All to Play For – Marown A Make Their Move
In Ellan Vannin Fuels Division One the match of the week was undoubtedly the game at Crosby between Marown A and Peel A with the home team starting the match two points behind their opponents. The Crosby men made home advantage count as they reversed the result from the away fixture to win 8-2. The two winners for the visitors were Tom Kelly who stormed home 21-5 against Juan Killip, while George Gadsby just got over the line 21-20 against Matthew Keggen. Just losing out 19-21 were Peter Greenlees and Andy Kennish to Phil Kelly and Paul Kelly respectively. For the home team Neil Withers impressed with his 21-9 win over Tommy McMeiken, Colin Kelly beat Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly 21-10, while the two captains Paul Dunn and Gary Smith were up against each other with Dunn winning 21-15. John Gelling also picked up a win for his team as he beat Stevie Kelly 21-16. Marown have now crept up to second place and are well positioned for the run in with four of their five fixtures on their home green.
Noble’s A hosted league leaders South Ramsey A who extended their league with a 1-9 victory. Lone winner for the Noble’s men was Mark ‘Postie’ Quinn who delivered a resounding 21-12 win over Stefan Kelly. Next highest scorer for the home team was Sam Stannard-Duke who lost 14-21 against South Ramsey captain Glynn Hargraves. Winning to single figures for the visitors were Peter Collister, David Bradford, James Teare and Dave ‘Dido’ Kelly. Whilst South have a nine point lead they know all too well that a tough run in with away fixtures to Marown A, Peel A and Douglas A, their lead could soon slip away.
Peel B took one step closer to safety as they won 7-3 at home to Port St Mary A. For Peel captain Paul ‘Pooky’ Quirk won 21-9 against Will Cain, with team mate Dave Smith claiming the biggest win of the night 21-5 against Paul Russell. Port lost two games to 20-21 with Ray Watterson and Tom Collins on the wrong end of the result to Brian Lindsay and Robert Middleton respectively. For Port Robbie Cooil beat Michael Kavanagh 21-14, Wayne Roberts eased to a 21-11 win over Gordon Corrin, while Trevor Quayle had to fight for his 21-19 win over David Proctor.
Onchan A kept visitors Ballaugh A under 100 points as the visitors were well beaten 9-1. The only Ballaugh winner was Richard Hainge who is playing his first season in the top division with Hainge pulling off a stunning 21-11 win over Reginald Temporaza, who has proved a tough opponent for many bowlers this season. Four home winners ran out with single figure wins from Frank Watson, Phil Kerruish, Jordan Cain and Kevin Quirk.
North Ramsey A and Marown B battled it out at Mooragh Park with the home team winning 6-4 with only eight chalks separating the teams (145-137). The wins from the home team were comfortable. For the visitors Steve Wilson stepped in for the Crosby men, he impressed with his 21-15 win over Geoff Porter, Glenn Boland beat captain Gary Merrill 21-12, while John Kelly won 21-20 against Allan Callow.
Castletown A had a solid 7-3 home win over Douglas A. Winning for the visitors were the in-form Andy Cannell and Shaun Seal with comfortable wins, while Jimmy Sansom beat Town captain Ian Watson 21-19. Bob Clark recorded the best win for the home team with his 21-9 win over Merv Sayle, with Sam Clague, Nathan Hamilton and Aaron Richardson also taking good wins, while Dean Kinley beat Kevin Firth 21-19 in a close game.
In Division Two league leaders South Ramsey B bounced back from the previous weeks’ poor result as they won 10-0 at home to Finch Hill B with the result never in doubt with the highest scoring Finch Hill players reached 15 chalks. The visitors scored 65 chalks overall on the night, not helped by being a man short.
Port Erin A helped their cause for promotion with a good 8-2 win at Breagle Glen over Castletown B with three single figure wins from Peter Addison, Seamus Whelan and Harry Minor, whilst their other three wins they had to work for as Bernie Durcan beat Ross Moore 21-18, Ken Horsley won 21-19 against Ron Williams, while Derek Cadamy just snatched a 21-20 win against Peter Oates. The two losses for Port Erin could also have gone the other way with David Cain losing 19-21 to Collin Holland and Derek Allen was beat 20-21 by George Foy.
Onchan B are seven points further back on the league leaders with a game in hand following their 4-6 away win over Douglas B. The result could just as easily have ended up 2-8 to Onchan as they lost two games 20-21 with Will Penhallurick and Mike Kelly losing to William Cowley and Rob Matthews respectively. The match was one of the highest scoring games of the season with just five chalks separating the teams (149-154).
Port St Mary B had a tough time at home as they lost 2-8 to South Ramsey C. Their two winners were Peter Collins who beat Paul Routledge 21-15 and Derek Cain who won 21-10 against Tony Marler, while Nick Peterson lost 20-21 to South Ramsey captain Tony Hart. The visitors had two single figures winners with James Evans beating Andy Sykes 21-5, with team mate Andy Morgan winning 21-9 against Ray Maddrell.
Marown C carried the feel good factor from the Rayner Plate final into their home fixture with Peel C, with Walter McCarthy beating Phillip Clarke 21-2, Kevin Kelly won 21-17 against Alan Cromwell with captain Stephen Rundle having to dig deep to beat Harry Kelly 21-20. Winning for Peel were Mike Ashmole as he beat Jamie Joughin 21-14, while Kevin Mort beat Stephen Storey 21-16.
In Division Three Onchan C stayed in top spot with a five-point lead despite losing 7-3 away to Ballaugh B. The northern team do have a game in hand on the leaders and are well placed to return to the top of the league.
Port Erin B and Marown D played out a 5-5 draw at Breagle Glen as the visitors only won three games but took the chalks courtesy of a walkover which resulted in them taking the aggregate by just four chalks (133-137).
South Ramsey D lost 4-6 at home to Ballaugh C. For the Ballaugh men Nigel Tebay was relentless with his 21-2 win over Robert Snape. For the home team Jay Moore was the best winner as be won 21-8 against his Uncle Gordie Moore, while Junior player Ryan Hargraves recovered from a 11-18 deficit to run out with a 21-18 win over Richard Green.
Peel D kept visitors Douglas C to just 92 chalks as then won 8-2, thanks to three single figure wins, with Douglas getting one single figure win as Greg Brew won 21-8 against Owen Crompton.
Douglas D lost 3-7 at home to Noble’s B losing the aggregate by just six chalks (140-146). The home team wins came from Nick Firth, Juan Readshaw and David Cowley.