In week 24 of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league, South Ramsey A were once again on top form and swept aside the challenge of Castletown A 9-1 and look like they are about to see out the season with the style they have shown throughout its duration.

Onchan A built on their great performance against South Ramsey A last week with a fine 7-3 victory away to Port St Mary A and are seeing out the season with the resilience that you would associate with them.

Second placed Marown A turned in a rock solid performance with 10-0 return over North Ramsey A, this leaves them twelve points behind impending champions but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that gap is much closer at the end of next season with talented young players such as Harry Barton coming through the ranks.

Below the top three the battle for fourth place is closer than any of these teams could have imagined, Peel Sunset A currently occupy fourth spot courtesy of a 7-3 home win over Port Erin A with the visitors turning in some creditable performances,
Douglas A and Port St Mary A are in fifth and six positions on level points and have a five point gap to make up on Peel A who sit out match 25, all will be resolved in the final round of matches on Wednesday night.

Division Two
Leaders Marown B were at home to Onchan C and repeated last week’s 9-1 score-line and have now opened up a ten point gap over second placed Onchan B, the latter had a sloid 7-3 home win over North Ramsey B but anything but a total disaster would see Marown B division 2 champions.

Division Three
Going in to the final round of matches in division three the division has a new leader, Ballaugh C now lead the division by two points thanks to a crushing 9-1 victory over their B team, the final match Peel Sunset C v Ballaugh C on Tuesday is the perfect climax to the season.

In week 23 of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league, Onchan A showed their class with a 6-4 home win over South Ramsey A, it was a significant victory for Onchan A who have not had a vintage season by their own standards, but showed their power this week and when tuned up could mount a serious challenge for the top honours again next year.

Marown A had a commanding 8-2 win over Port St Mary A who are themselves a quality outfit, they now sit comfortably in second place, I feel they will not be content with this looking forward to next season and will be planning to present a bigger challenge to the champions. Peel A suffered a shock defeat away against Douglas B and are now involved in a three way fight for fourth place in the top flight.

Division Two

Leaders Marown B were at home to North Ramsey B and handed out resounding 9-1 beating, but second placed Onchan B were even more impressive they had what could have been a tricky away fixture with Port St Mary B, Onchan B were having none of it and came away with a tremendous 10-0 victory, this brings the gap at the top down to eight point with two games remaining. Peel B had a comfortable 8-2 home win over Port Erin B and third place looks like their likely finishing spot.

Division Three

The division leaders Peel C suffered a severe blow to their title challenge when they were beaten at home 8-2 by South Ramsey C, Second placed Ballaugh C had the reverse with an 8-2 away win over Douglas D, these results could be highly significant to the outcome of the third division. With two games remaining Peel C have a four point lead over Ballaugh C with the pair meeting in their final fixture in the Sunset City.

In week 22 of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league,  there were several significant results affecting the outcome of the league, South Ramsey confirmed there superiority over Marown A with a 6-4 home win but they were pushed all the way, winning the aggregate by 9 points.

Third placed Onchan A suffered a significant defeat losing away against Douglas A by an 8-2 scoreline, this result would appear to open up a battle for third ,fourth and fifth places in the top division.

Peel A moved back up to fourth place courtesy of a 9-1 home win over Castletown B and the Sunset City outfit are well poised to make a strong charge in the final run in, North Ramsey A and Castletown A both recorded 8-2 home wins and are firmly established mid-table with respectable point tallies.

Division Two

Division two leaders Marown B were at home to Port St Mary B and had an impressive 9-1 win, they have now opened up a nine point gap over Onchan B and seem likely winners of this division, Onchan B carved out a good result with a 7-3 victory over Port St Mary C this has left them with an 8 point margin over third placed Nobles  B. Finch Hill held Nobles’B 5-5 a good result for the home side.

