South Bounce back against title rivals
Four of the top five teams clashed this week, with Marown A making the trip down South from Crosby to take on Port St Mary A, which has been a happy hunting ground for Marown for a number of years. It wasn’t such a happy journey home this time, with Port St Mary A winning 7-3. For the home team Trevor Quayle, Paul Skelly, Ewan Cooil and Rob Cooil all had fairly comfortable wins, whilst Dan McCabe managed to get over the line 21-20, when it looked like defeat was certain. McCabe came back from a few points behind to defeat Paul Dunn. For the visitors Neil Withers and Colin Kelly won, with Matthew Keggen doing enough to win 21-19 over Juan Hargraves.
League leaders South Ramsey A hosted Onchan A, with the home team keen to get over the disappointment of their first defeat of the season, whilst Onchan were looking to close the gap. The home team had other ideas taking a 9-1 victory over the visitors with David Bradford, Stefan Kelly and Alan Moore all winning to single figures, whilst John Kennish and Chas Grills also won comfortably. Peter Collister had to work hard to hold off Rob Monk, winning 21-17, whilst Glynn Hargraves saved game at 19-19 with Jordan Cain, and then won the next end to secure the victory 21-19. The lone winner for Onchan was Kevin Quirk, who inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Dido Kelly 21-13.
Peel A held onto second place in the league, and extended the gap on the teams below them following a 9-1 home win against bottom of the table Douglas B, which could have been worse for the visitors with the home team missing out on a 10-0 maximum by a solitary point with Jimmy Samson defeating Gary Smith 21-20.
Douglas A bounced back following last week’s loss to Onchan A, defeating visitors Castletown A 8-2, with Douglas only six chalks away from a 10-0 maximum, with two of the visiting players coming close to winning.
Castletown B made the most of their home advantage over South Ramsey B, winning 8-2 and in doing so moved eight points clear of the relegation zone and closed the gap on the teams above them.
Ballaugh A have now won four of their last five games over the teams closest to them in the table to pull even further clear of danger, following their 7-3 home win over Port Erin A.
In the second division league leaders Onchan B took apart visitors Port St Mary B with a 9-1 victory, the only winner for the visitors was Ray Watterson winning 21-5 over Peter Wallis.
Second placed Marown B came away from Mooragh Park, with a 6-4 victory over North Ramsey B to keep their promotion hopes alive. There is now a considerable gap developing between the top two and the rest.
Jekyll and Hyde team Finch Hill A visited Noble’s A and had a good 8-2 win, whilst Port Erin B continue to impress, following their 7-3 home victory over Peel B.
Noble’s B had a tough looking trip to Port St Mary C, however they came away with a 7-3 victory, to keep in touch with the top two and stay ahead of their A Team.
The bottom two teams Douglas C and Onchan C took each other on at the Villa, with the home team winning their first game of the season 8-2, to give them a massive boost, and in doing so the result lifted them off the foot of the table and above their opposition on the night.
On Tuesday evening in the third division South Ramsey C had a good 7-3 home win over close rivals Peel C, to maintain their position at the top of the table, whilst Peel D took on South Ramsey D in the sunset city with Peel doing enough to take a 6-4 home win.
Finch Hill B are still struggling to pick up the points, after the visit of Castletown C who came away with a 7-3 win, whilst Nobles C were at home to Ballaugh B, with the home team winning 7-3. Ballaugh C had a strong 9-1 home win over Douglas D, with Greg Brew being the only winner for the visitors.