After a two week break of men’s night league fixtures, action got back underway in Canada Life International League Division One, with someone forgetting to tell the weather man it was June and not November.

League leaders Marown A made the short trip along the A1 out to Peel to take on their A Team on a windy evening across the island. With a five point lead the Crosby men were looking to extend their advantage at the top, however the men from the Sunset City had other ideas, as they inflicted a first league defeat of the season on their opponents 7-3. For the home team Peter Greenlees and Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly were the best winners as they won 21-10, with these two wins helping sealing the aggregate on chalks (146-134). Tommy McMeiken beat former teammate Tom Kelly 21-16, George Gadsby won 21-17 against Matthew Keggen, whilst Pip Pemberton caused the biggest upset of the night as he prevailed 21-18 against Manx Champion Neil Withers. For the visitors Peter Jones and Dean Kipling won 21-13 against David Proctor and Gary Smith respectively, with Marown captain Paul Dunn picking up their third win as he beat Stevie Kelly 21-15.

Taking full advantage of Marown’s defeat were South Ramsey A, who made the short journey across Ramsey to take on North Ramsey A at Mooragh Park, with the fixture being notoriously tough for visiting teams as proven by the Mooragh men going through the 2023 undefeated on games. The South men came away with a stunning 1-9 victory to jump ahead of Marown A by a point to hit top spot for the first time this season. Jordan Cain led the way with a 21-8 win over Steven Waters, with Stefan Kelly winning 21-9 against Gary Merrill. James Teare put in the performance of the night to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Rob Monk 21-10. Having to battle for their wins were David Bradford who prevailed 21-19 against Allan Callow, whilst Alan Moore won to the same score against Dave Moncaster, with the former trailing 18-8, a change in tactics saw Moore run out with a stunning 21-19 victory. Sparing the whitewash was Steve Walmsley who trailed 2-9 against Peter Collister, with the former going on to win 21-18.

Elsewhere Marown B had a solid 8-2 win at home to Port St Mary A, Douglas A beat Castletown A 7-3 at the Villa, whilst Onchan A came away from Crosby with a 1-9 victory over Marown C on Tuesday evening.

In Division Two Peel B stayed top with a 4-6 away win over Finch Hill A, whilst second placed South Ramsey B closed the gap to six points following a 10-0 whitewash over North Ramsey B. Ballaugh A occupy third place, however they lost ground on South Ramsey B as they won 3-7 away to Onchan B. Port Erin A were just three chalks off a maximum win as they won 9-1 at home to Noble’s A, whilst Castletown B continue their recovery from a poor start to the season as they won 6-4 at home to Douglas B.

In Division Three Noble’s B, D and C lead the way – in that order with the B Team defeating South Ramsey C 7-3. Noble’s D jumped ahead of their C Team as they won 9-1 at home to Onchan C, whilst the C Team suffered a 7-3 defeat away to Peel C. Elsewhere Port St Mary B won 8-2 at Breagle Glen against Marown D, whilst Ballaugh B came away with an 8-2 win over South Ramsey D.

In Division Four Ballaugh C look to be running away with the title as they extended their lead at the top to 17 points following a 9-1 home win over Douglas D, with new boys North Ramsey C winning 7-3 at home to Peel D, whilst Finch Hill B winning 7-3 at home to Noble’s E.

Rayner Shield

All four ties of the quarter finals of the Plumbmaster sponsored Rayner Shield took place on Wednesday evening with Castletown A seeing off Onchan C 8-0 at the Crofts. Marown C progressed to the semi-finals for a second consecutive year as they beat Peel C 6-2 at Crosby. Favourites South Ramsey A progressed thanks to a 5-3 home win in a tough game against Onchan A. In a somewhat bizarre event North Ramsey A thought they had gone into the draw for the semi-finals with a 5-3 win (chalks 137-115) at home to an under strength Marown B only to discover that a player they had called upon to help out had already featured for another team in an earlier round of the competition. This swung the result in favour of Marown B, with the score 4-4 on games chalks became the deciding factor, as the 21-10 home win became a 0-21 result for the vistors to win by 10 chalks (116-126).

Rayner Plate

In the Plumbmaster Rayner Plate the highest ranked team Peel A easily overcame a 25 chalk deficit away to Noble’s A as they won all eight games to win by 56 chalks (127-183). Finch Hill A made light work of Port St Mary B as they won 7-1 to overturn a 40 chalk deficit at home to win by 16 chalks (195-179). Ballaugh B and Onchan B started off the same handicap, however home advantage paid off for the Ballaugh men as despite drawing 4-4 on games they won by nine chalks (182-173). The final fixture was played the following evening in much harsher conditions, following heavy rain throughout the day and during the match as the visitors South Ramsey C had just a five chalk lead against Marown D, however the Ramsey men progressed into the next round thanks to a 21 chalk victory (182-203) with the games tied 4-4 there was little to choose between the two teams.

