Eastern All-Stars moved a step closer to the 2008 Wray & Nephew premier league skittles title last Sunday when they defeated this year's Pattex Cup champions, Meadowvale, 7-4 at The Dip Skittles Club, Gregory Park.

The highly touted east Kingston team raced into an early lead and were 4-2 and 4-3 at the halfway stage, thereafter asserting their authority to win 7-4. Eastern is home to some of the best players in local skittles, including four former singles champions.

They lead the standings with 24 points from nine matches - three ahead of Cherry's Strikers with Dragon and Rowe's Strikers jointly in third on 12 points from eight matches.

In the other premier league match played at Mister C in Spanish Town last Sunday, Rowe's Strikers beat Dragon 6-3 in a disputed match which has been sent to the Jamaica Skittles Federation for a ruling.

In major league action, House of Peace crushed the home team Mister C 9-2, while Olympic Strikers failed to honour their fixture against The Dip.