Division Three

The division leaders Peel C were away to second placed Marown C and clinched a 7-3 win this opens the gap between the pair to nine points with the Peel side having a game in hand. Ballaugh C had a tremendous 9-1 home win over South Ramsey D and are now only one point behind Marown C with a game in hand.

Last week saw two fixtures played for teams in division one of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league, in game twenty Marown A had a comfortable 8-2 home win over Douglas A, but they weren’t afforded a comfortable passage when they made a trip to the Sunset City on Wednesday evening, they were pushed all the way by Peel A, Marown A took the victory by the two aggregate points, credit must be given to Peel’s Dougie Allan who stepped up to first team duty and defeated John Gelling 21-14.

In game twenty Onchan A had a solid 8-2 home win over Castletown A and repeated the score line on their visit to Ballaugh A in the second fixture, Port St Mary A made the short trip to Port Erin A but didn’t have it all their own way winning 6-4, 139-124 on aggregate. South Ramsey B hosted Peel A in game twenty and although Peel had six winners to the two of the home side the aggregate was tied an 144. Douglas B played a home fixture with North Ramsey A in another closely fought affair, North Ramsey had five winners but lost the aggregate by a single point.
On Friday night South Ramsey A and B met and the 9-1 win was probably what would have been predicted, on the same evening North Ramsey A made up for their disappointment earlier in the week with a 7-3 win over Castletown A.

Marown B would have been pleased with picking up eight points in their away fixture against Port St Mary C , but Onchan B suffered a 7-3 away loss to Nobles B and now trail Marown B by seven points at the top of the table. Port St Mary B had a storming 10-0 win over Douglas C with an aggregate margin of ninety two points. Peel B hosted Finch Hill A and were beaten 6-4, disappointing for Peel B but Finch Hill A are picking up good points as I have mentioned in previous reports.

With Peel C sitting out this week’s fixture it was a chance for Marown c to close the gap and they did their cause no harm by picking up seven points away at Ballaugh B, Finch Hill B versus Ballaugh C was the closest fought league fixture of the week four winners a piece and the aggregate tied on 134.

In week 19 of the Ellan Vanin Fuels sponsored league South Ramsey A have opened up what would appear to be a unassailable lead at the top of the table by extending it to twenty points with a 10-0 win over Port Erin A leaving the latter seemingly cut adrift at the foot of the table.
Second placed Marown A did all that could be expected of them with a resounding 9-1 away win over Castletown A this ensures the gap between the chasing pack doesn’t change, as the three teams below them Port St Mary A, Onchan A and Peel A also recorded favorable 9-1 score lines. North Ramsey A continued their good run of form with an 8-2 victory over Castletown B.

The anticipated top of the table clash in Division 2 went the way of Marown B, the two point victory gap over close rivals Onchan B means the battle for the top spot looks like going down to the wire. Third and fourth placed teams Peel B and Noble’s B also faced each other and this also proved to be a close affair with the Peel side edging it 6-4. Finch Hill A had another good win 7-3 over Onchan C and are collecting good

In Division 3 top of the table Peel C stormed to a 9-1 win over Castletown C and have now opened up a twelve point gap over second place Marown C, things are looking good over at the Sunset City with the club building a really solid base for the future. Marown C did all they could in their chase with a 10-0 win, but Ballaugh C will have them looking over their shoulders as they are just five points behind with a game in hand.

In week 17 of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league, South Ramsey A strengthened their position at the top of the division with a 10-0 home win over Castletown B, five of the league leaders side recorded single figure wins, David Bradford was pushed all the way by Alan Phair but came off on the right side 21-20.

Second placed Marown inflicted a 10-0 defeat on South Ramsey B to maintain their challenge which is all they can do, while waiting for the champions to falter. Port St Mary A hosted Peel A the fourth and fifth placed sides, the home side had much the better of the clash, the sides were evenly matched but the green was extremely tricky on the night and favoured the home side who used green knowledge to their full advantage and record an 8-2 win.

