BREWER – A new team is trying to make its mark in the World Team Candlepin Bowling Tournament at Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes, and it’s doing better than expected.

NEC’s Plus is making its first tournament appearance and not many thought it would do much.

“They had a pool on how teams were going to place,” said NEC’s Plus captain Scott Sirois of Skowhegan. “And a lot of people picked us to finish last.”

Though they’re not at the top of the standings, the bowlers hailing from Newport Entertainment Center and 1-7-10 Sports Center in Augusta aren’t last either.

NEC’s Plus finished the third day ranked eighth of 12 teams in the Holiday Inn division with a 32-40 record.

Halifax Fairlanes of Nova Scotia tops the Pepsi-Cola Division with a 57-15 record, followed by USA East, a group of Maine and Massachusetts bowlers with a 52-20 mark.

The Holiday Inn Division is led by two Massachusetts teams. Maria’s Sub is first at 58-14 and Fenway Painters are second at 54-18.

“We just got a bunch of guys together at the last minute,” said Sirois, who is making his 12th tournament appearance on his fifth different team.

“This is the first time all seven of us have all bowled together,” said St. Albans native Harold Brown, who is bowling in his second World Team tournament.

“We’ve been moving up, but we’ve been struggling right now,” said Shannon Witham of Augusta.

NEC’s Plus was 28-28 after the first match, but fell to 28-36 after the second.

Witham is making his first World Team tournament appearance, but Mel White of Pittsfield is no stranger to the candlepin lanes.

“I used to be able to bowl with the best of them, now I’m bowling with a broken foot at 70 years old,” said White with a laugh.

White also said the atmosphere is different than it used to be.

“They didn’t used to shake your hand,” remembered White. “They would pull it away.”

Times have changed and good sportsmanship is apparent.

“There’s a lot of nice people,” said Witham.

“It’s a very high competition level, high skill level,” said Maine Heat bowler Dave Glover. “But you can do that and still be [a] sportsman about it.”

Sportsmanship isn’t the only thing to change, added Glover.

“[There’s] probably a little bit more depth at the top of the charts,” said the Rumford native. “[It] used to be just a handful of bowlers in the 120 [average] area, now you see guys in the 130s and up. I’d say the level of competition has changed.”

Maine Heat, which finished the third day at 30-42, has been up and down with its group of bowlers all from the Pine Tree State.

“It’s been an awful struggle,” said Kevin McNally of Dexter. Maine Heat is ninth in the Holiday Inn division.

Most bowlers are able to take a week off from work to attend the tournament, but that’s not true for everyone.

Glover drives from his home in Rumford to the Augusta Civic Center where to works and then treks to Brewer for the tournament.

“It’s 254 miles round trip,” said Glover with an exhausted expression. “And this is the third day in the row.”

Candlepin bowling

WORLD TEAM

TOURNAMENT

At Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes, Brewer

Third-Day Standings

Pepsi-Cola Division

Halifax Fairlanes 57-15, U.S.A. East 52-20, Borrelli’s 43-29, Rick’s Pallets 40-32, Moncton Fairlanes/Storms 39-33, Colonial Lanes 37-35, Paddy’s Pub 36-36, N.H. All Stars 32-40, TNT Funtime 28-44, Total Chaos 26-46, Downtown Jewelry 22-50, Town Delivery 20-52

Holiday Inn Division

Maria’s Sub 58-14, Fenway Painters 54-18, MacLaughlin T&T 45-27, Kingswood 42-30, Handi’s Rebels 40-32, Park Place/USA 40-32, Crazy Train 38-34, NEC’s Plus 32-40, Maine Heat 30-42, Country Chicken Crashers 21-51, Vacationland Fire Power 19-53, Dixon Cider 13-59