News: Reports
Association Mens Singles
Onchan’s Matthew Keggen was the man in form on his own green as he won the first of three men’s association singles competitions with a 21-13 win over Marown’s Dean Kipling.
Keggen and Kipling produced the best bowls of the day en route to booking their final births however it was the homester who settled first and was in command from the off.
Kipling was the only man preventing an Onchan strangle hold with Phil Kerruish and Kevin Quirk both making it to the semi-finals.
Port Cause a Storm
Port St Mary A put in an electrifying performance in Ellan Vannin Fuels Division One as unceremoniously cast Nobles A aside as the recorded a 10-0 white wash victory, conceding only 74 points in the process.
It is an immediate return to form for a surprise heavy defeat in their previous fixture and they will be delighted to be in third place before they sit out this week.
Marown A kept their foot on the gas and still remain out in front after another impressive showing this time away to North Ramsey A, who are playing their home games on the Nobles number 2 green this season.
A 9-1 victory leaves the Crosby men sitting pretty, but also indicates how important every point will be for the northerners this year especially as all of their games will feel like away fixtures as they don’t have the security of their own familiar patch.
Onchan A will be pleased to chalk up nine more points away at Finch Hill A as they restricted the Douglas team to only one win with Captain Merv Sayle bringing home the only point for his team.
In the southern battle Castletown A just has the edge over neighbours Port Erin A at Breagle Glenn and despite a tie on games it was the visitors who took the two extra points with a 151-144 win.
Both Douglas sides picked up respective 7-3 results in their favour however it is the B team who will be happier with their nights work. An way win on their travels to Ballaugh A will do the newly promoted outfit no harm at all as they bid to not only survive but cause a few more upsets in their maiden season in the top flight.
The A team may have notched up a victor at home but they were made to fight all the way by a plucky South Ramsey B side who are proving just how good they are with every outing. On another day this could have been a very different result as South really were in this match until the very last bowl.
Peel A are still on top of the perch in Division Two thanks to a 7-3 score line recorded at Nobles Park against North Ramsey B.
Onchan B are just one point adrift though thanks matching the Govags 7-3 win on their travels to Port StMary C. Peel and Onchan are the only two teams with their 100% records in tact after just 3 matches so that shows you how tightly contested this division will be.
Port St Mary B picked up the biggest win on the night in this division as they took down Nobles B 9-1 at home to keep their challenge alive in these early stages.
Douglas C already have a bit of daylight between them and the chasing pack in Division Three after only three matches and their 8-2 win over Nobles C has only enhanced their title credentials.
Port Erin B are in second place but were made to fight for every point away at Castletown C leaving with a 6-4 win.
Income Plus Team Competition
Mean Machine (Glynn Hargraves, Alan Moore, Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly & Stefan Kelly) were victorious in the Income Plus Services Mixed Team Competition as South Ramsey on Sunday.
The green was in immaculate condition and exceptionally tricky to master so it was no surprise to see a home side victorious although they were made to fight all the way by Team Hungover (Janet & Rob Monk, Helen Martin and Steve Walmsley).
In the final Alan Moore & Dido Kelly won the doubles beating Helen Martin & Janet Monk 21-14, Stefan Kelly got the better of Steve Walmsley 21-8 whilst Rob Monk drew the only blood for the runners up beating Glynn Hargraves 21-13.
Thanks go to George Brew for a magnificent playing service and to Income Plus Services for their sponsorship.
C. Tarleton Hodgson Ladies’ League Friday 22 April
Libby Andrade saved Onchan’s blushes in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 22 April, as her 21-20 win over Anne Oates denied Castletown a full house. Dee Lewis almost gave the home side a second game as she lost out 20-21 to Ann Hollingworth. Despite the visitors winning three of their games to single figures, Onchan managed to push their score over the hundred point mark. Port St Mary also won eight games, three of them to single figures, the lone winner for Douglas being Muriel Cain, while Kath King came close to adding another game when she was edged out 21-20 by Katy Williams and like Onchan Douglas also pushed their score over 100. Port Erin had two winners in Voirrey Curphey and Mavis Franks, but this was not enough to stop South Ramsey’s impetus, as they won five of their seven games to single figures. The closest match of the night was at Noble’s where Ballaugh had a 5-4 advantage on games, but Kim Hargraves reaching 19 against Barbara Graham and Flo Price’s 20 against Alison Millard, together with Clare Cooper’s win to single figures, gave the home side victory by 2 points. Peel Sunset travelled South to play Purt le Moirrey, and came away 5-4 up on games. Two games of note saw Joyce Kelly and Chris Price in a tussle which went Chris’s way 21-19, while Lynda Wilson kept Roma Ware on 20 for five ends as she came back from 12-20 to all-but across before Roma claimed the final point. Mooragh Park made a fight of it when they visited Marown, winning four games and losing by just 9 points. The battle of the night saw Lil Smith lose out 19-21 to Rosemary Quirk.