At the Villa Douglas A were the home side against the B and delivered an 8-2 return ,a fair result for the A team, but one that sends the B near the bottom of the division. Castletown A and North Ramsey both recorded 9-1 wins to keep them both comfortably mid table

Division Two leaders Marown B were away at Douglas C and came away with a comfortable 7-3 win, but second placed Onchan B went one better winning 8-2 away against Port Erin B this result brings them within one point of the leaders this sets up week 19 nicely when the two meet each other.

Noble’s B had a solid 8-2 away win over Onchan C to keep the pressure on the top two, peel B were 7-3 home winners over North Ramsey B this included three single figure winners and great 21-3 win for Alec Taylor. Finch Hill A had a good home win 8-2 over Port St Mary B, Port St Mary C travelled to Noble’s B and came away with a fine 6-4 win

The division leaders Peel C were at home to struggling Douglas D and had an emphatic 10-0 win underlining the strength in depth at Peel. Ballaugh B did their C team a favour by defeating Castletown C 6-4 while Ballaugh C were recording a good away 8-2 win against Noble’s C, to push them up to third level on points with second placed Castletown C but with a crucial game in hand.

In week 15 of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league, South Ramsey visited the Sunset City last Monday evening and were asked a few serious questions by Darren Young’s progressive Peel A, David Bradford stole the show and played superbly to defeat the Peel captain 21-3 but throughout the evening the champions were definitely not having it all their own way.

In the first four games South Ramsey suffered two loses with David Proctor beating Glynn Hargraves 21-18 and Frank Watson coming off 21-15 against Chas Grills, not really an early birthday present for Chas who celebrated his 70th birthday the following day, with two wins each at the half-way stage the game was in the balance, but in the second half the away side had the better of things but most games were closely fought, Peel A managed one more point Barney Kelly defeating John kennish 21-20 with a devastating final bowl, a high quality match and a fair result.
Marown A were on their free week which gave Onchan A the chance to put pressure on the second placed team, Onchan did exactly that with a 10-0 win away against Port Erin A, the win puts Onchan A back up to second place but relegated Port Erin to the bottom of the league at the close of the evenings play.

. Port St Mary A had a 10-0 home win over Ballaugh A with Trevor Quayle still remaining unbeaten this season, the result moves Port St Mary back up to fourth spot.
Castletown B inflicted a 6-4 defeat on Douglas A, a great performance which included a 21-9 win for Dave Faragher over Merv Sayle. Douglas B held Castletown A to a 5-5 draw winning five of the eight games but losing out on the aggregate by three points. South Ramsey B enjoyed a 7-3 home win over their local rival North Ramsey A giving them temporary bragging rights.
Division Two
Leaders Marown B were at home to Port Erin B and had a solid 6-4 win which leaves them two points clear at the top, second placed Onchan B suffered a 6-4 home defeat to Noble’s A.

Finch Hill A beat Port St Mary C 7-3 which a included 21-5 for Billy Long and a 21-6 win for Arthur Halsall. Noble’s B had a 8-2 win over Douglas c and now are just three points of second place, Port St Mary B had a good home win over Peel 8-2 and Onchan C defeated North Ramsey B 7-3 with Brian Woodall recording a 21-4 win.
Division Three
The division leaders Peel C were away to South Ramsey D came away with a great 9-1 win with Paul Baker and Jeff Wilson winning to single figures they are now seven points clear with the club benefiting from the effort put in to encouraging new players to the game.

Peel D also had a fine victory defeating Marown C 7-3. Ballaugh C hosted South Ramsey C and enjoyed 6-4 win and leaves them looking in a good third spot. Castletown C had much the better of home game against Nobles C winning 8-2 and a 36 points aggregate margin, Ballaugh B travelled to Douglas D and left with seven points for their efforts.

