the bottom half of the table. Butt the Highwaymen produced a superb second half to the season to finish in a respectable 6th position.If they had produced the same results in the first half the Highwaymen could well have won the league.

The Highlight of the year was the Highwaymen winning the King Pin Trophy against a good New Castings Team. This was the first time the Highwaymen had ever won this trophy. We then followed this by winning the Champions of champions trophy for the first time. The Highwaymen beating surprise finalists the Casuals.

Gary Rudge posted the Highest King Pin score . With a superb 55 Gary was the 5th Highwayman player to win this trophy.

The Highwaymen entered the British Skittles Championship for the first time and after a tough qualifying campaign managed to reach the final 16. The Highwaymen lost their first match at Weston Super Mare but won the plate competition for first round losers.

Overall a superb season considering the early season form. Keith Collins had a superb season being top of the overall averages. Mitch Fowles bowled as well as ever being second. Dave Rushton in his first season coming a 3rd in the averages.