Marown A Lose Ground on South Ramsey A
The match of the week in Canada Life International League Division One was held in the Sunset City between Peel A and Marown A on Monday evening. The Crosby men knew they needed a big win to keep in touch with league leaders South Ramsey A, however they came up against a spirited Peel team, whose surface has improved remarkably over the past four weeks. While the home team lost 3-7, they will have felt hard done by, as they lost three close games, losing out on the aggregate by seven chalks (141-148).
For the Peel men their three wins were comfortable as Stevie Kelly, Pip Pemberton, and Tommy McMeiken inflicted defeats on Paul Kelly, Tom Kelly, and Glenn Boland respectively. Marown captain Paul Dunn was the best winner 21-10 against Andy Mackie, while Peter Jones beat Gary Smith 21-13. Phil Kelly managed to scramble home 21-20 against David Proctor, Colin Kelly trailed 14-17 against Peel captain George Gadsby, went on to runout 21-17, while Neil Withers recovered from a 4-14 deficit to beat Barney Kelly 21-18.
South Ramsey A had the unenviable task of facing their B Team who are scrapping for survival, however a 9-1 win by the higher ranked team ensured they extended their lead to six points with one game remaining. For the B Team Lee Dawson ended his losing streak to beat Jordan Cain 21-15, while the last match of the night saw Toby Hart just missing out 20-21 against James Teare, with the latter trailing throughout the game 6-14, 8-16, 12-18, and 16-20. A strong finish saw Teare earn what could prove to be a vital point at the end of the season. This win saw the leaders take 39 points from a possible 40, as they have their fate in their own hands with just one game left to play.
North Ramsey A stunned Douglas A 3-7 at the Villa turning in a superb performance, securing the aggregate by 10 chalks (133-143). The battle of the captains was won convincingly 21-8 by Rob Monk against Merv Sayle, while Allan Callow, Paul Allison, and Steve Walmsley all won close games against Ian Moore, Dave McCabe, and Gordy Wynne-Smythe respectively. The Villa men had a close 21-20 win from Keith Rise against Tom Collins, while Nick Firth stormed to a 21-5 win over Joe Kneale.
Onchan A won 6-4 at home to Breagle Glen A, with the visitors giving themselves a great chance of surviving as they are ahead of bottom side South Ramsey B by four points. Winning for Breagle were Mark Moorley, Dan McCabe, Ewan Cooil, and Trevor Quayle. For the home team Matthew Quirk was the only single figure winner on the night, as he beat Steve Durcan 21-7, while Kevin Quirk was pushed by Wayne Roberts, as the Onchan man went on to claim a 21-17 win.
Marown B hosted Castletown A, as the Crosby men took a 7-3 win. Jamie Joughin just lost out 20-21 to Ian Watson, while Karl Parker lost 18-21 against Nathan Hamilton, Dean Kinley was Town’s third winner as he beat Stephen Rundle 21-8. Responding for Marown Kevin Kelly won to the same score against Andy Clark, while Juan Killip beat Jordan Drewett 21-9.
In Division Two it was a clash between the top two with the leaders Marown C hosting Ballaugh A starting the night with a five-point lead. Five was the number of the night, as the match finished 5-5, with the home team winning five games, but losing the aggregate by five-chalks (136-141) as they stayed five points ahead of the Ballaugh men. Two big wins from the Ballaugh men was enough to claim the aggregate with Ed Trustham beating John Kelly 21-4, while Tony Quine won 21-8 against Brian Kelly.
Noble’s A are on track to finish in a solid third place, needing to win one game or more in their final fixture at home to Noble’s B to stay ahead of their lower ranked team for another season following their 8-2 home win over Peel B, with Noble’s captain Alex Yates still on course for the Division Two Individual merit.
A high scoring match between Finch Hill A and Douglas B ended with a score of 4-6 secured in an unusual manner, as the Finch men won just three games, then shared the aggregate (152-152). The lowest scoring game of the night was between Stephen Oates and ex Finch man Paddy Murphy, with the latter losing out 13-21.
Another keenly contested fixture took place at the Crofts between Castletown B and Noble’s B finishing 5-5, with the visitors winning five games, but losing the aggregate by nine chalks (150-141).
Breagle Glen B need a big win in their last fixture, as they are five points adrift of safety, then must rely on Douglas B losing heavily at home to Castletown B if they are to stay up following a 3-7 home defeat to Onchan B, as the Breagle men just lost out on the aggregate by three chalks (141-144).
Peel C are in pole position for promotion from Division Three following their crucial 7-3 home win over North Ramsey B, as the result allowed them to go three points ahead of their opponents. The last round of fixtures for both teams will see Peel C with a tricky away fixture against Noble’s C, while North Ramsey B will host South Ramsey C.
Noble’s D won 6-4 at home to Ballaugh C, taking the aggregate by five chalks (138-133). Two single figure wins were taken by Mark Quinn, and John Andrew for the home team, while Mike Buckeridge was the lone single figure winner for the visitors.
South Ramsey C slipped to a disappointing 3-7 home defeat to Marown D, with the Crosby men delighted with their final away fixture of the 2025 season.
Ballaugh B hosted Noble’s C, with Paul Cubbon the only single figure winner on the night as he beat Charlie Bell 21-6. For the visitors Paul Clinton just edged home 21-20 against Fred Waggett
Division Four was effectively wrapped up weeks ago as Onchan C are 30 points ahead of second placed Finch Hill B, with Douglas C, just three points behind Finch, and North Ramsey C four points behind. There could be a lot of movement in league positions in the last round of fixtures, if the runaway leaders Onchan C inflict a heavy home defeat on the Finch men.
Onchan C won 9-1 at home to Peel D, with Matt Rees the lone winner 21-16 against Michael Jones for the visitors. North Ramsey C also won 9-1 at home to Peel D, with Mikey Cawte preventing the whitewash for the Peel men with a 21-14 win over Phillip Hassall.
Douglas C won 7-3 at home to Castletown C, with Freddie Palmer picking up win number seven of the season, while his dad Chris picked up win number eight. Rob Sayle was the third winner for the visitors as he beat Greg Brew 21-9. The home team responded with three single figure wins from Dave Corkish, Juan Readshaw, and John Ferguson