Jacks Off confirmed as champs
Long-time favourites, Jacks Off, wrapped up the league title in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowling Club at the weekend in record-breaking style, when they became the first team to win all their fixtures in a season.
They also set a new highest points average on 121.3, beating their own record of 120.5, set back in 2013, playing under the name, High Flyers. This was helped by nine maximum scores, with their two closest victories being against the outgoing champions, Mooragh Lakers, who lost out by just two points in the first clash and six the second time.
Back in 2009, called Hot Shots, they did in fact complete their programme undefeated, but had two drawn fixtures along the way.
You may see a theme developing here regarding team names; this is because over the past 11 seasons they have played with 10 different ones.
They won the league in 2008 called Generation Gap, ironically with the lowest average to date, and after the 2009 success, they missed out on the title when New Found Glory pipped them to the crown, then called Chancers.
Back they came to top the pile as New Avengers, High Flyers, Incredabowls, Rule Breakers and Mean Machine; missing out last year to Lakers, when they were called Unstopabowls.
They have had close to 30 different players in the squad over that 11 year period, but only one has participated every year, and that is Alan Moore, who now has a tally of nine league wins, one runner-up and one third to his credit.
The weekend’s fixtures had some teams still fighting for league positions and also saw another three complete their programme, on Saturday fourth placed Seven-Up kept the pressure on Outsiders who are now 30 points ahead, both with two to play, including taking on each other in their final outing.
Govags meanwhile will have to settle for ninth, as they cannot accumulate enough chalks in their last visit to Nobles to move up the table.
Results for Saturday, February 24: Jacks Off 116 (4), Seven-Up 95 (2); Govags 92 (2), Jacks Off 114 (4); Seven-Up 121 (5), Govags 97 (1).
Finishing the season in sixth are Parkers, who did just enough on Sunday to stay ahead of Bowl Rollers by the margin of 21, while Castletown Cannons need to match their average in their last two fixtures to claim the bragging rights over stablemates Corkers.
Louie’s Angels bounced back from the previous week’s disappointment to record two good victories, but will need a miracle if they are to finish any higher than fifth, as they are just 192 chalks ahead of Seven-Up and 162 in front of Outsiders.
Results for Sunday, February 25: Louie’s Angels 124 (5), Parkers 95 (1); Parkers 113 (3), Castletown Cannons 102 (3); Castletown Cannons 92 (2), Louie’s Angels 119 (4).
Jacks Off have the top three in the Derek Killey memorial trophy list, with Matthew Keggen winning the merit ahead of Glynn Hargraves and Stefan Kelly.
The destination of the Geoff Osborn memorial trophy for the leading lady is yet to decided, whereas the junior merit winner is Austin Hart, also Jacks Off.
Three more names have been added to the team, which will take on the league champions in the end of season finale and they are Tricia Bull (Louie’s Angels), Paul Bailey (Parkers) and Doug Allan (Govags).
The club heads into its final month with the league schedule almost complete and two major dates yet to come – the championship, for which entries are now being taken, will take place on Saturday, March 17 (and Sunday 18 if required), with the prize presentations afternoon the following Sunday.
A midweek round robin was held, when 44 entrants braved the extremely cold wind to compete in two groups of triples and one doubles.
The winning gangs were, Joan Murphy, Joy Stephens and Marg Tasker; Caroline Whitehead, Jean Thackrah and Lil Smith; Roma Ware and Peter Kelly.