Marown Bowling Club hosted the Henry Kissack Memorial Trophy on Sunday attracting an entry of 47, down on last years’ entry of 56, however there was a good quality of bowlers in the field, who were treated to a top quality playing surface.

With the rain setting in before the quarter finals, losing out in the quarter finals were Glynn Hargraves (South Ramsey) 18-21 to Onchan man Matthew Quirk, with the latter getting himself out of trouble when lying two down at 17-18 to score two himself, going on to run out with a 21-18 win. Glenn Boland scored just three chalks against Marown team mate Colin Kelly as the former lost 6-21. Mike Hargraves (Castletown) made a rare appearance at an open, however the 82 year old lost out 10-21 in his third game to home greener Neil Withers, whilst Andy Kennish (Marown) held off Marown A team captain Paul Dunn 21-18.

The semi-finals were very one-sided affairs as Quirk shown the form he was in, beating Colin Kelly to single figures as he romped home 21-8. In the other semi-final this ended up the same score as Withers eased his way into the final as he beat Kennish.

The final started with Quirk the favourite, despite having not previously won a men’s singles competition, due to the form he had displayed throughout the afternoon, having defeated three fellow island players en route to the final (Peter Jones/Glynn Hargraves/Colin Kelly).

The early ends saw Quirk take a 7-3 lead over the Marown man, with Withers closing the deficit to just one chalk at 6-7. Quirk then took control of the game to lead 14-7, extending this further to 19-12 playing to the crown and back to the corner, with good quality bowls from both players. Withers took four consecutive singles to put the deficit at just three chalks (16-19). A good lead from Withers was beaten by a great bowl from the Onchan man to put himself with touching distance of the title. Withers had other ideas as two singles, with a close measure going in his favour made it three consecutive singles to put himself right in the mix with the score now 19-20.

A good lead from Withers approximately six inches to the side of the jack was nearly beaten by Quirk’s first bowl. Withers was unable to make two due to where Quirks’s bowl sat, there was quite a bit of danger. Quirk’s last bowl was sent right down the track, as the Onchan man made sure he was up as he had two shots to play – promoting his own bowl onto the jack, or to sit out Withers counting bowl, with the latter option being taken, with a great last bowl to settle a good quality final for a 21-19 win. This was Quirk’s first men’s singles open competition, having suffered heartbreak in a number of finals over the years, this success was more than deserved beating four fellow Island team players on his way to winning.

The presentation was made by competition secretary Brian Kelly, who thanked the club members for assisting throughout the day, the team in the kitchen for the refreshments and the green keeper for preparing the green. Marown President Peter Kelly then presented the prizes. In his speech Matthew stated it was his first men’s singles opens win and he was delighted to have won the competition.

Week six of fixtures took place in Canada Life International Division One on Monday evening in much needed glorious conditions.

The upset of the week arrived on Tuesday evening as Peel A took on Marown C at Crosby, with the home picking up a timely first victory of the season as they won 7-3. For the home team John Kelly and Darren Kerruish picked up their first wins of the season, beating Tommy McMeiken and Peter Greenlees respectively, Sid Bolton trounced Gary Smith 21-4, with Walter McCarthy also winning to single figures as he beat Stevie Kelly 21-7. The result took the Marown men off the foot of the table by a point, jumping above Port St Mary A.

Marown A extended their lead at the top once again as they came away from the Villa with a 2-8 win over Douglas A, with two of their players having to dig deep to get over the line as Colin Kelly beat April Player of the Month Gordy Wynne-Smythe 21-17, with Dean Kipling pushed all the way before prevailing against Stuart Garrett 21-20. Three of the wins for the visitors were to single figures, whilst the two wins for the home team were 21-14 as Andy Cannell beat Glenn Boland, and Merv Sayle won against Tom Kelly.

South Ramsey A visited Breagle Glen to take on Port St Mary A on an unexpectedly tricky green, as the home team took three points in their 3-7 defeat. Trevor Quayle recovered from a 3-12 deficit to beat Dido Kelly 21-15, Wayne Roberts beat South captain Glynn Hargraves 21-16, and Robbie Cooil held off Peter Collister 21-17. The visitors had three wins to single figures, with Stefan Kelly getting over the line 21-17 against Juan Hargraves.

