HONG KONG—Defending champions Kowloon Bowling Green Club lost their fight for the Premier League Division 1 title after conceding a surprise defeat against the relegated Island Lawn Bowls Club last Saturday, Oct 8.
Before the game KBGC were one of the 3 teams trailing the leader Craigengower Cricket Club by 13 points.
CCC played away at Hong Kong Football Club in the latest fixture and came back with a respectable 2-6 victory.
After their 8-0 lost at the Ap Lei Chau indoor greens, KBGC has amassed 70 points from 16 games -19 points less than CCC. With only 2 games to go, KBGC has no way to recover from the deficit.
Second on the table, 2014 champion Kowloon Cricket Club registered an 8-0 victory against the Youth Team but are still 11 points away from the leader.
This weekend CCC will play third-placed Tuen Mun Sports Association at home and need just six points to clinch their first top flight title since 1994.
At the bottom of the standings, the Police team took a giant step to safety after defeating fellow struggler Hong Kong Cricket Club 8-0 at home. HKCC, who just returned to the top flight after an absence of more than 15 years, are now second from the bottom and three points away from safety. However the disadvantage for them is that they will play away from home for the last two games.
Elsewhere in other divisions, KCC-C are confirmed as champions of Division 6 and HKYDT-B have won Division 9.
Women
In the women’s Premier League, defending champion Hong Kong Football Club’s quest for their 10th consecutive title suffered another blow when they were defeated 2-6 away at Kowloon Cricket Club.
As their major rival Shatin Sports Association registered a 2-6 victory at City Lawn Bowls Club and moved to the top, HKFC are now trailing the leader by 7 points. Sandwiched between them is KCC who are just two points behind the leader.
HKFC still have a good chance to win the title as their last two games are both at home, while STSA will need to play away at Indian Recreation Club while KCC will play the last 2 games away from home.
At the bottom of the table is a dogfight between Seabird Sports Club, Kowloon Bowling Green Club and Club de Recreio, who are only separated by 5 points.
In Division 3, Hong Kong Cricket Club have confirmed their promotion after beating the Fire Service Lawn Bowls Club 1-7. STSA-C and CCC-C also confirmed their promotion from Division 5.
This weekend in Lawn Bowls
Premier league games continue this Saturday Oct 15, starting at 2:30pm at all greens in Hong Kong.
Claudius Lam is an officer of the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.
