On a dry but cool evening there were few surprises in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league, although despite every team passing the 100 point mark, there was a big disparity in the scores in several of the matches.

The closest encounter saw Mooragh Park come through 163-141 at Marown. Two games went all the way, Pat Withers coming through 21-20 against Aalish Haworth being balanced by Helen Martin edging out Mary Alderson by the same score. It was a similar scoreline at Purt le Moirrey, with the away side winning 163-139. Tracy Moore won to single figures for the home side as did Sylvia Kennaugh for the visitors. Onchan had two winners on their visit to Port Erin in Marilyn Ellison and Jo Smith, but Port Erin were ruthless in winning 5 of their 7 games to single figures. Although Peel Sunset fought hard, they were only able to take one game of South Ramsey, courtesy of Mary Moffatt, while Douglas managed to take two games of Port St Mary, their winners being Paula Garrett and Brenda Williams. Five of the champion’s wins were to single figures. Christine Macdonald and Voirrey Oates were the two winners for Ballaugh at Castletown, with Pat Mason getting close to adding a third, reaching 18 against Kim Foy.

The ladies’ night league, sponsored once again by C Tarleton Hodgson, had it’s first matches, in fine weather, on Wednesday 5 April. It is nice to see Onchan fielding a team, but it is a pity that luck was not with them when the fixtures were made, as they started their campaign against Castletown, at Castletown – a start that no team in the league would welcome !! The home side posted a maximum with only three of the visitors reaching double figures. Re-building is never easy, as Mooragh Park can confirm, but perseverance will bring reward in the long term. Douglas were another team to struggle as they played host to South Ramsey, who will surely be contenders again this year. The visitors won eight games, seven of them to single figures, the sole winner for Douglas being Paula Garrett. Champions Port St Mary were on fine form against their near neighbours, Purt le Moirrey, winning 6-3 on games with none of their players scoring less than 17 points. It was a strange match at Noble’s, with most of the games being a little one sided. The home side won 6-3 on games and a large points margin. The only close game saw Mavis Franks come through 21-18 against Paula Firth. Marown had the better of Ballaugh in a low-scoring game, winning 5-4 on games with three wins to single figures, while this year Peel have made a cagey start with a game that could so easily have been a draw, winning by one point and 5-4 on games with Maureen Lacey (Wright) so nearly reversing that as she reached 20 against Rose Corfield.

It was Noble’s turn to score a maximum as Onchan, still finding their feet, had only one player reach double figures. Marown have started strongly, losing only one game against Douglas, with Paula Garrett once again spoiling the party for the opposing team, while Castletown showed the value of fighting for every point as they dropped just six points in losing three games. Ann Gale and Christine Macdonald both won at Port St Mary, but their having to give a game away and the home side winning four games to single figures meant Port St Mary ended with a large points advantage. Caroline Parker spared Mooragh Park’s blushes winning their only game to single figures, as South Ramsey won the other eight games, five of them to single figures. Peel Sunset continued as they left off on Wednesday, sneaking a win 5-4 on games and a margin of 7 points. Rose Corfield came through 21-20 for the second time of the week, this time against Phil Dobson.

The final scheduled matches in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies league were played on Friday 19 August and despite losing to South Ramsey Port St Mary are once again league champions. Second place still hangs in the balance as two matches postponed from earlier in the season have still to be played. The match between Peel Sunset and Mooragh Park will have little impact on the overall table, but South Ramsey need to score 163 against Nobles (not an easy task!) to overtake Castletown for second place.

With a game still to play, Jenny Moore looks to be favourite for the league merit but strange things do happen and it is not yet cut and dried.

South Ramsey and Nobles both put in strong performances this week, South having a 5-4 win over Port St Mary, with a comfortable points difference, while Nobles were ruthless against Douglas who failed to pass the 100 point mark. Brenda Williams was the only winner for the visitors, denying the home side a full house. Onchan were once again three players short, although the six they fielded fought well with four wins, a 19 and Barbara Kennaugh’s 20 against Celia Joughin. It can only be hoped that they will be able to find some new players over the winter and come back next year with all guns blazing ! Top scorers of the week were Purt le Moirrey against Mooragh Park, who were also a player short, Caroline Parker being the fly in their ointment when she denied them a full house.

There were just four matches played on Friday 5 August as ladies’ wanted to watch their men’s teams in the Rayner Cup final. Unfortunately the match at Port St Mary went ahead, the league leaders being in devastating form and taking all nine games against a hapless Peel Sunset. The westerners fought well to all reach double figures and despite not winning a game reached a respectable score. Ballaugh were in charge against Castletown in a relatively low scoring match, winning 5-4 on games with Ann Gale and Jenny Maddrell winning to single figures, as did Hannah Drewett for the visitors. Port Erin fell just short of the 180 points on their travels to play Mooragh Park, winning 7 games, three to single figures. The two winners for the home side were Helen Martin and Janet Monk while Purt le Moirrey’s visit to Marown was worthwhile as they won 5-4 on games and had a sizeable points difference.

Castletown came back fighting after last week’s match against Port St Mary, in the C Tarleton Hodgson sponsored ladies’ league on Wednesday 3 August, being the night’s top scorers against Mooragh Park, who put up a creditable performance, with three wins and a 20 from Gill Morgan against Anne Oates. League leaders, Port St Mary, won 6 games, two to single figures, and had a 20 from Margaret Tasker against Jackie Elliott. Port Erin’s other two winners were a ruthless Carol Kaye and Mavis Franks. Onchan were unfortunately able to field only six players, and with the home winning four games to single figures it would be fair to say it was not Onchan’s night. However good wins by Rita Callan and Maureen Payne kept the home sides total in check. With Purt le Moirrey winning 5 games and Nobles 4, and a 20 from Sonja Lees against Brenda Hawkard, things could not have been much closer in this high scoring game, which the home side took by 4 points. Although the scores were lower at Marown the match was also tight, with Peel ending 5 points ahead despite winning just three games. Ballaugh won four games to single figures to give them a big points lead despite just winning 5-4 on games.