Angels on the move upward

One positional battle was decided on a snowy afternoon in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowling League, whilst there are still others to be settled over the next three weekends.

Two teams completed their programme on Sunday and at the start of play were locked together on the same average, however when all the points were added up, Bowl Rollers claimed the bragging rights over Erin Porters by a close margin of just three and currently occupy eighth spot.

This was not the only change of positions after Louie’s Angels – or perhaps they should be the ‘Snow Angels’ – racked up two good scores, which moved them into fourth above Seven-Up and only 19 chalks behind third placed Outsiders.

The action began on Saturday with leaders Jacks Off emerging with a 16-chalk victory over third placed Outsiders.

Govags then joined the fray but struggled to a total of just 75, whereas opponents Jacks Off just missed out on their 10th maximum of the campaign.

The final clash of the session saw Outsiders match the 124 recorded in the earlier fixture and with Govags only scoring 96 their average slipped and I believe will now have to settle for ninth place.

Results for Saturday, February 10: Outsiders 100 (2), Jacks Off 116 (4); Jacks Off 124 (5), Govags 75 (1); Govags 96 (1), Outsiders 124 (5).

As mentioned earlier Rollers and Porters arrived at the green on Sunday level on points, however the last time this quartet of teams were in action together, Rollers left with 44 chalks more than their close rivals.

It was advantage Porters following the opening session of games, after they recorded a total of 118 against Castletown Corkers and Louie’s Angels beat Rollers 117 to 92.

Not long into the next set of fixtures, along came some showers of snow to add to the strong wind, but this did not deter Louie’s Angels who dropped just five points, but more importantly left their southern neighbours, Porters, back on 91.

This all left Rollers needing a total of 118 or better to move back up that one place and they sneaked home against Corkers with two to spare.

One player said after finishing his game, that he couldn’t remember having played in all four seasons of the year during one game of bowls.

At the head of the table Jacks Off need to score 164 points to secure the league title, whereas the battle for second to fifth will go down to the wire.

Results for Sunday, February 11: Bowl Rollers 92 (2), Louie’s Angels 117 (4); Erin Porters 118 (5), Castletown Corkers 87 (1); Louie’s Angels 121 (5), Erin Porters 91 (1); Castletown Corkers 82 (1), Bowl Rollers 120 (5).

This Sunday will see a set of fixtures postponed back in January, so the next free day will be Saturday, March 10. While one week later on March 17, the club championships will take place, entries for which are now being taken at the clubhouse.

Two players have qualified for the annual Best against Rest contest, which will take place on Sunday, March 25; they are Wayne Roberts (Erin Porters) and Gordon Corrin (Bowl Rollers).

Two groups of players made up the entry for the midweek round robin and in the black jack doubles section the winners were Steve Parker and Mark Kelly, ahead of Alec Taylor and David Clucas, with third being taken by Derek Allen and Lynda Wilson.

Ken Karran and Tricia Bull topped the other gang, ahead of Brian Masterson and Peter Kelly in second, and Doug Allan and Allan Kennaugh third.