Bowling for Soup took control of third spot and three teams had the end to their season delayed as the weather played its part over the weekend in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter League Bowling Club.

The forecast for both days was not great but Saturday ended up being a dry session in which Louie’s Angels all-but saw their chance of a third place finish disappear.

Unfortunately for them they were a player short after a withdrawal near kick-off and ended the afternoon 48 points adrift of their rivals B4S.

A similar fate saw Govags take part with only four members, after two of their team failed to show and as a consequence suffered two heavy defeats.

Louie’s Angels and Bowling for Soup were locked on the same points total at the start of play and with the latter dropping only three during the opener, compared with a score of 98 for Angels it was advantage B4S.

The two then played each other and although B4S had a 15 point advantage due to the walk-over, Angels fought hard to keep the inevitable gap down and dropped only another nine in the games played.

The losers slot into fourth spot with a slender margin of eight over Mooragh Lakers, all three with two fixtures left, however I don’t see any change of positions in the top half between now and the end of the campaign.

Bottom placed Castletown Cannons were also in action but struggled to only 75 points in their first encounter, before notching up a welcome victory over Govags.

Another close battle continues further down the table where Erin Porters have a six point lead over Roller Bowlers, this was due to be settled on Sunday, but the rain put paid to that and the postponed matches will now be played on Sunday, March 8.

Results for Saturday, February 21: Govags 79 (2) Doug Allan, Louie’s Angels 98 (4) Margaret Tasker; Bowling for Soup 123 (5) Bob Berry, Castletown Cannons 75 (1) Barbara Young; Angels 102 (1) Louis Callister, Bowling for Soup 125 (5) Tony Dugdale; Castletown Cannons 114 (4) Barbara Young, Govags 83 (2) Connie Pettegrew.

There was not much change at the top of the merit after the latest set of fixtures and at this stage only three of the team winners are known – John Kennish (Rule Breakers), Nigel Thomas (B4S) and Kim Hargraves (Bits n Bobs).

The remaining nine are yet to be decided, with no less than 27 players in with a strong or an outside chance of winning their team’s merit.

The midweek round robin attracted an entry of 26 which was split into two groups of doubles with the successful pairings being Derek Clarke and Bernard Thackrah, along with Louis Callister and Alan Kennaugh.

Missing out in second were Rita Callister and Les Halsall; also Bob Berry and Pauline Worrall.

The league and individual merit titles were settled in the one session held over the weekend in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter League Bowling Club as Rule Breakers racked up their ninth maximum, before beating their closest rivals to open an unassailable points margin.

Challengers Seven-Up could only stand and watch as the now seven-time champions Rule Breakers swept aside Mooragh Lakers. They won all six games and left them trailing with their lowest total of the campaign.

The contest for the Derek Killey memorial trophy was also brought to a conclusion in this fixture as Lakers’ Jenny Moore surrendered a slender lead she held over her Uncle John Kennish (Breakers), who also won this award in 2008.

Jenny however is still in a good position to collect the ladies title and finish in a creditable second overall. Her closest challenger is Margaret Tasker (Louie’s Angels) who is the only woman to have gone one better and won the overall merit crown, which was in 2012.

John completed his season with just one defeat and a loss of just two points. In third and fourth at present are another two previous winners, Glynn Hargraves (Breakers) and Jordan Cain (Seven-Up). The latter with four games left to maybe improve his position.

Getting back to the action, in the second contest of the afternoon, Lakers picked themselves up and put a large dent in any hopes Seven-Up still had of catching their rivals. The northern outfit won a close battle in which the losers dropped 20 points and left their title challenge hanging by a thread.

A large crowd had gathered as the leading two went head-to-head in a fixture that Seven-Up had to win convincingly.

Breakers however were in no mood to relinquish their hold on a shield they have now won for seven out of the last eight seasons and ran out clear winners, dropping just six points to finish on an average of 119.4.

