Although there were no maximums in the Trend sponsored over 60’s league on Tuesday 21 July two teams came very close. Carol Kaye spared Port Erin’s blushes as her 21-20 win against Maureen Payne denied Onchan A a full house, while Roma Ware’s 21-19 win over Wendy Kennaugh prevented a whitewash for Port St Mary B. In contrast only two points separated Villa and Castletown in a match that ended level on games with each team having a win to single figures, courtesy of Pat Kelly and Ann Hollingworth. Mooragh Park and Douglas ended level on games, with Moira Anderson winning to single figures for the home side as did Lynne Mansley and Jan Osborne for the visitors, giving Douglas the advantage on points. Nobles put on a strong performance at Peel winning five of the six games, Joyce Kelly being the lone winner for the home side. Onchan B also won five games on their trip to Breagle. The home side fought well and all reached double figures, Kay Primrose- Smith winning to single figures and Gwen Tuck reaching 20 against Eileen Killey, to take their total past the 100 mark. The match at Ballaugh also ended 3-3, with Ann Gale for the home side and Mary Alderson for the visitors winning to single figures. Peggy Griffin and Mary Black had quite a tussle with Peggy coming through 21-20.

Two games in the first round of the JMS Veterans’ Shield took place on Thursday 16 July, both being very close when the handicaps came into play. At Marown, Port St Mary A won six of the seven games, the lone winner for the home side being Mary Alderson. Battling performances by Shirley Whelan, reaching 19 against Margaret Tasker and Celia Joughin, just losing out 20-21 to Tricia Bull made things tense, with the score before handicap giving Port St Mary a comfortable win. However, adding in Marown’s 25 point handicap meant that the visitors came through by a mere two points.

In the second match things were closer on match play, Port Erin leading 4-3 on games. Jenny Maddrell won to single figures for Ballaugh, while Jackie Elliott and Peggy Griffin’s game could have gone either way, Jackie coming through 21-20. On straight points Ballaugh had a 121-115 advantage, but the handicap made it too close for comfort, Port Erin’s extra five points had Ballaugh winning by a single chalk.

ROUND 1: MAROWN 137, PORT ST MARY A 139:

Handicap 25, Handicap 0; Shirley Whelan 19, Margaret Tasker 21; Mary Alderson 21, Kath Looney 13; Margaret Scarffe 5, Val Macfarlane 21; Mary Black 15, Wendy Kennaugh 21; Celia Joughin 20, Tricia Bull 21; Maureen Quilliam 17, Wyn Collister 21; Bunty Corkhill 15, Rita Callister 21;

PORT ERIN 140, BALLAUGH 141:

Handicap 25, Handicap 20; Carol Kaye 21, Ann Gale 14; Jean Thackrah 6, Jenny Maddrell 21; Mavis Franks 21, Jane Teare 10; Jacqui Elliott 21, Peggy Griffin 20; Sylvia Shelbourne 21, Mary Simmonds 14; Voirrey Curphey 13, Voirrey Oates 21; Audrey Gardner 12, Ellie Faragher 21;

Three teams reached the 120 point mark in the Trend sponsored over 60’s ladies’ league on Tuesday 14 July. Top scorers were Port St Mary A posting yet another maximum, this time at Marown. Mary Black came closest to preventing the full house reaching 20 against Kath Looney. Castletown won five games against Peel Sunset, with Jean Quine preventing a whitewash for the visitors, while in a high scoring game at Port Erin, Ballaugh won four games to reach 120 points. A feature of the match was the game between the two Voirreys, Voirrey Oates just pipping Voirrey Curphey 21-20.Lynne Mansley was the only winner for Douglas against Onchan A, Sue Caley almost giving them a second game as she reached 19 against Flo Kelly. At Nobles Lin Ruscoe won to single figures as did Lilian Slinger for Mooragh Park, whose other winner was Mary Kinrade. The other two matches were much closer, Onchan B just having a one chalk advantage over Villa, who were a player short. In the match between southern neighbours, Port St Mary B had a two point advantage against Breagle in a match that ended level on games.