Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

After a week of Festival action league bowls returned this week, as the second half of the season got underway. Five of the six first division games saw 10 chalks or less settle the two points up for grabs on the aggregate.

 In Canada Life International Division One Marown A put clear daylight between themselves to lead by three points following the Crosby men’s 9-1 home win over Castletown A. Nathan Cooil prevented the whitewash as he performed well to beat Peter Jones 21-13. All seven of the home wins were comfortable for Marown, with Tom Kelly, Glenn Boland, and Phil Kelly taking 21-5 wins over Dean Kinley, Aaron Richardson, and Andy Clark respectively.

If there is such a thing as a disastrous win, then a 4-6 away win for South Ramsey A over bottom side Breagle Glen A sums it up. Winning for the home team were Trevor Quayle, who beat Peter Collister 21-6, Ewan Cooil got over the line 21-18 against Dido Kelly, with the latter having trailed 2-16. Steve Durcan won to the same score (21-18) against James Teare, with the former having led 12-4 before securing the win. The lone winner in the first half for the visitors was John Kennish who beat Dan McCabe 21-11.

The second half of the match saw South fightback, with Jordan Cain beating Tim Williams 21-12, Bob Clark held off Chris Lever 21-18, Mark Moorley got a fourth win for Breagle, as he beat David Bradford 21-16, whilst Glynn Hargraves just got home 21-17 against Wayne Roberts, with South Ramsey managing to edge the aggregate by a solitary chalk (141-142) with every point counting. Breagle can take heart from this performance, following the addition of two players at the halfway point to strengthen the ranks, this should see the home team climb the table in the second half of the season.

Peel A hosted Onchan A on Monday evening in the Sunset City, with another tussle between the teams going to the wire, as the visitors edged the aggregate by a chalk (135-136) to take home a 4-6 win. For the home team Stevie Kelly beat Steve Parker 21-8, with Will Penhallurick responding with a 21-9 win over Gary Smith. Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly beat Reg Temporaza 21-15, whilst Andy Mackie beat Jamie Clague 21-18. For the visitors June Festival finalist Matthew Quirk had his first outing using two different bowls – this is permitted under the rules, provided both bowls are within a certain weight range. The Onchan man was up against opposing captain George Gadsby, with the Peel man putting up a good fight only for Quirk to prevail 21-18.

North Ramsey A hosted Marown B, it was the visitors who went home the happier of the two teams with a 3-7 victory, with the Crosby men winning the aggregate by 10 chalks (137-147). Jamie Box made his debut for Marown, on a green he would never have previously played on, losing out 18-21 to Allan Callow, whilst John Gelling held off David Callow. All players on the night reached double figures.

South Ramsey B slipped to a 3-7 home defeat against Douglas A, despite Tony Dugdale being the only single figure winner 21-7 against Ian Moore. Winning close games were Toby Hart 21-20 against Merv Sayle, Nick Firth responded for the Villa men to beat Christian Caley to the same score, whilst Keith Rise got over the line 21-19 against Lee Dawson.

In Division Two the closest game of the week was between hosts Onchan B and Noble’s A, it was the home team that edged home 6-4, thanks to winning the aggregate by just three chalks, as three games finished to 19, and a further two games went to 20.

Marown C clawed a point back on leaders Ballaugh A following their 1-9 away win over Douglas B. Ballaugh A are top by five points following their 8-2 home win over Breagle Glen B, as Nigel Tebay missed out on making it a 9-1 win for Ballaugh cruelly losing out 20-21 to Peter Hulley.

Castletown B may just have found some form, as they beat Finch Hill A 9-1 at the Crofts, with Stephen Oates once again winning for the visitors. Noble’s B just missed out on a whitewash at home to Peel B as Dean Sowerby lost 20-21 to Andrew Cover, however they won three games to 18, 19, and 19.

Division Three is starting to look like a three-horse race between South Ramsey C, Peel C, and North Ramsey B, with the latter slipping to a disastrous 3-7 home defeat to Ballaugh B.

Peel C missed the opportunity to hit top spot, as they occupy second place, just one point back on North Ramsey B following their hard fought 4-6 away win over Marown D, taking the aggregate by 12 chalks (130-142).

South Ramsey C were the biggest winners of the week with a timely 0-10 away win over Breagle Glen C, however they had to battle for four of the wins to 17, 17, 18, and 20, with the 21-20 win going to Paul Routledge over Terry Collister.

In Division Four league leaders Onchan C picked up 14 points this week, as they played a rearranged fixture beating nearest rivals Finch Hill B 6-4 at home, having won 2-8 away to Peel D earlier in the week.

Finch Hill B just missed out on a full house, with a 9-1 home win over Douglas C. Rob Tomlinson prevented the whitewash with a 21-19 win over David Holmes.

Douglas D had a good week thanks to their 7-3 home win over Castletown C, taking the aggregate by 17 chalks (138-121), whilst Noble’s E came away with an identical 3-7 win, also by 17 chalks (132-149) over North Ramsey C.