Junior members shine
The final four teams made their first appearance of the campaign in the Manx Petroleum sponsored Outdoor Winter Bowls League on Saturday, with three of them notching up a win, whilst one leapt straight into second spot in the table.
Both sides in the opening clash had new faces in their ranks, however it was last season’s runners-up, Mooragh Lakers, who were triumphant over Castletown Cannons.
Some new members also took part in the next fixture, with one of them helping his new team, Bowl Rollers, to a five games to one victory over Erin Porters.
After missing out on the title last season by just 13 points, Lakers will aim to go one better this time around and they began their challenge with an average of 119.5 after their second success of the day, when they beat Bowl Rollers.
Erin Porters recovered well from their earlier defeat to go within two chalks of a full-house in an outing against Cannons who themselves averaged 98 points for the session.
It was a good afternoon for the junior members in attendance, with all three of them recording a victory – Charlotte Peach (Cannons), Dylan Marsh (Porters) and Shannon McMullan (Lakers) all performed brilliantly.
Results for Saturday, October 12: Castletown Cannons 90 (2), Mooragh Lakers 117 (4); Bowl Rollers 115 (5), Erin Porters 92 (1); Mooragh Lakers 122 (5), Bowl Rollers 102 (1); Erin Porters 124 (4), Castletown Cannons 106 (2).
Sunday’s programme only went ahead after a discussion between the captains and officials, unfortunately the constant rain made for some tricky conditions, which obviously suited some players, but not others.
Louie’s Angels took to the conditions like a duck to water and opened their session with a five games to one success over Parkers, dropping just six points along the way.
Next up were Castletown Corkers and they will have been pleased to have taken one game off opponents Seven-Up who added 116 points to their overall tally.
Fixture 15 on the list should have been a close battle between two teams capable of challenging at the top; however the Angels romped to victory over Seven-Up by a margin of 39 points.
This result saw the winners leap from eighth to third, whilst the losers went in the opposite direction and slipped down to seventh position.
The defeated sides in the first two fixtures then went head to head to complete the afternoon and it was Parkers who emerged as clear winners to leave their southern opponents at the foot of the table.
There was only one junior competing on Sunday and Aalish Moore can be very proud of her contribution to the final totals for Castletown Corkers on a very wet green.
Results for Sunday, October 13: Louie’s Angels 120 (5), Parkers 82 (1); Castletown Corkers 89 (1), Seven-Up 116 (5); Seven-Up 81 (1), Louie’s Angels 120 (5); Parkers 121 (5), Castletown Corkers 79 (1).
The midweek round robin was played with an entry of 40 and they were split into three groups, two of which were triples, the other doubles.
Sid McKnight and Lil Smith won their group ahead of Gill Jopson and Bryan Corner; whilst Peter Kelly, Alan Moore and Margaret Tasker triumphed by just one chalk; with their closest challengers being David Clucas, Bernie McPhee and Andy Sykes.
The other victorious trio were Elaine Moore, Shirley Whelan and George Brew, who pipped second placed Sue Gawne, Kevin Firth and Tricia Bull.