This may have brought the league title challenge to an early conclusion, but there are still some close battles for positions further down the table, along with individual team merit winners to be settled over the final few weeks.

Results for Sunday, February 15: Rule Breakers 126 (6) Alan Moore and Stefan Kelly, Mooragh Lakers 88 (0) Rob Monk; Mooragh Lakers 109 (3) Jenny Moore, Seven-Up 106 (3) Jordan Cain; Seven-Up 106 (2) Kevin Quirk, Rule Breakers 120 (4) Dave Kelly and Mark Kneen.

Prior to Sunday’s contests, two round robins were held and in the midweek session the pairing of Philippa Taylor and Mike Skelly finished ahead of Pauline Whorrall and Jo Smith.

While in the triples group Bernie McPhee, along with Bernie and Jean Thackrah emerged as winners, with Brian Needham, Elaine McElroy and Alec Taylor settling for second.

It was a similar pattern in Saturday’s event, with the threesome of Derek Clarke, Steve Parker and Shirley Corrin pipping Jo Smith, Tricia Bull and Bernie McPhee after a roll-up.

Whilst victorious in the doubles were Steve Moore and Caroline Whitehead, with second place being taken by Derek Cadamy and Peter Hughes.

Entries are now being taken for the club championship, which will be held over the weekend of March 14, and 15.

There were no surprises during the latest two days of action in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter League Bowling Club which produced another two maximum scores to take the total so far to 16.

The biggest benefactors were Louie’s Angels who jumped up two places to head the trio of teams in third to fifth places. They are now level on points with Bowling for Soup and just five points ahead of Mooragh Lakers.

Looking at the four fixtures remaining for each side I think it will be a close call as to which one will take third, but my money is on B4S, just in front of Angels and Lakers in that order.

Perfect weather welcomed everyone on both days, with the opener on Saturday seeing leaders Rule Breakers in ruthless form as they racked up their eighth maximum and left opponents Govags trailing with a total of just 61.

Breakers then had another convincing win with a five games to one success over Castletown Corkers, the victors pushing their average up to 119 in the process.

With just two fixtures remaining, Breakers have a cushion of 506 points over second placed Seven-up who themselves have six to play and will have to beat their rivals in one of those to have any chance of overhauling the six-time champions.

Completing thethree-team afternoon Corkers missed out on a full-house of 126 after two losses on 20. However I am sure Govags would have been happier after passing the 100 point mark this time out.

Results for Saturday, February 7: Govags 61 (0) Ray Hardman and Jeff Wilson, Rule Breakers 126 (6) Dave Kelly, John Kennish and Glynn Hargraves; Rule Breakers 117 (5) John Kennish, Castletown Corkers 76 (1) Lyn Bolton; Castletown Corkers 124 (4) Sid Bolton, Govags 101 (2) Lynda and Jeff Wilson.

A sunny Sunday afternoon saw another two players introduced into league action as the bottom two teams compensated for holidays and illness and drafted in recruitments; however it was Louie’s Angels who were on a flyer.

They kicked-off by dropping just two points against Bits n Bobs, who unfortunately couldn’t field a full team.This before overcoming Roller Bowlers and notching up their second maximum win of the campaign, as a result Angels now occupy third spot.

Roller Bowlers had earlier recorded a victory over Castletown Cannons, who themselves were triumphant later by the closest of margins in the bottom of the table clash with Bits n Bobs.

Results for Sunday, February 8: Louie’s Angels 124 (5) Matthew Keggen, Bits n Bobs 77 (1) Edwina Reid; Castletown Cannons 84 (1) Peter Curtis, Roller Bowlers 121 (5) Gordon Corrin; Roller Bowlers 79 (0) Shirley Corrin, Louie’s Angels 126 (6) Margaret Tasker; Bits n Bobs 95 (3) Kim Hargraves, Castletown Cannons 96 (3) Peter Curtis.

A relatively small gang took advantage of great conditions to take part in the midweek round robin and it was split into two groups of doubles.

