Short Mat Results - 29 November

Stephen Gale stayed top of the MSMBA Single League with his 100% record intact after a 10-8 win over Josh Ffrench, whereas Ann Hollingworth wrapped up promotion from Division One thanks to two wins at the NSC last Sunday.

Stephen Gale had close fought win over Josh Ffrench who has started the day tied on points with Gale, but the final bowl of the game secured a 10-8 win in Gale's favour. Ffrench also suffered defeat in his first game of the day, going down 16-8 to Peter Coward, who moves up to fourth place. Jayne Kinley moved up to second with a 13-5 win over David Cottier. Seamus Whelan remains in third thanks to a 15-8 win, also over Cottier.

In Division One, Ann Hollingworth moved to the top of the table and guaranteed her promotion with two wins. She started off with a 17-5 win over Matt Quayle and then followed up with an 18-6 win over Sylvia Maddrell, who managed to win her other game again Chris Holland 17-8. In the other game played in Division One, Matt Quayle beat Peter Blower 17-8.

The tables stand as follows:

Premier League (3 Games remaining)
1. Stephen Gale - 12 points
2. Jayne Kinley - 9
3. Seamus Whelan - 9
4. Peter Coward - 9
5. Josh Ffrench - 6
6. David Cottier - 3
7. Sam Peel - 0
8. Emma Smith 0

Division One (1 Game remaining)
1. Ann Hollingworth - 12 points
2. Chris Holland - 9
3. Sylvia Maddrell - 6
4. Rita Woodworth - 3
5. Matt Quayle - 3
6. Peter Blower - 3

Next week action returns to the Cherry Orchard League, with leaders Ronaldsway Blockbusters playing Laxey Minors. Castletown Southsiders meet Ballaugh, Ramsey Rebels are against Colby Cosmos and Arbory Pirates play Castletown Super Threes.

For more information on Manx Short Mat Bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com

Short Mat Results - 15 November

Sam Peel & Stephen Gale retained the Pooil Vaaish 4 Bowl Pairs for the third year running after beating last years runners-up Seamus Whelan & Collin Holland 15-2 in the final.

Smith & Jayne Kinley 9-5. Eric Maddocks & John Jauncey also progressed with a 6-3 victory over David Cottier & Peter Coward. The final game of the round saw Josh Ffrench & Clare Holland snatch victory on an extra end after drawing 6-6 against Don Henthorn & Richard Faragher.

In the first round proper, Peel and Gale came through 10-8 winners against Ffrench & Holland. Quayle & Anderson beat their Ramsey team mates Maddocks & Jauncey 12-3. Collin Holland & Seamus Whelan got their tournament off to a flying start with an 11-1 win over Peter Blower & Sylvia Maddrell and Archie Collister & Wyn Collister completed the round with a 7-4 win over Matt Quayle & Brian Redman.

The semi finals saw two convincing wins, with Peel & Gale confirming their place in the final with a 9-1 win over Archie & Wyn Collister. Whelan & Holland ensured it was a repeat of last years final coming through 10-3 against Quayle & Anderson.

Unfortunately for Whelan & Holland, they couldn't get revenge for the final 12 months ago, as Peel & Gale took control early on after a scoring a 3 on the opening end. Whelan & Holland managed to get one back on the next end but Peel & Gale soon extended their lead with a single, another 3 and another single to lead 8-1 with three ends to go. Whelan & Holland kept themselves in it with a single on the sixth end but Peel & Gale managed to get a 2 on the penultimate end leaving Whelan & Holland an almost impossible task of getting a full 8 on the last end. Peel & Gale took advantage of Whelan & Holland having to attack and took a 5 on the last end to end up 15-2 winners.

Next week will see the Isle of Man team travel to Wales to compete in the British Isles Championships. A full report will appear here next week.

For more information on Short Mat Bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com.

Short Mat Results - 08 November

Ronaldsway Rockets & Rushen guaranteed their places in the semi-finals after they won 11-6 & 15-2 respectively in the Freeway Express Championship last Sunday.

Ronaldsway Rockets top Group A  after they beat Colby Cosmos 11-6. Ann Gale & Dave McTaggart got the Rockets off to a good start after winning their  pairs game 11-4 and Chris & Collin Holland added to that with an 11-9 victory.

Ann Hollingworth managed to get 2 points back for Cosmos with a 10-6 singles win before Chris Holland restored Rockets advantage winning her singles 10-5. Rita Woodworth again hit back for Cosmos with an 11-6 win before Collin Holland won his singles 16-1 for the Rockets.

