G4H head the pack

Nine-time champions Guns for Hire head the pack after the opening three weekends of the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowls League and are now the only unbeaten team. 

They almost recorded their second maximum, but missed out by one chalk, in a five games to one success over Erin Porters. 

Mooragh Lakers meanwhile began their session with a comfortable games win, but they dropped eight points when Bits n Bobs triumphed in the doubles. 

The top two at the start of play next battled out a draw on games, however Guns for Hire took the bragging rights with a five-point winning margin over Lakers to maintain their impressive start. 

Finally, Bits n Bobs proved their big win on the opening day was not a one-off, when they were victorious in a close contest against Erin Porters and took their average back above 100 points. 

Results for Saturday, October 19: Bits n Bobs 76 (1), Mooragh Lakers 118 (5); Guns for Hire 125 (5), Erin Porters 88 (1); Mooragh Lakers 107 (3), Guns for Hire 112 (3); Erin Porters 103 (2), Bits n Bobs 109 (4). 

Sunday’s gang had the better of the weekend weather for a change and the session saw the season’s fourth maximum scoreline recorded. 

Louie’s Angels followed up the previous Sunday’s full-house with a similar result against Castletown Cannons, allowing their opponents a total of just 72 points. 

Also in action were Castletown Corkers, but they suffered the same fate as their stablemates at the hands of southern rivals Erin Porters. 

Angels finished their afternoon with a comfortable win over Bowl Rollers and scored enough points to move into second spot on average behind leaders Guns for Hire. 

The Castletown teams completed Sunday’s programme and it was Cannons who triumphed with a three-point winning margin in a fixture that had four juniors playing. 

Results for Sunday, October 20: Louie’s Angels 126 (6), Castletown Cannons 72 (0); Castletown Corkers 101 (2), Bowl Rollers 117 (4); Bowl Rollers 98 (2), Louie’s Angels 118 (4); Castletown Cannons 102 (3), Castletown Corkers 99 (3). 

The club’s midweek round robin attracted an entry of 45, which was split into three equal groups of triples. 

Romping to victory in the black jack group were Bernie McPhee, Derek Allen and Mark Kelly; with second place going to Steph Swift, Alec Taylor and Joy Stephens. 

The margin between the top two was a bit closer in the red jacks – the winning trio being Frances Radcliffe, George Brew and Terry Bates, and in the runners-up spot were Sid McKnight, Judy Kelly and Cliff Clague. 

Just one point separated the leaders in the final gang, with Elaine Moore, Steve Kelly and Sue Gawne just getting the better of Maureen Hamilton, Andy Morgan and Kevin Firth.