In the Friday Afternoon Pairs League, Top Dogs kept up their 2023 form with a 2-set win over GGs, stretching their lead to 5 points as The Bowling Stones took maximum points against second place Rejects. In the other games a 2-set win for CC & me over Tinker & Bell helped them jump up the table to fifth place whilst the game between US and Watties ended with a draw in the first set and a win for Watties in the second. The final game between Maxums and Crown Greeners ended with a set apiece and 15-16 chalks to Greeners.
At the start of the week second in the Premier Pairs table, Simple Minds, took both sets from the Blues Brothers amassing 26 chalks along the way and closing the gap on first place LIV Bowls who could only manage a draw against Villans. Villa Boys took the first set from Tee Pegs but could only manage 1 chalk in the second; this match also ending in a draw. Northern Lights got off to a flying start only allowing Dumb and Dumber 1 chalk in the first set but, in the second Dumb and Dumber returned the favour as Lights could only manage 1 chalk.
In the first round of the New Year in the Tuesday Morning League, Early Birds stopped first placed Onchan Royals from taking a clean sweep by winning the singles. Nearest rivals Ramsey Raiders took the singles and drew the pairs after Villans had a good start by taking the triples. The game between Castletown Crofters and KCS Sunshine Band ended with wins in the triples and pairs to the Crofters and KCS salvaging 2 points from the singles. The Morganites drew the pairs against The Bowling Stones after the Stones won the triples and singles. A game each for Maxums and Hillbillies with all to play for in the pairs which ended with a win for Maxums 8-5 chalks.
No change in the top four positions in the First Division Pairs; as J&S, Douglas Old Boys and TOU all took maximum points from their games. In the other games there was a win for US2 against The Newby’s and a draw in the game between GGs and TinJo.
In the Premier Triples, there was a win for Ramsey Wallys over Birdies, keeping Wallys top of the table with a healthy lead of 8 points over the rest. Maximum points for third place Ramsey Raiders over Villans, and for Saltire over Crown Greeners.
In the First Division Triples, Morganites dropped to third place despite their 2-set win over Castletown Crofters; as Optimists moved above them with a 2-set win over IBS. The win for Optimists also closed the point’s gap on first placed Bowlistics, now only 2 points clear, but keeping top spot after their 2-set win over Fab Fogies.
Rounding off the first week of 2024 was the Singles league, in which; Stuart Garrett took maximum points from his game against Win Kewley to stretch his lead at the top of the table. After her slump in the middle of the season, Muriel Cain has steadily climbed back up the table, and another win this week sees her move to second place. Shirley Corrin maintains fourth position following her win over Mike Ashmole. Mike Moyer and Gordon Corrin had a close match with Corrin taking the win.
Full results and tables on www.iomindoorbowling.org
Thank you to our League sponsors The Copyshop.