Top Teams Clash – Marown Extend Lead
It was another good week for Marown A in Ellan Vannin Fuels division one with the Crosby men making the short journey to take on Onchan A at the Park. The visitors put in a good performance to take a 3-7 away win, will perhaps have been a little disappointed to not come away with a 9-1 win. The match was closer than the result suggested with only 13 chalks separating the two teams (143-156)
Manx Champion Colin Kelly continued his good form to see off Rob Monk 21-13, whilst Paul Kelly won 21-17 against Jordan Cain with Cain recovering from a 12-18 deficit before Kelly got over the line. Marown captain Paul Dunn recovered from a slow start falling behind 1-6 before going on a good run to lead 13-6 against Kevin Quirk. Quirk got back to just one behind at 15-16, only for Dunn to run out with a 21-15 win. Frank Watson was the only winner for the home team in the first half to get home 21-20 against Dean Kipling. Watson recovered from a 2-10 deficit to go 17-15 ahead, then fell behind again at 19-20 to then pick up two vital points on the last two ends.
With the Onchan men trailing the match at the half way point things looked bleak with captain Peter Slinger missing, Mark Kelly stepped in on the night and performed brilliantly to see off Neil Withers with a 21-17 win, which was secured by leading a front toucher on the jack from corner to corner on the last end to record a memorable win. Also winning for the home team was Phil Kerruish fresh from his weekend exertions to see his beloved Manchester City lift the F.A. Cup, seeing off Matthew Keggen 21-14. Phil Kelly would have been pleased to win 21-16 against Matthew Quirk, with Quirk only winning nine ends throughout the game, but seven of those ends picking up a double. John Gelling got over the line 21-19 against Steve Parker, with Parker fighting back from 13-20 behind to 19-20 only for Gelling to get the all-important single for game.
This result sees the Marown men sit four points clear after eight games, having now faced the top four away from home, this puts them in a superb position.
Second placed South Ramsey A headed to the Sunset city to take on Peel A for what looked to be a fascinating encounter. The teams shared the spoils on the night with a 5-5 result, with Peel winning 5-3 on games, however South Ramsey took the aggregate by just six chalks (138-144).
For the visitors Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly put in arguably the best performance of anyone on the night with his 21-7 win over Gary Smith. Hitting back for Peel were Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly who beat James Teare 21-17, with Teare battling well against an experienced opponent after falling 9-14 behind. Tommy McMeiken led 9-1 to win 21-15 against Chas Grills, whilst Stevie Kelly led 14-4 against Stefan Kelly only for Stefan to pick up three successive doubles to drag himself back into the game at 10-14. Stevie pulled away once again to go 19-13 ahead, with Stefan hitting back once again to be just three points behind at 16-19 and with a good lead up Stevie was slightly fortunate to knock Stefan’s bowl out with his first bowl. Stevie got over the line 21-16.
At the halfway stage Peel led 3-1 on games and only had a one chalk advantage on the aggregate. South Ramsey would have fancied their chances to turn the match around. Alan Moore started the comeback seeing off David Proctor 21-10, whilst visiting captain Glynn Hargraves had to work hard for his 21-16 win against Tom Kelly with neither player able to build a lead over the other. The comeback was stopped in its tracks with Jerome Surridge defeating Peter Collister 21-13. The last match left on the green between David Bradford and Andy Kennish had all eyes on them with Bradford recovering from a 3-10 deficit to build a 20-15 lead and was lying game only for Kennish to play a good last bowl to get in. Kennish dug deep using all his experience to fight back and sneak over the line with a vital 21-20 win to ensure the match ended in a draw.
In the remaining matches North Ramsey A defeated local rivals South Ramsey B 8-2, with Douglas A & Port St Mary A matching that result with away wins over Castletown B & Marown B respectively, whilst Castletown A won 3-7 away to Noble’s A.
North Ramsey A hosted local rivals South Ramsey B at Mooragh Park with the home team winning 8-2. Winning to single figures for the home team were Geoff Porter and Tony Smart beating George Brew and Ian Moore respectively. The two winners for the visitors were Steven Waters who beat Steven Walmsley 21-17, whilst the ever reliable Tony Dugdale made it seven wins from eight games with his 21-15 win over Bryan Corner.
Marown B had a tough night at home to Port St Mary A with the Crosby men losing 2-8 with four games just losing out. Father and son Peter and John Kelly lost out 18-21 and 19-21 to Wayne Roberts and Bernard Thackrah respectively, whilst Juan Killip lost 20-21 to Dan McCabe with Harry Barton also suffering the same fate losing out to Trevor Quayle. The two winners for Marown were another father and son duo with Brian Kelly winning 21-14 against Rob Cooil, with son James winning 21-18 against Tim Williams.
Castletown B welcomed Douglas A to the Crofts with the visitors taking the spoils with an 2-8 away win. Winning for the home team were Ron Williams winning 21-4 over Gary Conwell, whilst Bob Clark continued his strong return to night league bowls with a hard fought 21-17 win over Merv Sayle. For the visitors Stuart Garrett made it seven wins from eight with his 21-11 win over Mark Saunders, whilst Shaun Seal just got over the line with a 21-20 victory over Nathan Cooil.
Noble’s A would have been hoping for a home win over Castletown A, however the town men came away with a 3-7 away win. Winning for the visitors were Juan Kermode, Aaron Richardson and Ian Watson with Nathan Hamilton and Sam Clague digging deep to both win 21-19 over Steve Cook and Steve Hall respectively. The three home team winners were Reginald Temporaza, Glenn Boland and Tommy Collister.
In division two Ballaugh A hit a bump in the road in their quest for promotion with a 3-7 home loss to Peel Sunset B, which could have been worse had Michael Kavanagh not lost 20-21 to Barry McDonald.
The result allowed Port St Mary B the opportunity to close the gap to eight points, thanks to a good 9-1 home win over Peel C with Jimmy Corlett just saving the whitewash with his 21-20 victory over Thomas Keggen.
Marown C pulled off a great 7-3 home win over Finch Hill A and look to have no worries over staying at this level having been promoted from division three last season. With another couple of years experience under their belt l can see the Crosby men pushing for promotion to the first division which would be a remarkable feat with having so many players who are all new to the game coming through together.
Port Erin A were the only away winners in division two with a 3-7 away win over Douglas A at the Villa. North Ramsey B hosted Ballaugh B at Mooragh Park with the home team winning 7-3, whilst Port St Mary C probably shocked themselves with their 7-3 win over a strong Onchan B team. William Cain picked up his first league win in only his sixth ever game with a 21-18 victory over Peter Wallis, whilst his father Derek Cain who himself only started league bowls last year wasn’t to be out done winning 21-11 over Bernard Galka.
In division three league leaders South Ramsey C took their turn to sit out a round of fixtures giving the teams below them the chance to close the gap.
Second place Ballaugh C could only struggle to a 5-5 home draw with Castletown C with the home team winning only three games, but picking up the two points for the aggregate (132-123) thanks to their three winners all recording single figure wins.
Peel D were the only home winners in division three winning 6-4 at home against Douglas C with junior Ryan Tate winning 21-12 over Michael Knowles.
Onchan C went home happy with their 3-7 away win over South Ramsey D, whilst Noble’s B visit to Breagle Glen resulted in a 3-7 win over Port Erin B. Finch Hill B gained the most on the teams around them with their 2-8 away win over Noble’s C.