Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Nobles Bowling Club was the venue chosen to host the inaugural 3R’s Limited sponsored Association Non Winners Cup on Sunday afternoon with the competition open to those who had never won a Men’s singles open previously, with 29 players entering to take their chance to win their first open.

Losing quarter finalists were 17 year old Toby Hart (South Ramsey) who lost 17-21 to Marown’s Walter McCarthy, Tim Williams (Port St Mary) was well beaten 11-21 by Willie Cowley (Douglas), while home greener Jay Elliott battled hard before losing out 17-21 to Glenn Boland (Marown), with Ballaugh man Peter Corlett having his run ended by former home greener Les Brookes (Finch Hill) with a 11-21 defeat.

Both semi-finals were well contested with Cowley just edging it 21-20 against McCarthy, while Boland booked his place in the final with a 21-19 victory over Brookes.

The final got underway with Boland starting as favourite having played for longer than his opponent, also with a number of Junior titles to his name having won the Junior Manx Championship and Junior Manx Masters on more than one occasion. His opponent Cowley will not have been phased by the occasion, himself being a well known referee in local football over the years. It was Boland who took control of the final as he played corner to crown and back against his fellow left hander to keep Cowley down to scoring just four chalks throughout the game to take a well deserved 21-9 win and his first Men’s open title.

At the conclusion of play the presentation was made by Association Competition Secretary Matthew Keggen who thanked 3R’s Limited for the sponsorship, Noble’s for hosting the competition, the players for entering, and all who came to support.