Jean Thackrah and Peter Karran were victorious, along with Peter Hughes and Dave Faragher; in second were Philippa Taylor and Shirley Corrin, also Peter Daugherty and Jo Smith. Completing the groups in third places were Peter Kelly and Tricia Bull, along with Derek Cadamy who was partnered by Brian Needham.

There are no fixtures scheduled for Saturday so weather permitting a round robin will be held.

Seven-Up strengthened their hold on second place and moved a little closer to the leaders during the one set of fixtures held over the weekend in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter League Bowling Club.

Also looking to maintain their challenge were Mooragh Lakers, who currently occupy fourth spot, they needed a perfect session to move up a place, but in the end had to settle for an improved average and a deficit of 16 points on Bowling for Soup who are third.

Seven-Up began their outing with a total of 121 against Roller Bowlers before just missing out on a maximum by the closest of margins when they took on Bits n Bobs, who unfortunately couldn’t field a full team.

Lakers also recorded two victories over the same opponents, firstly defeating Bits n Bobs, before also hitting a tally of 121 against Roller Bowlers, who themselves couldn’t quite reach 100 points and slipped down below Erin Porters in the standings.

Results for Sunday, February 1: Bits n Bobs 85 (2) Kim Hargraves, Mooragh Lakers 114 (4) Jenny Moore; Roller Bowlers 94 (1) Rosie Winckle, Seven-Up 121 (5) Jordan Cain; Mooragh Lakers 121 (4) James Teare, Roller Bowlers 99 (2) Sefton Dent; Seven-Up 125 (5) Alec Taylor, Bits n Bobs 80 (1) Kim Hargraves.

Prior to these fixtures two round robins took place, both on days with extremely cold winds.

The midweek contingent played as doubles with the victors being Jo Smith and Peter Karran. Second went to Brian Needham and Hazel Hughes and in third it was Tricia Bull and Alec Taylor.

A slightly larger gathering on Saturday was split into triples, with the successful trio being Ken Karran, Margaret Tasker and Philippa Taylor. Just missing out were Steve Parker, Alan Moore and Jo Smith, with third place going to Dave Kelly, Doug Allan and Tricia Bull.

As the league moves into the final stages and the leading two players on the same amount of fixtures played, it seems like an appropriate time to bring an update on the battle for the Derek Killey memorial trophy awarded to the winner of the individual merit.

With four to play Jenny Moore, Mooragh Lakers heads the list and just one point behind is John Kennish, Rule Breakers. Waiting in the wings for a slip by either and with six to play is Alec Taylor, Seven-Up.

Next come two former winners, Glynn Hargraves (Breakers) and Jordan Cain (Seven-Up), they are just in front of two Louie’s Angels players who are also split by only one point, Matthew Keggen holding the advantage over Margaret Tasker.

The top 20 based on averages from games played by their teams are:1. Jenny Moore (Mooragh Lakers) 20.94; 2. John Kennish (Rule Breakers) 20.89; 3.Alec Taylor (Seven-Up) 20.38; 4.Glynn Hargraves (Breakers) 20.22; 5.Jordan Cain (Seven-Up) 20.19; 6.Matthew Keggen (Louie’s Angels) 20.06; 7.Margaret Tasker (Angels) 20; 8.Sid Bolton (Castletown Corkers) 19.94; 9.Nigel Thomas (Bowling for Soup) 19.39; 10.Lyn Bolton (Corkers) 19.22; 11.Steve Parker (Lakers) 19.22; 12.Allan Cromwell (Govags) 18.88; 13.Stefan Kelly (Breakers) 18.56; 14.Kim Hargraves (Bits n Bobs) 18.39; 15.James Teare (Lakers) 17.89; 16.Geoff Mayles (Bits n Bobs) 17.78; 17.Philippa Taylor (Seven-Up) 17.44; 18.Kevin Quirk (Seven-Up) 17.38; 19.Patricia Bull (Angels) 17.38; 20. Rob Monk (Lakers) 17.06.