Over 60’s Men’s 2017 Season Preview.

The eagerly awaited 2017 Crown Green Over 60’s Men’s Bowls Season begins on Tuesday 4th April with the League having one extra Team added, this being Ballaugh B.
Although some of the participants may have been playing for many years their enthusiasm never wains and with the addition of new players who have reached the ‘magic age’ of sixty we look forward to an exciting season with some very good bowls as always from our ‘senior competitors’.

To predict who may be challenging for the League Title we obviously have to look at last years Champions Castletown A who were taken ‘right down to the wire’ by Port St Mary A with both finishing with sixty eight points but Castletown edging it on chalks. It would be a brave man who would write either of these Teams off and I firmly believe that they both have to be considered as equal favourites.

Historically Castletown have won the League every year since 2008 with the exception of 2015 when they were pipped to the post by North Ramsey A who slipped to eighth place last year hampered by the fact that they had to play their ‘home games’ on the South Ramsey Green due to a problem with their Green at the Mooragh Park. The northerners are back on their home Green this year and will be looking to mount a challenge once more as will their northern neighbours at South Ramsey who on their day are capable of beating anyone.

If however I were to name the Team that I think will mount a serious challenge to last years top two I would nominate Nobles A who finished in third spot last season and have some very good consistent players who will be motivated to move to a higher league position. A good test of Nobles A strength will be on the third match of the season when they entertain Castletown A at Nobles Park.

If however I were to choose my ‘Match of the Day’ for the opening day on the 4th April I would go for Peel Sunset A v Marown with both teams being more than capable of getting in the mix and challenging for the title. I will put my head on the block and tip Peel Sunset A to just edge this one with the advantage of playing on their home green.
Although I have mentioned a few teams I believe that this year may see a number of teams battling it out to the end for the title and possible even a surprise winner but only time will tell.

Well with nothing left for me to do now but to wish all players and teams the best of luck and enjoyable bowling and for some of us to work on our excuses such as ‘the green was too heavy’, or ‘ he was lucky’ and perhaps we can hear some more original ones for 2017.

Wishing good bowling to all for the 2017 Season.