Cosmos needed to win the final fours game to stand a chance of taking the overall victory but with the game ending 5-5 Rockets took the final bonus point and ended up 11-6 winners.

In Group B Rushen needed a big victory to give them a good chance of going through and succeeded with a 15-2 win over Castletown Rockets. Stephen Gale & Peter Coward won the opening pairs 11-5 for Rushen before Seamus Whelan & Richard Faragher winning their pairs 14-3 to give Rushen an early lead.

Matt Quayle managed the Rockets only win with an 11-6 singles victory before Seamus Whelan won 14-6, Stephan Gale took his singles 15-8 and Peter Coward won 13-8 for Rushen.

Rushen completed the victory after a tight fours game, which they took 7-6.

The final games in the group will see Ramsey Rebels & Colby Cosmos battle it to see who joins Ronaldsway Rockets in qualifying from Group A. Castletown Southsiders will meet Castletown Rockets in the final game of Group B where a win for the Southsiders will see them top the group.

Next week is the Pooil Vaaish 4 Bowl Pairs. Anyone wishing to enter should contact Stephen Gale on 462424.

A reminder to the Island Team players to turn up in uniform next Sunday for a Practice Session and Team photo with a representative for the shirt sponsor.

For more information on Short Mat Bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com.

Short Mat Results - 01 November

Ronaldsway Blockbusters moved to the top of the Cherry Orchard League last Sunday with a 4-2 win over Castletown Southsiders who drop to second.

Emma Smith & Jayne Kinley won the first game 12-3 for the Southsiders but the Blockbusters hit back with Collin Holland taking the singles 10-9 before teaming up with Chris Holland & Clare Holland to win the final triples game 11-7.

Last years Champions stayed in third with a 5-2 win over Castletown Super 3's. Jill Quayle & Moira Anderson won the pairs for Ramsey but Sylvia Maddrell levelled the match with a 10-8 win in her singles, but the Rebels managed to take the triples game 12-5 to run out 5-2 winners.

Ballaugh recorded a 4-3 win in a tight game against Colby Cosmos which sees the northern team move up to fourth in the league. Ann Gale & Dave McTaggert took the pairs game for Ballaugh 11-4 before Pauline Kelly hit back for Cosmos with an impressive 15-4 singles victory. In the decisive triples game Ballaugh ran out 10-9 win to take the victory by the narrowest of margins.

Arbory Pirates recorded their first victory of the season with a 5-2 win over the Laxey Minors. David Cottier & Peter Coward managed to get the Minors off to a good start with a 15-8 win, but Stephen Gale won his singles 14-4 before joining David Hetherington & Robin Teare to take the triples with an 11-4 victory to clinch the game.

After the first two games, the standings are:
1. Ronaldsway Blockbusters - 11 points
2. Castletown Southsiders - 9
3. Ramsey Rebels - 9
4. Ballaugh - 7
5. Laxey Minors - 6
6. Arbory Pirates - 5
7. Castletown Super 3's - 4
8. Colby Cosmos - 3

Next week sees the second round of games in the Freeway Express League. Ronaldsway Rockets play Colby Cosmos in Group A & Group B sees Rushen play Castletown Rockets. Ramsey Rebels & Castletown Southsiders have a bye.

For more information on Short Mat Bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com.

Short Mat Results - 25 October

Last Sunday saw the first games of the brand new Singles League take place at the NSC where Stephen Gale and Josh Ffrench moved to the top of the Premier League with two wins each.

Short Mat Results - 18 October

Ann Hollingworth, Rita Woodworth and Pauline Kelly won the first competition of the Short Mat season after a convincing 15-7 win in the final of the Ann Hollingworth Triples.

Ann Hollingworth, who sponsors the tournament qualified from Group A with Rita Woodworth and Pauline Kelly after an opening 12-5 win over David Cottier, Peter Coward and Seamus Whelan. The Ramsey triples of Jill Quayle, John Jauncey and Eric Maddocks made sure of the early exit of Whelan’s side after they came out 10-4 winners.

The final game of Group A saw Kelly’s three draw 8-8 with Maddocks’ side which left them both on 4 points but Hollingworth, Woodworth and Kelly progressed to the final after a superior chalk difference of 7 to 6.