Ladies’ over 60’s Tuesday 19 April
It was a full house for Noble’s this week, in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league, as Breagle were two players short. Lin Ruscoe and Pat Robertson won to single figures, but Sonja Lees had a much tougher battle before coming through 21-19 against Joyce Henry. There were some close games when Port Erin hosted Ballaugh with five matches going to double figures. Carol Kaye won to single figures for the home side, Peggy Griffin and Jenny Maddrell being the two winners for the visitors. Ann Gale almost added a third game, reaching 19 against Jackie Elliott. In the west, Peel Sunset had a comfortable win over Onchan with Joyce Kelly and Heather Horsburgh winning to single figures. The two winners for Onchan were Maureen Payne and Flo Kelly who edged out Mona Kerruish 21-20.Port St Mary A had a tough battle on their hands when they visited Douglas. All six games went to double figures, and although the two teams were locked at three games each the home side just had the advantage on points. It was a good day for Marown with a 4-2 advantage over Villa. It was also the start of a good week for Shirley Whelan as she won to single figures. The closest game of the match saw Pat Kelly come through 21-18 against Maureen Quilliam. Port St Mary B and Castletown ended level on games with all the away players reaching double figures. Castletown finished with the advantage on points partly due to Anne Oates’ win to single figures.
Un’B’lievable Performance by Douglas
The much anticipated first set of fixtures of the new Ellan Vannin Fuels men’s league got underway on Monday evening, and it more than lived up to the billing of an exciting new era for the local game.
The performance of Douglas B was on par with the exciting new partnership the Grown Green Bowls Association is forging with Ellan Vannin Fuels as the firm have agreed sponsorship support which will help promote and further the domestic game as the sport strives to reach unparalleled heights.
This ground breaking sponsorship agreement sees the Peel firm put their name to three of the associations premiere competitions in the shape of the Ellan Vannin Fuels Men’s League, Ellan Vannin Fuels Mixed League and Ellan Vannin Fuels Isle of Man Junior Championships. All of these competitions are vital for future development across all levels of our sport and we look to a fruitful partnership which I am sure will flourish for all involved.
Douglas B hosted reigning champions Onchan A, in their first game in the top flight since securing promotion last season, and there were a couple of questions on everyone’s lips. Do the champions have enough fire power in their arsenal to defend their title after a couple of changes in personnel and will the newly promoted side have what it takes to avoid the dreaded drop?
Whilst last weeks match does not give us definitive answers the Villa Men’s staggering victory must at least raise a few eyebrows of everyone else in the league and the signs look good as they set sail in the unchartered territory of the first division. Douglas B should be really proud of what was a magnificent team performance as it is the win on aggregate which is truly remarkable with every single point making a difference. Similarly, an under par Onchan A will hope to put this behind them and bounce back this week as they entertain Ballaugh A.
Douglas A didn’t share the good fortune of their B team and travelled to the highly fancied South Ramsey A team who were just too strong for them on the night. South will hope to pile the pressure on early doors to show the other teams around them that they mean business and are here to stay. It really wouldn’t surprise me if we see their name on the trophy come the end of the season.
Early leaders Marown A will be hoping to put a stop to that sort of talk and their 9-1 win away from home at Ballaugh A will go some way to doing that. Marown have a settled side and are course and distance men. If Onchan don’t bounce back quickly they could be the team with the staying power required to lift a trophy.
Port St Mary A are another team that will hope to do well this season and last year’s third placed outfit were made to fight all the way for a 7-3 home victory over division 2 champions South Ramsey B.
Port Erin A will be delighted to have got off to a winning start and a 7-3 victory over Nobles A is a good performance. They have nicely balanced team this year which will make Breagle Glen a difficult place to visit this year.
There was a thriller at Finch Hill in the final first division fixture of the round with the home side taking the win on games 5-3 but losing out by one point on aggregate 146-147 for Castletown A to seal the extra points and a 5-5 draw overall.
Castletown B got off to a flyer on their return to division two and were just too strong for Ballaugh B running out 9-1 winners at the Crofts. If they want to bounce straight back up to division one results like this will do their chances no harm at all.
Peel A won the Sunset City derby beating their B team 7-3 in a close match. Peel A are another team with aspirations of promotion and picking up points in their home games will be vital to their cause.
The Onchan derby finished in a similar fashion with the B team sealing a solid 7-3 victory over their C team. Onchan B will be there or there about in the shakeup at the end of the season and they will be hoping to bring this form with them this week on their travels to Port St Mary C.
There were some big performances in the third division but none more notable than at the memorial playing fields in Crosby where the newly formed Marown C picked up a magnificent 8-2 win over Peel D, with all but 1 of their players making their competitive debuts.
