EASTERN All-Stars started the 2011 Wray and Nephew Skittles competition on a losing note when they fell 4-6 to Starliners inside the JPS Sports Club last Sunday.

The opening day of the competition saw five matches cueing off, but it was the match featuring the defending champions which drew the most attention.

Lloyd ‘Tiger’ Smith gave his Eastern All-Stars team an early lead with a workmanlike 1,470-810 victory over Adrian Dixon, but Starliners signalled their intent to fight to the end when veteran striker Trevor Facey and Owen Smith got by Seymour Bennett and Clive Woolery, respectively, to give their team the edge.

But the pendulum swung back in favour of the defending champions, who won three consecutive games to lead 4-2.

But that would signal the end of the fight for Eastern All-Stars as their rivals put in a determined show to win the last four games and hand their team victory.

The final game was somewhat of a showpiece after Winston ‘Jubee’ Nevins clawed his way back from defeat to get the better of former singles champion Paul ‘Fitzroy’ Blair 1,210-940.

In other games, defending champions Eagles Strikers beat Mystix 6-5, while Willies got the better of a depleted Hangover, 5-1.

In the battle of the Spanish Town-based teams, Mercury defeated Mr C 6-3, while Rowes Strikers got by Waltham strikers, 6-5, after the latter failed to produce a player for the final game.

The competition continues tomorrow with six matches.