The Jean Kelly Memorial Competition Final was contested at Onchan Bowling Club on Tuesday last week.

In a repeat of last year’s final current holders Port St Mary took on Noble’s, with the latter starting with a 10-point chalk handicap.

In their only league meeting this season Port St Mary won by 85 chalks and went into the final favourites to win their fifth title. The first game off was a win for Noble’s with Debbie Leece defeating Katy Williams 21-11, but PSM responded quickly with Trish Bull beating Sylvia Kennaugh in a game which saw the latter battle back from 14-6 down to 15-15 before losing 21-17.

Third game off was another Noble’s win with Rebecca Teare beating Ann Maddrell, their game was level 10-10 after 11 ends before Teare managed to pull away and won the game 21-15.

Port St Mary then won the final two games of the first half. Jayne Kneen (PSM) held a 12-3 lead over Lin Ruscoe before the latter won six ends without reply to move 13-12 up. Kneen regained the block and closed out the game 21-16.

Val Macfarlane (PSM) defeated Paula Firth in another game which was finely poised before a breakaway. After 19 ends Macfarlane led 13-12 before making the decisive breakaway winning six ends to lead 20-12. Firth managed to win one more end before her opponent closed out the game 21-13, therefore after five games Noble’s led by nine chalks.

The first game in the second half proved to be the crucial turning point in the match with Clare Cooper playing Margaret Tasker. Cooper got off to a flying start moving 7-1 up after six ends before an 11-point break took her from 8-4 to 19-4. Tasker picked up a couple more points before Cooper closed the game out 21-7 to increase Nobles’ lead to 23 points. Next off was Jayne Smith who defeated Wendy Kennaugh from 11-14 down to run out a 21-14 winner, further increasing Noble’s lead to 30 points.

Port St Mary claimed their fourth and final win with Chris Price defeating Alison Keggen. After an early lead by Keggen, Price found her length and built a 14-7 lead after 17 ends. Keggen battled hard but Price proved too strong and the game finished 21-16.

The final game of the night was between Kellie Maddrell-Reeve (PSM) and Jan West. Maddrell-Reeve started off well building a 7-4 lead before West managed to get on a run to move 13-8 ahead. Maddrell-Reeve battled and moved within a point trailing 16-15 after 28 ends, but West wrestled back control of the jack and ran out 21-15 winner.

Noble’s claimed an overall 31-chalk victory 177-146 winning 5-4 on games. It is their first victory in the Jean Kelly since Noble’s Mixed and Noble’s Park merged in 2015. Nobles Park and Mixed previously won in 2001 and 2012 respectively.

Heather Horsburgh introduced Moore Kelly who conducted the presentation on behalf of his family.

Thanks were paid to Onchan Bowling Club for hosting the final, to the commissioners for providing an excellent playing surface and to Moore Kelly and family for providing a lovely buffet and prizes for the winners and runners-up.

ALLISON KEGGEN