Seven-Up take control
Leaders Seven-Up extended their advantage at the top of the table in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter League Bowling Club after they racked up the season’s twelfth maximum against the bottom side, whilst nearest rivals Mean Machine had to battle against the two teams directly behind.
Both now have six fixtures left, but if Seven-Up are to wrestle the title away from the seven time champions they will need to improve their scores from the first time around against their remaining opponents.
The gap is currently 21 points, however looking back, Mean Machine scored 25 more than their rivals in the corresponding games. I will stick my neck out and go for the current leaders to hold on, simply because they have a stronger squad which will help them over the line.
Last weekend’s action began on the first dry Saturday afternoon for quite some time and saw Seven-Up easily overcome a Titans outfit who are hanging on to a top six position.
This was the first of two three-team sessions, which involve one side sitting out the first clash and this clearly did not help basement side Castletown Cannons who faced Seven-Up in the second encounter, they being fresh onto the field of play.
The Cannons did fare a little better in the final clash when they took one game of Titans and went close in two others, but the outcome saw three losing scores for the day all in the 80s.
Results for Saturday, January 23: Titans 87 (1) Seven-Up 115 (5), Seven-Up 126 (6) Castletown Cannons 83 (0), Castletown Cannons 86 (1) Titans 117 (5).
Sunday’s participants were teams occupying second to fourth positions in the table and they all saw their averages slip without any positional changes.
Opening it was Mean Machine (second) against Mooragh Lakers (third), with the result a fairly close victory to the Meanies as they gained revenge for their only loss so far.
Next up Louie’s Angels had to take on a side who were warmed up so to speak and even though they won two games, Mean Machine finished with a 19 point advantage.
With the mist rolling around the Park it was fairly dark when the final 12 players took to the green and battled out a draw on points as the Angels recorded a much-needed 117 to keep them just ahead of Parkers.
Results for Sunday, January 24: Mean Machine 112 (3) Mooragh Lakers 106 (3), Louie’s Angels 93 (2) Mean Machine 112 (4), Mooragh Lakers 117 (4) Louie’s Angels 117 (2).
A group of 37 enjoyed the good conditions for the midweek round robin, but a harsh lesson was learned at the conclusion, as some teams had not entered scores, which possibly cost them victory.
The top two triples were eventually settled by a roll-up, which went in favour of Mike Skelly/Jeff Wilson/Peter Kelly; just missing out were Allan Kennaugh/Terry Bates/Alec Taylor, with third spot being occupied by Roy Moore/Erwin Gelling/Alan Phair.
No such problems in the doubles where Derek Clarke and Derek Allen romped to first place ahead of John Lightfoot/Jean Thackrah and Doug Allan/Tricia Bull.
This Saturday there is a set of fixtures originally scheduled for early December and again attempted in January, let’s hope it is third time lucky for Bits n Bobs, Bowl Rollers, Mooragh Lakers and Erin Porters.