It is wonderful to see a team littered with new players making an immediate impact on proceedings and it is a testament to the growth and development at Marown in recent years as only a few years ago they had to drop their B team due to a shortage of players. How times change. I wish the C team and the club every success with this initiative and I get the feeling this plucky band of newbies may turn a few heads as the season progresses.
Port Erin B and Douglas C wont let them have things their own way though and both picked up impressive 8-2 wins of their own, with Douglas topping the tree on aggregate. This has been the most exciting division in recent memory and I expect this season to be no different with the lead swapping hands more than the baton in a relay competition at the Olympics.
Win by Manx ladies at Blackpool
Philippa Taylor, from Peel Sunset, and Jean Thackrah, from Port Erin, joined forces to enter the Ladies’ Doubles at the Blackpool Spring Festival played at the Waterloo in March. In a strong field they came through to win (meeting Pat Lonsdale,well known from our Festivals, in the final).
Congratulations to both ladies!
British Ladies’ Individual Merit Qualifier
There was a field of eight for the British Crown Green ladies’ merit qualifier played at Finch Hill on Sunday 17 April. The weather stayed fair and at times there was a hint of warmth in the sun.
The games started at the quarter-final stage and some players got to grips with the green more quickly than others.
Quarter-finals: Debbie Leece 21, Lil Smith 15; Sylvia Kennaugh 21, Mary Alderson 14; Rosie Winckle 21, Shirley Whelan 10; Elaine Moore 21, Helen Martin 14.
In the semi-final Elaine got off to a flyer against Rosie, at one point leading 16-5. Although the game was more even from that point Rosie had left herself too much to do and Elaine came through 21-11. The other semi-final was a game of two halves as Sylvia streaked into a 16-6 lead. Debbie then took control to level things at all-but across, but it was Sylvia who took the next point to win 21-20 and progress to the final.
In the final Elaine took control, and despite Sylvia’s best efforts she could make little impact on Elaine’s progress.
Final: Elaine Moore 21, Sylvia Kennaugh 8
The presentation was made by Association president, Rosie Winckle, who thanked those who had taken part, and those who came to spectate. Special thanks went to Anne Caine who had come along to open up and to make the very welcome teas and coffees.
Elaine will be representing the island at Owley Wood Recreation Club, Northwich, on Saturday 9 July
Ladies’ league Friday 15 April
It is a very rare event for a team to score the maximum 189 points in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league but it was a feat achieved by two teams on Friday 15 April. Port St Mary won all nine games against Marown with three players winning to single figures, while Mary Alderson came closest to spoiling their party, reaching 19 against Kath Looney.. Five Ballaugh players won to single figures when they recorded a full house against Onchan whose best scores were achieved by Rita Callan, who reached 18 against Ann Gale, and Leslie Nicholl who scored 19 against Alison Millard. Last year’s runners up, South Ramsey, were in no mood for leniency towards the team who finished just behind them. Castletown could manage only two wins, by Hannah Drewett and Hilary Kermode, both to single figures, while their opponents won five of their seven games to single figures. It was closer in the west where Peel Sunset won 5-4 on games against Douglas. Some of the games were very close, and Sarah Quirk. making her second appearance of the year for the westerners played particularly well to reach 19 against Paula Garrett. It was also 5-4 at Port Erin where all the home players reached double figures, the toughest game of the match saw Lynda Cadamy come through 21-18 against Chris Price. Mooragh Park had a tough struggle against Noble’s, winning just three games, but with so many new players the rebuilding of the team must be on the way up.
Ladies’ night league 8 April
It was a miserable night on Friday but all games went ahead despite the rain which got heavier as the evening progressed. Leading scorers were South Ramsey, 6-3 ahead on games with four of their players winning to single figures. The three winners for Ballaugh were Ann Gale, Mary Simmonds and Christine Mc Donald. Mooragh Park also passed the 170 point mark against a depleted Onchan side, with the home side having two winners in Maureen Payne, to single figures, and Rita Callan. Despite a narrow 5-4 win on games, with three of their players winning to single figures, and Wendy Cowin reaching 20 against Celia Joughin, Douglas had a comfortable win on points against Marown. Over in the west, Peel Sunset won 7 games, Joyce Kelly’s win to single figures being balanced by Lynda Cadamy’s for Port Erin. The rest of the games were close with Jackie Elliott beginning to make a habit of taking her opponent to the wire, this time just losing out 20-21 to Sue Jones. The two winners for Noble’s against Port St Mary were Rebecca Teare and Clare Cooper who both won to single figures, as did Val Macfarlane and Jayne Kneen for the visitors. Purt le Moirrey won 5-4 on games against Castletown, but with three wins to single figures and Ann Hollingworth scoring 20 against Edwina Reid the points victory went to Castletown.