Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Port St Mary have won the Jean Kelly Memorial Trophy for the third time defeating South Ramsey by 5 chalks.

With South Ramsey starting with a 5 point handicap Port St Mary needed to get out of the traps early and Trish Bull got them off to a flying start winning 21-3. South replied first with a 21-12 win for Gill Dixon against Katy Williams before Elaine Moore and Fiona Kennish won to 16 and 15 respectively. Jayne Kneen completed the first 5 jacks winning 21-14 against Shelly Kennish meaning at the halfway stage the match was all square at 85 points each.

Jenny Moore was first off the second half with a brilliant 21-13 win over Margaret Tasker before Alison Keggen hit back with a 21-10 win meaning Port had a slender 3 point advantage with two games left on the green.

Both teams knew they were in for a tight finish with Lyn Bolton 19-17 up on Wyn Collister and Val Macfarlane level pegging with Jill Quayle in the mid-teens. Winnie battle hard but Lyn came off winning 21-19 and all the attention turned to the final game between Jill and Val who were both playing well under pressure. The game rocked back and forth but Val managed the crucial break away beating Jill to 17 and securing a 5 chalk victory for Port St Mary.

Both set of players should be commended for the standard of bowling on what was a well prepared and good playing surface at Onchan. South Ramsey will go home having won the battle on games but Port St Mary won the war and picked up the trophy on what was the closest final for a number of years.

At the conclusion of the competition Pat Robinson (Ladies President) thanked Heather Horsburgh for running the sheet and Moore Kelly and his family for the prizes and lovely food for the players and spectators.