In Group B, David Hetherington, Robin Teare and Stephen Gale got off to a good start with a 10-8 win over Peter Blower, Matt Quayle and Sylvia Maddrell; however Maddrell’s side gave themselves a great chance of going through after scoring 11 points in their final two ends against Chris Holland, Collin Holland and Jayne Kinley to win 17-9. However Hetherington, Teare and Gale booked their place in the final coming through with a 10-6 win over Kinley’s side.

The final was a tight game in the opening few ends, with the score 5-4 after four ends to Hollingworth, Woodworth and Kelly, but after a 3 on the fifth end put them firmly in control. Gale’s team tried to fight back could only manage three more points in the game, leaving Kelly’s side to run out 15-7 winners.

Next week is the opening game of the Singles League before returning to the second week of the Cherry Orchard League on the 1st November.

For more information on Manx Short Mat Bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com.

Short Mat Results - 11 October

The new look Freeway Express Championship got underway last Sunday at the NSC with Ronaldsway Rockets beating last years winners Ramsey Rebels 11-6  in Group A, and Castletown Southsiders overcoming Rushen 13-4 in Group B.

The early games of pairs were shared between the Rockets and the Rebels, with Jill Quayle & John Jauncey winning 16-7 before Chris & Collin Holland levelling the game up for the Rockets with a 17-2 win.

The singles were also shared with two wins for the Rebels courtesy of Clare Holland and John Jauncey and Collin Holland and Ann Gale winning their singles for the Rockets.

With the match level at 6 points each, the all important final game of fours came down to just one point, with the Rockets taking it 9-8 to come out 11-6 victors.

In Group B, Castletown Southsiders got off to a flyer, with Josh Ffrench & Sam Peel winning their pairs 13-5 and Emma Smith & Jayne Kinley taking their pairs after a 9-4 win.

Josh Ffrench and Sam Peel also continued the winning streak taking the first two singles games 9-8 and 18-3 respectively before Rushen started to fight back. Peter Coward came from 7-3 down to win 11-7 in his singles to get Rushen their first points of the game, and Stephen Gale kept their hopes alive with a 12-8 victory.

The final game of fours was close throughout with Rushen edging into a 5-4 lead with one end to play before the final two woods from Sam Peel took the points for Southsiders to finish the fours 6-5 up and complete a convincing 13-4 win.

Next week is the first competition with the Ann Hollingworth Triples. Anyone who has not yet put in a team but wishes to do so can contact Stephen Gale on 462424. For more information on Manx Short Mat Bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com.

Short Mat Results - 04 October

The new Short Mat Bowls season got under way last Sunday with the first game of the Cherry Orchard League taking place at the National Sports Centre.

The reformed Castletown Southsiders head the table after a 7-0 win against Arbory Pirates. Emma Smith and Jayne Kinley got the Southsiders on their way with a 14-4 win before Sam Peel added the singles with an 11-6 victory. The Southsiders completed the game with a hard fought 8-5 triples win.

Ronaldsway Jollybodies also got a 7-0 win over a weakened Colby Cosmos side.  Chris Holland & Wyn Collister won their pairs 11-5 and Collin Holland managed an 11-10 win in his singles before taking the triples 13-3 after Archie Collister joined Wyn Collister and Collin Holland.

Last years champions, Ramsey Rebels, were made to fight hard for a 4-3 win over Ballaugh. Dave McTaggert and Anne Gale took the opening game of pairs with a fine 10-6 win but John Jauncey levelled the match after he won his singles 10-3. Jill Quayle & Eric Maddocks then teamed up with Jauncey to tie the final triples game with Richard Faragher, Dave McTaggert & Ann Gale for a 4-3 win to the Rebels.

The final game saw Laxey Minors beat Castletown Super Threes 4-2. Mary Redman & Matt Quayle took a superb pairs victory with a 12-8 win but Seamus Whelan levelled things up with an 11-8 victory in the singles before teaming up with Peter Coward and David Cottier to scrape an 8-7 win in the final game of triples.

The table after the first game of the season is as follows:

1.       Castletown Southsiders – 7

2.       Ronaldsway Blockbusters – 7

3.       Ramsey Rebels – 4

4.       Laxey Minors – 4

5.       Ballaugh - 3

6.       Castletown Super Threes – 2

7.       Colby Cosmos – 0

8.       Arbory Pirates – 0

Next week sees the opening games of the Freeway Express Championships with Ramsey Rebels taking on Ronaldsway Rockets in Group A and Rushen facing Castletown Southsiders in Group B.

For more information on Manx Short Mat bowls, please visit www.manxshortmatbowls.com.