News: Reports
Dorothy Piearce Ladies’ Doubles Qualifier
Nine pairs entered for the Dorothy Piearce Memorial Ladies’ Doubles Qualifier played at Finch Hill on Sunday 22 June.
With games being 21 off scratch there were some keenly contested games played in glorious sunshine.
Semi-finals: Rosie Winckle and Lil Smith 21, Jill Quayle and Moira Anderson 15; Lilian Slinger and Janet Monk 21, Jenny Maddrell and Ann Gale 13.
Things started quietly with the pairs exchanging ends before Janet and Lilian scored a 3 and a 2 to take a 12-8 lead. This spurred Rosie and Lil on to take the next four ends and a 16-12 advantage. They then exchanged threes and a 2 from the Mooragh pair brought the score to 17-19. The Marown ladies’ then scored a single to reach “all but” at which point Janet and Lilian dug deep taking the next two ends, and victory, 21-20.
The winners will represent the island at Nuneaton on Saturday 9 August in the final stages of the event.
Thanks went to Finch Hill for the use of their facilities and to Anne Caine for providing the refreshments.
Noble’s Mixed Ladies’ Doubles
There was an entry of 25 pairs for the ladies’ doubles competition played at Noble’s mixed on Saturday 21 June. The weather was fine and the green was running well allowing for some good bowling and close games played in a friendly spirit.
Semi-finals: Kath Kinley and Marie Ashurst 21, Viv Rush and Hazel Hughes 8; Doris Cargill and Val Young 21, Lyn Bolton and Paula Garrett 15
This set up a repeat of the final at Castletown the previous week. An opening 2 from Kath and Marie was answered by two singles from Doris and Val to level the score, but from that point on the visiting pair were always on the back foot with Kath and Marie coming through to win 21-12.
The presentation was made by John Ruscoe who thanked all those who had entered the competition and everyone who had helped during the afternoon.
Ladies’ League 13 June
Three of the matches in the C Tarleton Hodgson and Son Ltd sponsored ladies’ league on Friday 13 June were won 7-2 on games. Top scorers were Noble’s Mixed against Marown with four of their wins being to single figures, the two winners for Marown being Mary Alderson and Rosie Winckle. Philippa Taylor and Heather Horsburgh were the two winners for Peel against Mooragh Park, while Kim Foy and Anne Oates denied Port St Mary A a full house. It was a tense affair in the match between Onchan and Ballaugh where the home side, winning 5-4 on games, came through by a single point Ann Gale being the only winner to single figures. The other two matches had similar score-lines, each being won by 11 points. At Douglas it was the home side that had the advantage 5-4 on games with two wins to single figures for each side keeping the totals relatively low. The visitors had the better of it at Port Erin, although having three single figure losses compared to the home sides two, their extra game added to Roma Ware’s reaching 19 against Jean Thackrah gave them the advantage on points.
June Festival Results
Results from the 2014 June Bowls Festival can be found using the links below
June Festival Preview
The first round of the Main June Festival kicks off today (Tuesday) and as always there is a host of local and visiting bowlers all vying to put their name on the coveted trophy.
Mark Hughes (Crossgates) has been in brilliant form in recent festivals and he will be hoping he can add the main crown to his tourism title. If he wants to progress though he will have to beat former winner Phil Kerruish (Onchan) in a very tricky opener. Fellow locals Rob Monk (North Ramsey) and Dave Hughes (South Ramsey) will be hoping to make a name for themselves and book a place in the last 8. This will be easier said than done with perennial favourite Ian Nicholson (Victoria) and a host of other talented visitors in the section.
There are more potential winners than I care to mention in the next 32 with Tommy King (Kirkham), Andrew Spragg (Calow BC), Danny Sillitoe (Maltby MW), Paul Bailey (Meersbrook) and Nigel Hughes (Wirral) all visitors with the class to go all the way. Stuart Garrett (Douglas) is the pick of the locals in this section and he can overcome the mammoth test of Bailey in the opener who knows how far he could go.
The next page has locals Colin Kelly (Marown), Peter Slinger (Onchan) and Trevor Quayle (Castletown) all hoping to go all the way and clinch the main crown. It wont be easy however with names such as Jack Dyson (Meersbrook BC), Mike Tunstall (Wirral) and Martin Gilpin (Victoria) in close company.
