The final stages of the Canada Life International Manx Championship were played at Castletown Bowling Club on Sunday afternoon, with the qualifying rounds having taken place the previous weekend in very wet conditions, which improved as the afternoon went on. Better weather was experienced this week for an afternoon of bowls in front of a good crowd.

Last 16 Results

Ian Watson	10	21	Glynn Hargraves
Tom Kelly	21	11	Paul Quirk
Peter Slinger	21	5	Peter Jones
Peter Collister	21	12	Matthew Keggen
Matthew Quirk	13	21	David Bradford
Colin Kelly	21	11	Stevie Kelly
Bob Clark	17	21	Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly
Neil Withers	21	6	Stephen Rundle

Losing out at the quarter final stage were Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey) who led for the entire game, only to lose out 20-21 to Tom Kelly (Marown), with the difference ultimately being Kelly scoring five two’s to his opponents four doubles. Onchan captain Peter Slinger had the measure of Peter Collister (South Ramsey) with a resounding 21-6 win. Current holder going into the day David Bradford was the third South Ramsey man to lose out at the quarter final stage with Colin Kelly (Marown) winning 21-17 as the latter scored five doubles to his opponents two, whilst Neil Withers (Marown) progressed to the final with a hard fought 21-18 win over Peel man Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly.

At the semi-final stage Tom Kelly mastered the corner/crown mark to build a six chalk lead at 20-14 over Slinger, before conceding a double and a single then securing the point he needed to reach his first final. Withers looked to have a game on his hands with Colin Kelly, however he gained his revenge over Kelly for the recent Ballacashtal Cup final defeat with a resounding 21-12 victory.

The final got underway with Withers, starting as favourite having one previous Manx Championship and a Isle of Man Festival title under his belt, he started the stronger as he played the length that had served him well throughout the day to go seven chalks ahead after nine ends with the score at 10-3.

The next two ends went in favour of Kelly, who picked up a two and a single as he headed for a corner, only for Withers to get back in with a double. After the 13th end Withers maintained his seven point lead with the score now 13-6.

The rain arrived for a brief period as Withers shifted up a gear to go within touching distance of the title as he shot into a 19-11 lead. Kelly had to dig deep to drag himself back into the game as he bowled two great bowls to win the end, followed by another good end as he went on to win four successive ends, picking up three doubles along the way to put the score at 18-19.

With all to play for Kelly went back along the edge of the green, with his first bowl a good length Withers stepped in with his first bowl which pulled up quickly to rest 18 inches away from the jack. Kelly’s second bowl looked to be on a good track, somehow it went through the gap between the jack and Withers counting bowl. Withers who was safe in the knowledge that he was counting for one settled himself as he took a deep breath to send his second bowl to make two to claim his second Manx Championship victory with a hard fought 21-18 win. This second win arrives 14 years after his previous win at Marown in 2009.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Matthew Keggen who thanked Castletown Bowling Club for preparing the green, providing the refreshments and measurers. In his speech Withers dedicated the win to his Mother Pat who sadly passed away last year. Withers and Kelly along with play off qualifier Peter Slinger all qualify to represent the Isle of Man on Saturday 29th July at Heaton Park BC in Manchester in the Senior Individual Merit.

Another double week of fixtures took place across all three divisions this week in the Canada Life International sponsored bowling leagues.

In Division One league leaders South Ramsey A had a good week with two 9-1 victories. Monday’s win was away to Peel B, with the most notable result of the evening coming from South Ramsey captain Glynn Hargraves who fought back from an 8-19 deficit to run out with a 21-19 win over Dewi Bartlett to ensure further points weren’t dropped for his team. Alan Moore had to dig in for his 21-17 win over Andy Mackie, whilst Dougie Allan shown once more how hard he is to shift with a 21-11 win over James Teare to secure a point for the home team.

With South Ramsey A missing two regulars on Friday evening the result at home to rock bottom Castletown A could quite easily have been 7-3, with Ben Dugdale in a battle with David Quayle, before eventually winning 21-16, whilst James Teare returned to winning ways with a 21-18 win over Aaron Richardson who performed well in the second half of the game to recover from a 10-17 deficit. Winning to single figures for South Ramsey were David Bradford, Bob Clark and Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly. The lone winner for the Town men was Nathan Hamilton who beat Alan Moore 21-12.

