HKFC Loss at Tuen Mun Cuts Lead to Three Points

HKFC Loss at Tuen Mun Cuts Lead to Three Points
A superb bowl from Stanley Lai of Craigengower Cricket Club in the last end was just enough to ensure a 8-0 victory against Hong Kong Cricket Club last Saturday, Sept 29. The team cut the gap with the leaders Hong Kong Football Club to just three points. (Karen Tang)
10/5/2018
Updated:
10/5/2018

HONG KONG—The defending champions Craigengower Cricket Club (CCC) took advantage of a slip from the leaders Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC-A) at Tuen Mun to cut the deficit to just three points.

CCC played at home against mid-tabled Hong Kong Cricket Club last weekend, Sept 29, and had no major problem taking all eight points.  However, in the rink skipped by Stanley Lai against John Hesketh, Lai was losing by one shot into the very last end.  Hesketh was holding a shot until Lai delivered a superb shot to trail the jack into the ditch to hold two.  Hesketh failed to draw close to cut down and Lai added a third with his last bowl to ensure a full house win.

With a nine points lead before the Saturday game, HKFC-A travelled to Tuen Mun Sports Association in a hope to extend the lead.  Tony Cheung, who won all games so far, engaged with Yu Hon Ming in a very tight game.  At the end, Cheung suffered his first defeat of the season with a scoreline of 16:14.

With CT Wong also losing big against Boris Choi, the only consolation was from youngster Anthony Yip who edged out Leo Li by two shots.

After the games the gap between HKFC-A and CCC was cut to just three points.  Third placed Kowloon Cricket Club won 0-8 at Filipino Club to maintain their pressure on the leaders.  They are now 16 points less than HKFC-A but with a game in hand.

At the bottom, Club de Recreio (CdeR) prevailed in the bottom-of-the-table clash to defeat Kowloon Bowling Green Club (KBGC) 8-0 at home.  The two team’s switched positions after the game but CdeR are still seven points behind the Filipino Club in front of them.

KBGC, once a mighty force with 10 top-flight titles under their belt, are five points further behind but with a game in hand.  They will play the leaders HKFC-A at home this weekend, and a postponed match against KCC on Sunday.

For the women, leaders KCC won their home match against bottom team City Lawn Bowls Club to maintain their three points lead at the top.  HKFC-A moved to second after defeating Indian Recreation Club 8-0 at home.

The defending champions Island Lawn Bowls Club suffered their third 8-0 defeat in the second half of the season, this time against lowly Tseung Kwan O Lawn Bowls Club.  They slipped to third and are now 11 points less than the leader.

CCC and City Lawn Bowls Club remain at the bottom.

This week in Lawn Bowls

The Premier League will continue this Saturday (Oct 6) at 2:30pm at all greens in Hong Kong.
Claudius Lam is an officer of the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.