John Bailey (Llanrwst BC), Dave Jackson (Railway) and Callum Wraight (WEM USC) are three names that jump of the page to me in this section but when you look a lot closer there are a host of other players who could go a long way. Charlie Priestly (Goerge & Dragon) Mark Bramhall (Kirkham) and Kevin Quirk (Onchan) are all more than capable of booing a place in the last 8 if they hit their form.
Ballacashtal finalists John Kennish (South Ramsey) and Matthew Keggen (Onchan) lead the charge for the locals in the next 32 of the draw however they certainly won’t have things all their own way. Wayne ‘The Beast’ Ditchfield will be bookies favourite to get out of the section unscathed however there are plenty of talented giant slayers around in the form of Jack Hargreaves (George & Dragon), Kez Smith (Crossgates) and Chris Barton (Wirral).
Matt Gilmore (Wirral) and Barry Booth (Victoria) is an interesting first round match with the winner potentially going a long way. Matthew Kelly-Walley (Strettor) is no stranger to doing well in festivals and will be hoping this is his year. Glynn Hargraves (Onchan) and Phil Kelly (Marown) have both performed will in recent years and will be hoping that one of them is still alive and kicking come Friday.
Last years winner Neil Withers (Marown) will be hoping to emulate his 2013 success however he has the unenviable task of giving the field a 2 point start so progress to the latter stages, whilst not impossible, will be extremely tricky. Jordan Cain (Onchan) is in a rich vein of form at the moment and if he carries this with him into Festival week could certainly raise a few eyebrows. Robbie Fitzpatrick (Morton House) is just one of the many visitors who will by trying to halt the Manx march.
David Bradford (Onchan) is another local who could go a long way but like Withers is backed marked 2 chalks for his September success. Bradford is joined in the section by this Onchan team mate Matthew Quirk who fell at the final hurdle last year. Just like in all the other sections the last one is no different with too many potential winners to name but watch out for the ever present Richie Goddard (WEM USC) who always seems to bring his A game to the Isle of Man.
Keggen is King of The Castle
Ballacashtal Cup Winner 2014
Matthew KeggenMatthew Keggen (Onchan) produced the display of his life to win the Ballacashtal Cup. Keggen overcame a stellar line up of 86 bowlers, the majority visitors to for the Isle of Man Bowls Festival, capping it off with a 21-20 final win over 8 times Manx Champion John Kennish (South Ramsey).
The final was of the highest quality and nip and tuck all the way with honours even at 12-12 after 10 ends. Kennish then found his usual mid game surge to move into what looked like a commanding 19-16 lead but Keggen had other ideas and clawed his way back to 20-18 behind.
He held his nerve brilliantly the next end and lying game down produced a wonder bowl to trail the jack for 2 and make it all but across. A brilliant lead was all he needed to seal the biggest win of his career.
Keggen booked his final berth with a brilliant 21-10 over former festival winner Robbie Fitzpatrick (Morton House) whilst Kennish fought his way past Mick Burns (Rishton) to book his place in the final.
Fallers at the quarter final stage were Nigel Hughes (Wirral), James Fitzpatrick (Morton House), Gaz Lalley (Crossgates) and Wayne Jevons (Wirral).
At the conclusion of the competition Castletown Chairman Ron Williams introduced Dave Mousley, Director of competition sponsors Veros Digital (IOM) Limited to present the prizes.
Kelly’s Kernan
Colin Kelly (Marown) was in imperious form as he won the coveted Jim Kernan trophy at South Ramsey on Saturday. Kelly, who had been in devastating form all day, saved his best for the final where he beat visiting bowler Matt Gilmore (Wirral).
Both players were on top form in the final however Kelly just hit a devastating length from the off and it always looked like it was going to be his day.
Neither player had it easy in the semi final either with Kelly battling his way past Dave ‘Dido; Kelly (South Ramsey) whilst Gilmore got the better of David Bradford (Onchan).
A fantastic entry of 61 players were treated to one of the best yet tricky playing surfaces around and the green keepers should be congratulated for doing an immaculate job. Thanks also go to George Brew for his continued sponsorship of the competition.
Ladies’ over 60’s Thursday 12 June
Thursday 12 June
With the Douglas match against Castletown being postponed to 24 June there were only five matches played on Thursday 12 June.
