Merit has new leader
There was just one set of fixtures last weekend in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowls League, which featured the season’s ninth maximum, but not from either of two of the leading three sides who were amongst those in action.
The first clash on the list saw ninth placed Parkers take on the team two places above and they notched up their second full-house of the campaign with six games to nil demolition of opponents Bits n Bobs.
Also, in action were leaders Guns for Hire and third-placed Seven-Up, after the first three games there was just one point separating them – 58 to 57 in favour of Seven-Up.
Game four saw the margin swing the other way as G4H took control to lead by six, and after they both won one more game apiece, the final result saw the undefeated leaders maintain their winning run by just four points.
Bits n Bobs unfortunately didn’t fare much better in their second outing; a fixture which saw them pass through the halfway stage, they were up against Seven-Up and as a consequence of scoring just 78, slipped two places down the table.
Parkers meanwhile fought hard against Guns for Hire and won two games to reach a total of 88, which was enough for them to climb up two positions, whilst the leaders had their advantage pegged back a little.
Results for Saturday, November 23: Parkers 126 (6), Bits n Bobs 90 (0); Seven-Up 112 (3), Guns for Hire 116 (3); Guns for Hire 114 (4), Parkers 88 (2); Bits n Bobs 78 (1), Seven-Up 123 (5).
There is now a new leader in the chase for the individual merit after Dave Kelly (Guns for Hire) was absent from his team’s line-up over the weekend, so this elevates Sue Gawne (Mooragh Lakers) into top spot on an average of 20.8; second is Matthew Keggen (Louie’s Angels) on 20.3, with third being occupied by Kevin Quirk (Seven-Up) on 20.1.
They are followed by four players on 19.9 – Steve Parker (Lakers), Jenny Moore and Tony Dugdale (Outsiders) and Marg Tasker (Angels). Filling the top 10 positions on 19.5 are Mark Kelly (Seven-Up), Rosie Winckle (Bowl Rollers) and Mike Thomas (Parkers).
Two round robin sessions took place either side of Saturday’s league action and at the first of them a gathering of 27 took part in two sets of triples.
The trio of Doug Allan, Bryan Corner and Tricia Bull won one group, ahead of Steve Parker, Lil Smith and Gill Jopson.
Clear winners of the other gang, with an average of almost 10 per game, were Joy Stephens, Dave Faragher and Mark Kelly; with second spot going to Andy Sykes, Kevin Firth and Bernie McPhee.
Sunday’s event had 23 entrants competing and it was the pairing of Steve Parker and Ken Karran who emerged out of the mist to claim victory ahead of Julie Reilly and Alec Taylor.
The other section was played as triples, with the winners being Marg Tasker, Lynda Cadamy and Lil Smith, just pipping Derek Allen, Brian Kelly and Tricia Bull.