The final four teams made their first appearance of the campaign in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowls League on Saturday, with three of them notching up a win, whilst one leapt straight into second spot in the table. 

Both sides in the opening clash had new faces in their ranks, however it was last season’s runners-up, Mooragh Lakers, who were triumphant over Castletown Cannons. 

Some new members also took part in the next fixture, with one of them helping his new team, Bowl Rollers, to a five games to one victory over Erin Porters. 

After missing out on the title last season by just 13 points, Lakers will aim to go one better this time around and they began their challenge with an average of 119.5 after their second success of the day, when they beat Bowl Rollers. 

Erin Porters recovered well from their earlier defeat to go within two chalks of a full-house in an outing against Cannons who themselves averaged 98 points for the session. 

It was a good afternoon for the junior members in attendance, with all three of them recording a victory – Charlotte Peach (Cannons), Dylan Marsh (Porters) and Shannon McMullan (Lakers) all performed brilliantly. 

Results for Saturday, October 12: Castletown Cannons 90 (2), Mooragh Lakers 117 (4); Bowl Rollers 115 (5), Erin Porters 92 (1); Mooragh Lakers 122 (5), Bowl Rollers 102 (1); Erin Porters 124 (4), Castletown Cannons 106 (2). 

Sunday’s programme only went ahead after a discussion between the captains and officials, unfortunately the constant rain made for some tricky conditions, which obviously suited some players, but not others. 

Louie’s Angels took to the conditions like a duck to water and opened their session with a five games to one success over Parkers, dropping just six points along the way. 

Next up were Castletown Corkers and they will have been pleased to have taken one game off opponents Seven-Up who added 116 points to their overall tally. 

Fixture 15 on the list should have been a close battle between two teams capable of challenging at the top; however the Angels romped to victory over Seven-Up by a margin of 39 points. 

This result saw the winners leap from eighth to third, whilst the losers went in the opposite direction and slipped down to seventh position. 

The defeated sides in the first two fixtures then went head to head to complete the afternoon and it was Parkers who emerged as clear winners to leave their southern opponents at the foot of the table. 

There was only one junior competing on Sunday and Aalish Moore can be very proud of her contribution to the final totals for Castletown Corkers on a very wet green.  

Results for Sunday, October 13: Louie’s Angels 120 (5), Parkers 82 (1); Castletown Corkers 89 (1), Seven-Up 116 (5); Seven-Up 81 (1), Louie’s Angels 120 (5); Parkers 121 (5), Castletown Corkers 79 (1). 

The midweek round robin was played with an entry of 40 and they were split into three groups, two of which were triples, the other doubles. 

Sid McKnight and Lil Smith won their group ahead of Gill Jopson and Bryan Corner; whilst Peter Kelly, Alan Moore and Margaret Tasker triumphed by just one chalk; with their closest challengers being David Clucas, Bernie McPhee and Andy Sykes. 

The other victorious  trio were Elaine Moore, Shirley Whelan and George Brew, who pipped second placed Sue Gawne, Kevin Firth and Tricia Bull. 

Without a victory during the previous two seasons, Bits n Bobs made up for that in great style when they kicked off their campaign in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowls League with a maximum score to add to the 100 points recorded earlier in the afternoon.

They took full advantage of the fact that players can compete up to three times for any team, before choosing who they play for in their remaining 19 fixtures. A number of sides had to call upon reserves due to some members missing – either playing bowls at a competition in England or perhaps on holiday.

Game number one saw Bits n Bobs put up a good fight against Louie’s Angels, before going down by five games to one, with a score of 100-121; this while former champions Guns For Hire cruised to the first maximum win of the season against Castletown Corkers.

The two winners then went head to head with Guns For Hire almost having a perfect start after they recorded a five games to one success over the Angels and dropped just one point in the process.

Last outing of the afternoon saw Bits n Bobs halt a losing run of 55 fixtures, which spanned over four seasons and they did so in great style with a full-house of wins in their clash with Corkers.

Results for Saturday, October 5: Bits n Bobs 100 (1) Louie’s Angels 121 (5), Guns For Hire 126 (6) Castletown Corkers 67 (0), Louie’s Angels 95 (1) Guns For Hire 125 (5), Castletown Corkers 96 (0) Bits n Bobs 126 (6).

Sunday’s gang had two of last season’s top three competing, with third placed Seven-Up leaving with the best points tally, which was helped by a six chalks victory over champions Outsiders.

Outsiders began the defence of their title with a win over Parkers; whilst Seven-Up drafted in three replacement players, who helped them hit a good total of 124 points against Govags.

The two successful teams then battled out a three-all draw on games, with Seven-Up taking the vital chalks win to leave them with a 12 points advantage on the day over rivals Outsiders.

To complete the session Parkers and Govags fought hard in the closest fixture of the weekend, which ended in a share of the games and a win for Parkers, by a margin of only three points.

Results for Sunday, October 6: Outsiders 119 (5) Parkers 82 (1), Govags 86 (2) Seven-Up 124 (4), Seven-Up 113 (3) Outsiders 107 (3), Parkers 109 (3) Govags 106 (3).

A round robin took place on the Wednesday prior to the league commencing and 21 players competed in one group of triples.

Allan Kennaugh, Bernard Thackrah and Caroline Corlett emerged as winners, ahead of Gill Jopson, Terry Bates and Sue Gawne in second, with Andy Sykes, Ken Karran and Bryan Corner in third.