MIXED LEAGUE ONE

Cu-Plas Callow St Ninian’s A 7 RL360 Vikings A 13

With the title at stake, defending champions Vikings went into the match a single point ahead of second-placed St Ninian’s.

Unfortunately the Saints’ captain, Nicola Wilkinson, was unavailable meaning Vikings started the match as favourites.

Three out of the four doubles matches went to three ends, the pick of them second men’s where Alex Buck/Stuart Foley (Vikings) beat Alex Lambie/Jonny Tickner 21/14 17/21 23/21.

Going into the mixed, Vikings held a 6-5 lead. All these were won 2-0 to Vikings, with the exception of first which was won in a tight three-end match by Neil Harding/Kayleigh Callow (St Ninian’s) 21/19 19/21 21/16 against Matt Nicholson/Nicola Watson.

The final 13-7 scoreline confirmed a well-deserved title defence for Vikings.

Microgaming Marown A 13 Appleby Castletown A 5

Marown secured safety with this vital win, as Castletown’s high injury list left them missing players again.

Although Marown deserved to win, the away team battled hard and won some notable tough games. Second women’s was taken by Marown’s Michelle Garrity/Lucie Davey 18/21 21/13 21/16 against Lauraine Williamson/Hannah Clague, while at first Kath Kermode/Janet Sayle did well to beat Louise Mellor/Ashleigh Keown 22/20 21/16.

First men’s saw Matty Lund/Paddy Garrity win 21/12 21/18 over Nick Thornley/Pete Hadfield, after Joseph Garrity/Darren Richards had taken second 21/18 21/13 versus James O’Meara/Martin Greenwood.

Castletown’s successes were at third and then first mixed. O’Meara/Williamson narrowly beat Richards/M. Garrity 21/19 17/21 21/18, and then restoring some pride Thornley/Mellor won 21/18 21/19 against Lund/Kermode.

MIXED LEAGUE TWO

Quine & Cubbon Rushen A 8 Hotchkiss Associates

Kirk Michael A 12

Rushen started well with Richard Kerr/Paul Osbourne winning 21/12 21/14 against Mike Brew/Brian Drew. Kirk Michael levelled when Jess Corlett/Leanne Miller won second women’s against Amanda Munro/Janet Corkish 21/14 21/15.

First men’s could not have been closer in an excellent three-game contest with Kirk Michael’s Ryan Brew/Ben Kneale coming out on top 18/21 21/19 21/19 against Rob Mason/Neil Ronan.

Kirk Michael also won first women’s with Alison Craine/Sarah Gardner taking it 21/8 21/15 against Kirree Ronan/Sarah Goldie to give the westerners a 6-3 lead after the level doubles. Fourth mixed was close as Rushen’s Osbourne/Munro won 21/15 22/24 21/18 against Mike Brew/Corlett.

Kirk Michael took third mixed when Ryan Brew/Craine won 21/15 21/16 against Kerr/Goldie, and also second as Drew/Miller beat Mason/Corkish 21/23 21/13 21/15. First mixed also went to a third game when brother and sister Neil and Kirree Ronan won 12/21 22/20 21/18 for Rushen against Kneale/Gardner.

MIXED LEAGUE THREE

RL360 Vikings C 12

Tynwald Celts A 5

Vikings C started this match strongly when Mark Falconer/Josh Mills, Megan and Sophie Wade, Matthew Gawne/Sam Callow and Deirdre Hughes/ Margaret Daughen all won their level doubles to race into a 8-0 lead at the halfway point.

Tynwald Celts battled back in the mixed with Dave Wilson/ Kelly Lewis beating Mills/Sophie Wade 25/23, 21/16 and Mark Callow/Tania Thomas defeating Falconer/Daughen 21/19, 21/17. Vikings collected the final ties when Callow/Megan Wade beat Tom Long/Jackie Bracken 21/13, 21/14, before the only tie of the match to go to a third game when Gawne/Hughes beat Brian Quirk/Fiona Callow 21/19,16/21, 21/15.

Tynwald Celts’ relegation is now confirmed, while Vikings C have thrown down the gauntlet to St Ninian’s B in the race for second place.

MIXED LEAGUE FOUR

Hotchkiss Kirk Michael B 10 Tynwald Celts B 8

A brave but ultimately fruitless effort from Kirk Michael to stay up in a tightly-contested relegation battle.

They actually won four out of eight matches played, which is more than both Tynwald Celts and Fencibles C achieved over the course of the season - hinting at the possibility of a strong challenge to make a swift return next season.

MIXED LEAGUE FIVE

Paul Carey & Sons Sulby C 4 Falcons A 13