Marown A matched the leaders on Monday evening as they beat Port St Mary A 9-1 at Crosby. Neil Withers also made a good comeback as he trailed Trevor Quayle 10-17, battling back to win 21-20, whilst Glenn Boland got over the line 21-18 against Chris Oates. Four single figure wins arrived from Paul Dunn, Colin Kelly, Peter Jones and John Gelling, whilst Port St Mary captain Wayne Roberts prevented the whitewash with a 21-13 win over Phil Kelly.

On Friday evening Marown A travelled to Mooragh Park to take on North Ramsey A, with the visitors missing four regulars they had to draft players in from other teams. Winning comfortably for the visitors were Peter Jones and Colin Kelly, whilst Neil Withers and Matthew Keggen had it easier still as they both won to single figures to ensure the chalks were safe (122-136) for the aggregate. For the home team Paul Allison beat Karl Parker 21-12, Steve Walmsley beat Juan Killip 21-11, which Rob Monk matched as he beat Paul Kelly. The fourth win for the Mooragh men was from John Cannan who beat Dean Kipling 21-18, in a result that could prove quite damaging to the Crosby men’s title hopes.

Elsewhere Onchan A played out a 5-5 draw at Mooragh Park on Monday evening with the home team winning the five games, however the aggregate went in favour of the visitors who had two single figure wins.

On Friday evening Onchan A and Peel A battled it out, with the visitors performing well to take a solid 3-7 away victory helped by three single figure wins for the visitors from Philip Pemberton, Dean Kinley and Gary Smith over Mike Thomas, Reg Temporaza and Jamie Clague respectively. Tommy McMeiken just edged past Neil Dunwell 21-20, with George Gadsby beating Will Penhallurick 21-16. Winning for the home team were Peter Slinger, Kevin Quirk and Matthew Quirk, with the latter inflicting a first league defeat of the season on Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly.

South Ramsey B picked up seven points this week as they lost 3-7 at home to Peel A on Monday night, with Tony Hart, Toby Hart and Tony Dugdale all winning, whilst a 6-4 away defeat to Peel B on Friday was not too damaging to their hopes of staying up, with Lee Dawson, Eddie Carlyle, Tony Hart and Toby Hart all winning.

Douglas A had a good week picking up an 8-2 home win on Monday evening, then came through a tough home game for a 6-4 home win over Marown B on Friday night.

Marown C had a positive week picking up 11 points, following a close 4-6 defeat to Marown B losing the aggregate by just four chalks (137-141), whilst a 7-3 home victory was claimed by a closer margin of two chalks (139-137) over relegation rivals Port St Mary A.

In Division Two Finch Hill A sit in top spot by eight points following their 2-8 away win to Peel C, whilst a home 6-4 win over second placed Port Erin A kept the visitors at arm’s length.

Port Erin A did start their week in red hot form as they inflicted a 9-1 defeat over Ballaugh A at Breagle Glen to damage the visitors hopes for promotion.

Third placed Castletown had an up and down week, starting brightly with a 7-3 home win over Douglas B, then slipped to a disastrous 4-6 home defeat to Noble’s A.

North Ramsey B took a solid 8-2 home win over Onchan B, then slipped to a 4-6 home defeat to Ballaugh A as they lost the aggregate by three chalks (139-142).

South Ramsey C won 6-4 at home to Noble’s B on Tuesday evening, claiming the aggregate by just two chalks (139-137) then slipped to a 2-8 home defeat against Onchan B two days later.

Onchan C remain 11 points adrift of safety as they suffered two 2-8 away defeats, firstly away to Noble’s A, then Noble’s B repeated the trick on Friday night.

Peel C had a better end to the week as they beat Douglas B 8-2 at home with just nine chalks separating the sides (142-131).

In Division Three Port St Mary B sit top following an 8-2 home win to South Ramsey D, then went one better later in the week as they beat Noble’s C 9-1 at Breagle Glen.

Ballaugh B are hot on their heels, sitting just a point behind the Port men as they beat Marown D 7-3 at home, then won their second home fixture of the week as they won 9-1 against Douglas C.

Noble’s D will be happy with their weeks work after two away games beating Douglas D 1-9, then winning 3-7 against Ballaugh C.

South Ramsey D had their second trip of the week to Breagle Glen, this time facing Port Erin B as the visitors made the long trek home with a 4-6 victory (134-149).

Douglas D did manage to pick up their third league win of the season as they beat Peel D 8-2 at the Villa.

Peel D pulled off a good 4-6 away win to Finch Hill B on Tuesday evening, with the Finch men having a tough week as they went on to lose 8-2 to Marown D at Crosby.