South Ramsey A tightened their grip last week on retaining champions status in the Isle of Man crown green bowls league. In week 14 of the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored league, Monday evening saw them romp to a 10-0 victory over Ballaugh A with a (168-84) aggregate scoreline telling the story, they increased their lead at the top by another point on the chasing teams.

Marown A had an impressive 9-1 win away against Port Erin A to keep them in second place, Seamus Whelan was only winner of the night for the home side. Onchan A hosted Douglas B and matched Marown with a 9-1 win, they are now on top form but as good as they may be playing still lost ground on the champions elect.

North Ramsey A were at home to Port St Mary A and secured a 6-4 win by taking the aggregate (155-132). Peel A were the vistors to Douglas A and were looking to bounce back after last weeks disappointment, both teams had regular players missing but a 7-3 win for Peel A puts them back on track and allowed them to leapfrog Port St Mary back into fourth place.
Castletown A and B faced each other in the Town derby, it was A team that came out on top with a 7-3 win and keeps them a respectable seventh place in the league.

Division Two

Division two leaders Onchan B were away at Finch Hill A and came away with a 6-4 win, second place Marown B were away to Noble’s B and secured a 7-3 victory this puts them level Onchan B at the top on 92 points.

Peel B had a storming 10-0 win at home over Port St Mary C and are now in fourth place, Port Erin B had an identical 10-0 win over Douglas C and are now one point behind Peel B in Fifth. North Ramsey B versus Noble’s B was a very close affair, it ended 5-5 with Nobles B taking the aggregate (134-135). Port St Mary B had a good 9-1 win over Onchan C.

Division Three

Peel C had a 10-0 home win over Finch Hill B and puts them six points clear at the top. Douglas D hosted Castletown C and suffered an 8-2 defeat, Marown C won by the same margin at home to Ballaugh C and means the two teams are level on 73 points second and third respectively. South Ramsey had a 6-4 home win over Noble’s C and Ballaugh B had a solid 8-2 win over South Ramsey D.

After a week off for the festival which also marked the halfway stage of the seasons fixtures usual business was resumed in the Ellan Vannin Fuels sponsored Mens league.

As far as South Ramsey A were concerned it was positively usual business resumed, as they hosted Douglas A and handed out a 10-0 defeat to the visitors, the charge once again led by John Kennish with a 21-4 defeat of Mike Cain, it is hard to look beyond South Ramsey when forecasting champions at this stage of the season, but as we all know bowls can be unpredictable at times.

Marown are the closest challengers and made no mistake in keeping the points gap down to 11, as they also had a 10-0 victory at home against Ballaugh A, Colin Kelly led the way with a 21-1 demolition of Bob Unsworth the win also included single figure victories for Paul Dunn, Neil Withers, Matthew Keggen and Phil Kelly showing they are still formidable opponents and will close the gap should the leaders falter.

Onchan were lying in fourth spot before making the trip to Mooragh Park for this week’s fixture and would have been looking to secure enough points to overtake Peel A who are on their free week. Onchan came away with a 7-3 victory which was enough to move them up to third, Matthew Quirk was top performer for the visitors with a 21-8 defeat of Garry Merrill but it was a creditable performance by the home side to secure 3 points which included a 21-19 victory for Tony Smart over Kevin Quirk and Steve Walmsey losing by one chalk.

Port St Mary A were at home to Castletown A and secured a 7-3 win, Trevor Quayle once again led the way for the home team with a 21-7 victory over Dave Hollingworth to maintain his impressive run of form, Derek Lewney turned in a great performance for the town with a 21-7 defeat of Juan Hargraves.

Port Erin A were the visitors against Castletown B and both are involved in a battle for points at the foot of the table, the match ended 6-4 to the visitors, Ron Williams 21-20 victory over David McCabe provided a vital point for Town that left both teams on 32 points at the end of the evening 6 points above bottom placed Douglas B, who in turn had a creditable 6-4 victory over South Ramsey B, again the importance of these points cannot be understated as they attempt to cling onto the teams above them.