After the glorious weather earlier in the week conditions returned to normal to give a miserable night for the matches played in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored league on Friday 24 April. Their was an interesting match at Noble’s where, despite winning only three of the nine games, the home side ended with a one point advantage. Although Kath Kinley won to single figures for the visitors the rest of the home players all scored over 15 points, the game of the match being the 21-20 win by Hannah Kermode against Sylvia Kennaugh. There was also a win to single figures by Julie Macleod for the home side. Mooragh Park entertained Port St Mary taking four games with Lilian Slinger winning to single figures. In reply Ann Maddrell and Alison Keggen also won to single figures while Tricia Bull just lost out 20-21 to Kim Hargraves. South Ramsey had the top score of the night against Peel Sunset who seemed unable to get to grips with the conditions. Jenny and Elaine Moore both won to single figures while Joyce Kelly was the lone winner for the visitors. Mary Moffatt came from behind to reach 20 against Shelley Kennish while Philippa Taylor scored 19 against Fiona Kennish. Ballaugh had a 6-3 win against Onchan , Jo Smith winning to single figures for the home side as did Peggy Griffin for the visitors, while Purt le Moirrey won on chalks, despite losing 4-5 on games, with three of their players winning to single figures as did Paula Garrett for the visitors. Marown had the better of Port Erin 5-4 on games with Mary Alderson and Pat Withers winning to single figures as did Sylvia Shelbourne for the Port Erin.

The preliminary round of the Jean Kelly team handicap knock-out competition was held in glorious weather on Wednesday 22 April.

The holders, Peel Sunset,. travelled to Port St Mary where, despite their 20 point handicap advantage, their defence of the trophy ended. On a fast green Port St Mary won six games, four of them to single figures, while the visitors could only manage three, although Joyce Kelly also won to single figures.

Port Erin played host to Noble’s who were in rampant form, winning 7-2 on games with Sonja Lees winning to single figures. The two winners for the home side were Kay Primrose-Smith and Mavis Franks who also won to single figures. Further resistance came from Voirrey Curphey, who reached 17 against Clare Cooper and Lynda Cadamy who scored 18 against Rebecca Teare.

South Ramsey travelled to Marown where they won six games with Fiona Kennish and Gill Dixon winning to single figures. Despite wins by Pat Withers, Margaret Scarffe and Mary Alderson for the home side together with a 30 point advantage on handicap, the Crosby girls had to concede defeat to South Ramsey albeit by the narrowest margin of the night.

The quarter-finals take place on Thursday 14 May.  Click here to see the fixtures.

Port St Mary were top scorers in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 17April, when they made the most of home advantage to win 7 of the 9 games against Purt le Moirrey. The two winners for the visitors were Chris Price and Pauline Worrall while Tracy Moore nearly added a third game, losing out to Val Macfarlane 20-21. Marown travelled to Ballaugh, where the fast green flummoxed some of their players. The home side won 6-3 on games with two games going all the way, Voirrey Oates edging out Rosie Winkle 21-20 while for Marown Mary Alderson beat Barbara Graham by the same score.Although the game score was 5-4 in Douglas’s favour, four wins to single figures ensured a good points advantage, while at Castletown the visitors won 5-4 on games, but three wins to single figures for the home side gave them the win on points. .At Port Erin eight games went to double figures, the exception being Lynda Cadamy’s win to single figures, There were some close encounters, in particular Phil Dobson reaching 20 against Sylvia Kennaugh and once again we had the team winning on games losing on chalks.

South Ramsey had a tougher task than on Wednesday as they travelled to Noble’s. Although they had the advantage 5-4 on games the home side came through on points with all their players reaching double figures. Clare Cooper and Shelley Kennish had a close encounter with Shelley coming through 21-20. Port St Mary put up another strong performance at Onchan, the two winners for the home side being Dee Lewis and Jo Smith. Purt le Moirrey followed up their first match performance with a good win over Peel with Chris Holland, Roma Ware and Edwina Reid all winning to single figures as did Philippa Fletcher and Heather horsburgh for the visitors. There were some close games when Mooragh Park visited Castletown where Hilary Kermode lost out 19-21 to Janet Monk and Rachel Palmer reached 20 against Rosemary Quirk.Marown had a torrid time against Douglas despite winning three games, Lil Smith and Shirley Whelan won to single figures, Margaret Scarffe being the other winner, but five of Douglas’s wins were also to single figures.

The weather was kind for the start of the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league on Wednesday 8 April. Champions Port St Mary got off to a good start dropping just 15 points against Marown but their total was surpassed by Noble’s who reached 179 points against Ballaugh where Rebecca Teare took Jenny Maddrell all the way before going down 20-21.The new-look Mooragh Park had a tough time against South Ramsey, but they had a few inexperienced players who will only get better as the season progresses. Things were evenly balanced at Douglas with the home side going down to Port Erin by one point. Purt-le-Moirrey may be the team to keep an eye on this year as they started with a good win over Castletown.