After their break on Tuesday the Port St Mary A team returned refreshed to clock up yet another maximum to increase their lead at the top of the table. Villa were left shell-shocked with four of their players just moving into double figures. Mooragh Park kept the leaders in their sights as they dropped just 2 points to Onchan B, Eileen Thomas being the lone winner for the visitors. Noble’s Mixed proved too strong for Peel Sunset, winning 4-2 on games with Lin Ruscoe winning to single figures, Joyce Kelly and Heather Horsburgh being the westerner’s two winners. Although Port Erin drew on games with Port St Mary B, wins to single figures by Sylvia Shelbourne and Jen Thackrah gave them a comfortable points advantage. Pearl Quinn and Audrey Gardner went all the way with Pearl just edging the game 21-20.With Phyllis Gelling and Lynda Clarke winning to single figures Onchan A had the better of Ballaugh, whose two winners were Jenny Maddrell and Jane Teare, by a margin of 22 points.
Marown Top after Toppling Onchan
Double weeks can seriously shape a bowls season and last week was no different as Champions Marown A climbed to the top of the tree.
They began the week with a treacherous trip away to then leaders, and closest rivals, Onchan A and must have started the match as underdogs. Whilst many may have written off Marown, you only achieve what you believe – and the Crosby men believed!
A string of brilliant performances helped them overturn a deficit to take the match 7-3, and whilst there was a string of breathtaking performances man of the match must be Phil Kelly who came from 20-11 behind to win 21-20, and help his side to the aggregate points.
They followed this up on Wednesday with a simply stunning 10-0 thrashing of Castletown C, allowing their opponents to amass a miserly 64 points in the process, to move above Onchan. The champions are now showing all of their championship credentials.
Onchan didn’t have long licking their wounds with a midweek match away at Port St Mary A on the cards, and they had to use all of their experience and ability to come out the right side of a 7-3 win. Many expect Onchan to regain the title they lost to Marown last year, and whilst they still might, they will have to do it the hard way from here on in.
Third placed South Ramsey A are making that position their own as of late, and a great week sees them stay in contention to make a move should the top two slim up. They started off with a solid 8-2 win away at Port Erin and followed this up with a 9-1 home win over Peel A. to match Marown;s impressive 17 points for the week.
Douglas A have managed to hang on to 4th spot despite losing out 6-4 at home to Port St Mary A after leading 3-1 at the half way stage. Port showed great fighting qualities to see out the win. The men from the Villa bounced straight back though with a very impressive 8-2 win away at North Ramsey A to put momentum back in their season.
Castletown A restored order at the Crofts with wins over their C team on Monday and their second string on Wednesday to move into 5th in the table and go above their B team for the first time this season.
Finch Hill A still leas the way in Division 2 after a mixed bag last week. They began with a stong 7-3 win over Douglas B however dropped points on Wednesday as they were beaten 6-4 by third placed Onchan B. Onchan preceded this victory with another win this time taking out Nobles Part A 7-3.
Peel B are the surprise package in second place after a couple of very impressive displays beginning with a 6-4 win over Nobles Mixed before travelling to Ballaugh B and leaving 7-3 victors.
In division three its Arnie Withers’ young starlets at Marown B who are shining brightest and a simply magnificent week has not only seen them move top but open up a 5 point gap at the top. They kicked off with an 8-2 win away at MooraghPark over North Ramsey C before their best result of the season so far as they brushed aside title favourites South Ramsey B 8-2 at the memorial playing fields.
Ladies’ over 60’s 10 June
After a fortnight off play resumed in the Trend sponsored over 60’s ladies’ league on Tuesday 10 June. Onchan A were top scorers winning five games the only fly in their ointment being Brenda Williams who took a game off them to prevent the full house. The Villa girls all reached double figures to give them a respectable score. Onchan B had a closer encounter with Douglas ending level on games and winning by just 2 points. The outstanding game of the match being Wendy Cowin’s 21-20 win against Joyce Gardiner. It was just as close at Peel where Sunset had a 2 point advantage over Marown in a lower scoring match. Noble’s Mixed had a good win, 4-2 on games with Lin Ruscoe and Josie Harding winning to single figures, with Pearl Quinn and Roma Ware being the winners for the home side, while Mooragh Park also won 4-2 at Ballaugh. Good wins by Ann Gale and Jenny Maddrell for the visitors kept the home team’s score down. The other game of the morning saw a 4-2 victory for Castletown, with Marie Ashurst winning to single figures as did the two winners, Gwen Tuck and Voirrey Curphey for Port Erin. By contrast Sue Peach was taken all the way by Sylvia Shelbourne before coming through 21-20.