The new Indoor Bowls season started with Cheesemakers showing that they would be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier Pairs as they beat Radical Heads 4-0 with a great show of bowling. The two other matches played in the League also ended with 4-0 results as GLS beat Villa Boys and Tee Pegs beat Villans.
In the Tuesday Morning League the reigning Champions Villans beat new team Bushwackers 4-2, Onchan Royals had a 6-0 victory over Thru the Gap and another new team Jacks on a Roll lost 4-2 to Cushags while Early Birds beat Hillbillies 4-2 and Ramsey Raiders beat Maxums with the same scoreline.
The First Division Pairs saw a promising start for favourites TOU who beat Enigma 4-0 and also having a good start were last seasons runners up Spinners who had a 4-0 victory over 1 in 4. The remaining two matches both ended in 2-2 draws with OK drawing with Super Hoops Terriers and Ramsey Wallys also drawing 2-2 with the Officials.
In the Wednesday evening, Premier Teams League we saw last years winners Villans beat DNA 6-0 while Saltire put up a spirited fight against Dragons before eventually going down 4-2. Cheesemakers drew 3-3 with Bay City Bowlers and Birdies took a 4-2 victory against Ramsey Raiders.
In the first Division Teams, we saw a great start from new team Ramsey Wallys as they showed good form to beat OK 6-0 while Oddballs also put up a strong performance to beat Cowley Cannonballs with a 6-0 scoreline and a close encounter between Optimists and Smugglers saw the latter team eventually run out with a 4-2 victory. In the remaining match of the night, we saw Maxums beat CAOS 6-0.
The new Friday Afternoon Pairs League was well supported with a turnout of ten teams and in this, we saw Dragons put on a good performance to beat High Jacks 4-0 while last years Second Division Pairs winners Sunset Rollers drew 2-2 with OK. Celtic Thunder beat Southpaws 4-0 while Cowley Cannonballs and Woodbourne Reds drew 2-2 and in the remaining game we saw Powered by Prosecco and Low Rollers play out the third 2-2 draw of the afternoon.
This then has seen the start of all Leagues except the Friday Night Mixed Singles League which is due to start on Friday the 23rd October and I have still to see the list of those competing in this but hope to preview it next week.
Eric Stanley
It was with great sadness that I learned of the death on 8th October of Eric Stanley who was a regular competitor in both Over 60’s Crown Green Bowling and Indoor Bowling. Eric will be remembered by many for the twinkle in his eye and his ‘wicked’ sense of humour but he also was one half of a formidable pairing with Tony Epifani in the Pairs Competitions in Indoor Bowls and they were the losing finalists in the Isle of Man Indoor Pairs Championship only a couple of years ago. Eric will be missed by so many in both Indoor Bowls and Crown Green Bowling.