Onchan A had a tricky looking fixture away to Marown B, so it proved with 11 chalks separating the teams (140-151) as the Onchan men won 3-7. Sam Clague did enough to beat Jamie Clague for the Crosby men, whilst for the visitors Steve Parker beat Karl Parker 21-19, with Peter Slinger sneaking home 21-20 against Kevin Kelly.

Castletown A came away from their game with North Ramsey A at Mooragh Park with a 7-3 defeat, which could have been 9-1 to the home team as Town captain Jordan Drewett beat Steve Walmsley 21-20, with Dean Kinley repeating the trick as he held off Dave Moncaster to the same score.

In Division Two Noble’s A caused an upset away to second placed side South Ramsey B, as they won 4-6 edging the aggregate by five chalks (134-139). The four winners for the visitors were Alex Yates who beat James Evans 21-10, John Andrew won 21-8 against George Brew, Juan Qualtrough cruised home 21-12 against Christian Caley, whilst Jim Callister just got over the line 21-20 against Toby Hart. For the home team Alan Moore won 21-4 against John Short.

Peel B show no sign of taking their foot off the gas, as they disposed of fourth placed team Douglas B 9-1 to stretch their lead at the top to 10 points after just six games, as they look to reclaim their first division status, with three players winning close games to 17, 19 and 20. Steve Cook was the lone winner for the Villa men as he beat David Smith 21-13.

Ballaugh A sit in third place, will have been disappointed to come away from Finch Hill A with a 6-4 defeat, as they lost the aggregate by 16 chalks (144-128).

Castletown B finally got their season underway with their first win of the season, which they did in style with their 9-1 home win over North Ramsey B at the Crofts, the visitors scored just 77 chalks, with the Town men winning four games to single figures.

Nobles B continue to set the pace in Division Three, however they were tested by Marown D this week as they were held to a 4-4 draw on games, only managing to edge the aggregate to secure a 6-4 win by two chalks (148-146) in a high scoring match, with only two wins to single figures, one for each team.

Noble’s C are hot on the heels of their B team, as they beat their D Team 7-3, with 11 chalks between them (146-135), with Paul Clinton the biggest winner for the C as he won 21-5 against Paul Moore.

South Ramsey C were held to a 4-4 draw at home to Onchan C, with the aggregate going in favour of the home team by a margin of 14 chalks to seal a 6-4 win.

Peel C lost 3-5 on games at home to Ballaugh B, however two single figure victories from James Lee and Andy Jackson helped salvage a draw as they won the aggregate by 13 chalks (146-133).

Port St Mary B welcomed South Ramsey D to Breagle Glen with the home side coming away with an 8-2 win.

In Division Four Douglas D picked up their first win of the season as they beat Peel D 6-4 at home. Castletown C went one better as they also claimed their first win of the season with an 8-2 home win over Douglas C.

Two newly formed teams North Ramsey C and Noble’s E clashed at Mooragh Park with the home team claiming an 8-2 victory, as the visitors missed out on reaching 100 chalks by just two chalks.

Onchan Bowling Club hosted the Association Cup on Sunday afternoon with the competition sponsored by Plumbmaster attracting 41 entries this year. The weather was glorious throughout the day.

Losing out at the quarter final stage were Marown’s Matthew Keggen 17-21 to South Ramsey’s Glynn Hargraves, Colin Kelly (Marown) was comfortably beaten 12-21 by fellow left hander Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary). In the other half of the draw South Ramsey’s David Bradford won 21-8 against Wayne Roberts (Port St Mary), whilst Paul Dunn beat Marown club mate Juan Killip 21-10.

The semi-finals were two very different stories with Quayle taking an early lead8-4 only for Hargraves to run out with a 21-9 win to take his place in the final. In the other semi-final Bradford and Dunn who contested last year’s final drew level five times, with Bradford making the first move to take an 18-14 lead. Dunn had to dig deep to finish strongly with two doubles and three singles in between a great bowl from Bradford to level up at 19-19 as the Marown captain edged home 21-19.

The final got underway with both players intent on picking up the title for the first time, it was Dunn who started strongly to take an early 11-6 lead. Hargraves drew back to within two chalks at 9-11, however Dunn picked up five consecutive singles to build up a 16-9 lead. Three singles over four ends from the South Ramsey man put the score at 12-17, however Dunn got back in to finish with a single, his second double of the final and a single to see out a well-deserved 21-12 victory to go one better than 2023.

The presentation was made by Competition Secretary Matthew Keggen, who thanked Plumbmaster for sponsoring the competition, Onchan Bowling Club for hosting, the club members for providing helpers and refreshments throughout the day.