There were only four games played in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 24 June., due to the involvement of other teams in the Super 32 event at South Ramsey. League leaders, Port St Mary, had a comfortable win over Onchan, dropping just two points to the home side’s lone winner Marilyn Ellison. The match between Douglas and Port Erin showed the importance of fighting for every point, as although they lost 6-3 on games the home side ended with a deficit of only 4 points. Purt le Moirrey were in fine form against Ballaugh, winning 5-4 on games but nearly getting a sixth game when Tracy Moore lost out 20-21 to Ellie Faragher. It is not often that Peel Sunset get the better of Castletown, but a 6-3 win gave them victory by 8 points as their opponents all fought well and all reached double figures.

Ten pairs entered the qualifier for the Dorothy Piearce Pairs which was played at Finch Hill on Sunday 26 June, the winning pair to represent the island at the Longton VM Sports and Social Club, Lancashire, on Saturday 13 August.

The weather was not kind and waterproofs were the order of the day.

Semi-finals: Helen Martin and Janet Monk 21, Fiona Kennish and Jenny Moore 13; Joyce Ogden and Philippa Taylor 21, Jean Thackrah and Mavis Franks 4

Helen and Janet had the better of the first exchanges in the final, taking a 10-5 lead. The other pair fought back staunchly to level at 11-11.The Mooragh pairing swept through to lead again at 17-12 before Philippa and Joyce staged another come-back to 17 across, but their effort was in vain as a single followed by a three gave the game to Helen and Janet, who will now represent the IOM in Lancashire on Saturday 13 August.

There were some very close matches in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored league on Friday June. Noble’s and Castletown took advantage of this to try to close in on the league leaders. With 5 wins, 20 by Sue Peach against Sylvia Shelbourne and their other players reaching double figures, Castletown posted a score of 172, while Noble’s top scored with 7 wins and 174 points. The two winners for Douglas were Paula Garrett and Muriel Cain to single figures. The top two teams met at South Ramsey with leaders Port St Mary having the better of a low scoring encounter, despite South Ramsey winning 5-4 on games, with Win Collister reaching 20 against Fiona Kennish and three of their players winning to single figures. Purt le Moirrey dropped just three games against Mooragh Park, although Helen Martin and Rosemary Quirk won to single figures for the visitors. There was not much difference in the final points when Ballaugh visited Peel, despite the home side winning 6 games, with each side winning two games to single figures. Two close games saw Shirley Corrin with a 21-18 lead over Voirrey Oates while Heather Horsburgh came through 21-20 in “a game of two halves” against Brenda Bowyer. Things were even closer at Onchan where the visitors, Marown won 5 games but lost by one point. The closest match saw Maureen Payne lose out 19-21 to Mary Alderson.

The two contrasting semi-finals of the Jean Kelly Memorial team handicap competition were held on Thursday 16 June. Castletown had the better of Port St Mary winning by 6 games to 3 and, despite a good win to single figures by Val Macfarlane for the visitors, a strong advantage on points, making their +5 handicap irrelevant. Things were much closer in the other match, although South Ramsey also had the advantage 6-3 on games. The three wins for Noble’s were all to single figures and South Ramsey had two in reply. Two of the home players reached 19, Rebecca Teare against Lyn Bolton and Lin Ruscoe against Fiona Kennish, which together with their 5 point handicap advantage meant Noble’s ended just 4 points short of their opponents.

The final, between Castletown and South Ramsey will be played on Thursday 7 July, provisionally at Onchan.

SEMI-FINAL: CASTLETOWN 163, PORT ST MARY 138

: Handicap 5, Handicap 0; Kim Foy 21, Ann Maddrell 9; Hilary Kermode 21, Wyn Collister 10; Hannah Drewett 21, Kath Looney 16; Heike Perry 21, Alison Keggen 14; Kathryn Kinley 21, Katy Williams 10; Ann Hollingworth 11, Margaret Tasker 21; Anne Oates 19, Jayne Kneen 21; Sue Peach 21, Tricia Bull 16; Joy Stevens 2, Val Macfarlane 21;

NOBLE’S 152, SOUTH RAMSEY 156

: Handicap 15, Handicap 10; Deborah Leece 12, Shelley Kennish 21; Rebecca Teare 19, Lyn Bolton 21; Clare Cooper 21, Jill Quayle 8; Kim Hargraves 4, Jenny Moore 21; Joyce Ogden 9, Elaine Moore 21; Sylvia Kennaugh 21, Lauren Groen 9; Paula Firth 21, Nicola Kneale 3; Lin Ruscoe 19, Fiona Kennish 21; Jayne Smith 11, Gillian Dixon 21;