Top Four, All To Play For
Friday 14th September saw the penultimate games take place in the Ladies Bowling Night League.
Port St Mary remain on course for their fifth title in succession, and eight overall, following their full house win over Douglas. Douglas unfortunately were a player short and were unable to push close in any of the games with Chris Price and Margaret Tasker winning to single figures. The match ended 189-84 (9-0).
Castletown A nearly matched their rivals but dropped one game in their 184-86 (8-1) win over Ballaugh. Hilary Kermode, Kim Foy, Heike Perry, Anne Oates and Sue Peach turned in fine home performances to win to single figures. Ballaugh avoided a whitewash with Gill Dixon defeating Hannah Drewett 21-16.
The battle for third position continues into the final week of the season with South Ramsey heading Nobles for the position. South Ramsey defeated Port Erin with Elaine Moore and Jenny Moore both playing well winning 21-0 and 21-4 respectively. Port Erin did pick up two wins from Caroline Whitehead and Lynda Cadamy but South won the match 182-122 (8-2).
Nobles kept up with South by winning their match against Mooragh Park 179-98 (7-2). Debbie Leece, Alison Keggen, Paula Firth and Clare Cooper all won to single figures. Mooragh’s wins came from Helen Martin and Caroline Parker.
Peel Sunset suffered a home defeat to Purt Le Moirrey despite winning more games on the night. Shirley Corrin, Heather Horsburgh, Louise Horsfall, Joyce Kelly and Mary Moffatt won for the home side. Purt Le Moirrey pulled off a six chalk win with wins from Sandra Lowe, Dot Mylchreest, Wyn Collister and Linda Dawson. Final score 154-162 (5-4).
In the final match from Friday, Onchan defeated Castletown B 176-74 (8-1) with the visiting team managing to avoid a full house defeat with Barbara Young winning 21-8.
Heading into the final game of the season Port St Mary hold a strong 81 chalk advantage over Castletown A. On paper Castletown A’s final game against their B team could result in another maximum 189 score. That would mean Port St Mary would have to score a minimum of 108 chalks to retain the league, but face a strong Nobles side who are themselves chasing South Ramsey for third position.
South Ramsey will only play their final match against Douglas on Thursday 27th and will look to turn over whatever advantage Nobles have built.
In the race for the individual merit Chris Price leads on 482 chalks followed by Amanda Lawler 478, Jayne Kneen 476 and Jenny Moore 469. All four ladies are in contention for the top spots with the last game of the season the crucial deciding game.