Rain delays play in semi-finals.
Storm Frances proved too much for bowling greens on Tuesday and the decision was made to delay the semi-finals by 24 hours. So, in much improved conditions players from South and Middle came together in two very close semi-finals on Wednesday.
Port St Mary A and Marown played their match at Port Erin’s Breagle Glen and it was a fantastic match with winners and losers on both teams resulting in a tie. In these circumstances the winner is decided on whichever team has the best individual winner and in this case it was Marown by just one point, in the Shirley Whelan game where she won 21-3. The final match score was 95-95 (3-3).
The other semi-final was played at Peel. Castletown A against Port Erin A and again it was a very close match with 3 wins for each team but Castletown just managed to keep the average score of the non-winners higher than that of Port Erin’s and now face Marown in the final next Tuesday. Final score 109-104 (3-3).
By Thursday storm Frances had moved on but more rain was forecast, however Ramsey remained dry which facilitated both Ramsey clubs to play their matches in the Prelim JMS Veterans Shield. Mooragh Park were at home to visitors Douglas and the North Ramsey team knew that they had a hill to climb playing off scratch against a +15 advantage for Douglas but their recent form and home green knowledge gave them a convincing win. Douglas were on the back foot from the start with a player short but their remaining team played well. Final score 108-80 (4-2).
The other local club, South Ramsey, have already experienced disappointment as a result of this year’s handicap system. In the ladies night league they played Castletown B, won all 9 games but lost the match on points and unfortunately it was a similar story for them in their match against Finch Hill. The visitors started the match with 60 points which gave the home team a near impossible task. However, they played brilliantly and the final score was 121-145 (5-1) taking Finch Hill to the quarter finals.
Because of the weather Onchan vis Port St Mary B decided to delay their match until Tuesday 01 September but the match between Marown and Port St Mary A did go ahead.
Both teams must have been very tired after their match just 24 hours earlier in the Team Championship semi-finals but Marown at home and with a 45-point start proved too much of a challenge for the reigning champions who were knocked out in a very close game that Marown would have won without the points advantage. Final score 146-94 (3-3).
Next week the Team Championship Final is at Nobles on Tuesday 1st with the quarter finals of the JMS Veterans Shield being played on Thursday.
Pat Lenton.