Jean Kelly Preliminary Round
The Jean Kelly Memorial Handicap team knock-out competition got under way on Wednesday 20 April. Douglas did not have too far to travel for their match at Noble’s, but the home side had the upper hand, leading 5-4 on games, although once the handicaps kicked in they won by a narrow margin of 7 points. The battle of the Smiths saw Julie have the better of Jayne by 2 in the closest game of the match.
Onchan could only field eight players to give Castletown an advantage that they didn’t really need, as the visitors won six of the eight games played, Hannah Drewett and Kath Kinley winning to single figures. The two winners for Onchan were Maureen Payne and Lynda Clarke while Dee Lewis reached 19 against Kim Foy.
Port St Mary were in imperious form for the visit of Ballaugh winning seven games, five of them to single figures. The two winners for the travellers were Jenny Maddrell, to single figures, and Pat Mason who edged out Tricia Bull 21-20.
South Ramsey were another team not to be denied on the night, their form making short work of Marown’s handicap. Five of their seven wins were to single figures, as was Shirley Whelan’s for Marown. The other winner for the visitors was Mary Alderson, while Rosie Winckle fought hard to reach 18 against Lyn Bolton.