Onchan Increase Gap On Rivals Marown
Onchan A are starting to run away in the Isle of Man Bank Men’s division title race as another 10-0 maximum win sees them move fourteen points clear of second placed Marown A.
Staggeringly their white wash of Port Erin A at Onchan Park is their sixth maximum in just fourteen matches. The frightening ease in which they dispatch their opponents this season is surely the key to them unlocking another championship door, which would be their twelfth in just thirteen years.
There is still a long way to go in the title race and there are three or four teams capable of beating the Champions in a one off, but there is no other team with the strength in depth to match their devastating consistency.
Second placed Marown A will be kicking themselves as they lost more ground even after a strong 8-2 showing away at Ballaugh A they will be wondering what they have to do to catch the leaders.
South Ramsey A had their work cut out in a battle with Douglas A just getting the better of the travelling side 6-4 after a hard fought battle. They will be hoping to catch Marown and be the first team to break into the top two since Castletown A finished second to Marown way back in 2002, the year before Onchan’s decade of dominance began.
Result of the week though came at the Crofts where Castletown B managed to overcome their A team 6-4 after some spirited performances from the second string. Town B are still firmly routed to the bottom of the table but results like this will do their chances of survival no harm at all.
North Ramsey A have made sixth place their own this term and an 8-2 win over Peel A helps them cement this place. In the final fixture of the week Finch Hill A continued their brilliant season beating Nobles A 8-2 away from home.
Douglas B are still at the top of Divison Two after their 6-4 home win over Ballaugh B, but only just.
Second placed South Ramsey B have started their assault on the title in earnest and have closed the gap to just two points with an impressive 8-2 away win at Castletown C.
Port St Mary B are closing in on a promotion spot in third place just two points further back that South after beating Marown B 6-4 away from home. These teams now have an eleven point buffer over the chasing pack and I can’t see anyone else winning either the title or promotion.
Onchan C’s 9-1 win away at Peel D has seen them move even further ahead at the top of division 3 and they are now nine points ahead of Peel C, who in turn are 8 points ahead of Port St Mary D.