Isle of Man County Crown Green Bowling Association

Castletown Bowling Club hosted the Association Cup on Sunday with the competition attracting 47 entries. The green was in excellent condition and was running as well as it has done for a number of years.

There were a number of shocks in the first round with some big names Neil Withers, David Bradford, Dave ‘Barney’ Kelly and last year’s winner Colin Kelly all making an early exit, which meant by the quarter final stage there would be a new name on the trophy.  

Losing out in the quarter finals were home greener Nathan Hamilton, who lost out 16-21 to team mate Sam Clague, Trevor Quayle (Port St Mary) was beaten 15-21 by South Ramsey’s Stefan Kelly, another home greener Nathan Cooil lost 16-21 to Tom Kelly (Peel) whilst Ron Williams (Castletown) lost out 14-21 to Paul Dunn (Marown).

In the semi-finals Paul Dunn ended Tom Kelly’s run with Dunn taking a comfortable 21-14 victory, whilst in the other semi-final Sam Clague just got over the line 21-19 defeating Stefan Kelly to take his place in the final.

Dunn started as favourite with the form he is in, was looking to win his second open competition of the weekend, whilst 19 year old Clague was looking to win his first singles open competition since taking up the game just over three years ago. Dunn made a good start making a great two on the first end, then moving around the green, constantly changing the mark to build up a 12-6 lead. Clague won the next four ends playing a tricky mark over the crown to trail by one chalk at 11-12. Clague continued to plug away taking three of the next four ends to take the lead for the first time in the game at 14-13. The game swung back and forth from there with Dunn responding to go 17-14 ahead and lying two only for Clague to pull out a great bowl on a long length to count and went on to take the next three ends to lead again at 18-17. Dunn wasn’t done there responding with a single and a double to lead 20-18 and was lying game only for Clague to gently tap the jack to save game and bring the score to 19-20. On the next end Dunn was once again lying game after playing a good first bowl only for Clague to play a great second bowl to once again save game and level the scores at 20-20. With a one end shootout Clague played his jack over the crown with his lead bowl going 18 inches past the jack, which Dunn failed to beat, Clague won one of the Associations top titles. Whilst the defeat was harsh on Dunn who had played his part in a great final, it was great to see Clague win his first open to the delight of his team mates and his grandad Cliff who was watching on proudly, with the final being live streamed a number of the Castletown Ladies who were bowling at Marown eagerly watched on and were said to be in tears after the final.

The presentation was made by Press Officer Glynn Hargraves, who thanked the Castletown green keeper Dave Faragher for the excellent condition of the green, thanked the club members for providing helpers throughout the day and the competition committee for running the competition.