A dramatic finish to the Peter Coward Pairs League last Sunday at the NSC saw Matthew Keggen & Stephen Gale snatch the title from long term leaders Seamus Whelan & Collin Holland.
Whelan & Holland started the day 3 points clear of Keggen & Gale and also Eddie Brew & Chris Holland who they faced in the opening game, coming through a nail-biting finish to win 11-10. Meanwhile Keggen & Gale came through 15-10 winners against Matt Quayle & David Cottier. Elsewhere Jayne Smith & Josh Ffrench had an impressive 23-11 win against Archie & Wyn Collister and Richard Faragher & Dave McTaggart got their first win, beating Ann Hollingworth & Rita Woodworth 15-9.
The penultimate round of games saw Keggen & Gale face Whelan & Holland and after a tight opening start Keggen & Gale pulled away with 8 unanswered points over 4 ends to come out 14-10 victors. That win left the top two pairs tied on 15 points but Whelan & Holland had a 7 shot advantage overall. Brew & Holland kept their hopes alive with an 18-8 win against Archie & Wyn Collister and Smith & Ffrench moved into pole position in the battle for fourth spot with a 15-8 win against Faragher & McTaggart while Hollingworth & Woodworth beat Quayle & Cottier 18-8.
Going into the final round of games Whelan & Holland had the clear advantage with a 7 shot lead and up against bottom pairing of Archie & Wyn Collister but Wyn Collister rolled back the years to produce some wonderful bowls. After a tense and tight opening Whelan & Holland stretched out a 5 point lead with 2 ends to go but the Collister’s hit back with devastating bowls to take a 3 and a 2 to draw the match meaning a win for Keggen & Gale would see them crowned champions. Keggen & Gale started slowly in their match against Hollingworth & Woodworth, losing the opening three ends but they soon got going and scored an impress 14 points over the next six ends to lead 14-3. A single point on the thirteenth end meant they could not lose and enjoyed the final ends as champions, running out 18-9 winners. Eddie Brew & Chris Holland consolidated third place after beating Faragher & McTaggart 17-14 and despite losing their final game 15-11 to Quayle & Cottier, Smith & Ffrench finished in fourth.
The final table is:
[standings league_id=8 template=extend logo=false]
Next week is the final game of the Cherry Orchard League with the Douglas Bay Pirates needing one point against Laxey Minors to clinch the title. Second place Ronaldsway Blockbusters face Colby Jacks and Ballagh meet Colby Cosmos.