Kowloon Bowling Green Club continues its quest to regain the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Premier League title from Kowloon Cricket Club when the campaign resumes this weekend, August 30, after a brief summer break.
League leader KBGC team A will face their club-mates in team B at home in the first game in the second half of the season. They face an unusual dilemma as KBGC-B is pushing hard to maintain their premiership status at the wrong end of the table. KBGC-B is sitting precariously in the relegation zone place and is six points from safety.
Should KBGC-A take all points in the game they will be able to consolidate their leading position. But, this may deal a big blow to KBGC-B’s chance of survival as there will be one game less for them to collect points to fight against the destiny.
Meanwhile, defending champion KCC will play away at Indian Recreation Club, the team just hovering over the relegation zone with six points more than KBGC-B. KCC will take full advantage of the game as they attempt to close the gap between them and the leader.
Rock bottom Hong Kong Football Club team B will also expect something from their brothers at team A at home this weekend.
In Division 2, there are just five points separating the leading four teams; so, it will be interesting to see which two teams will finish the season best and join the elite division. Currently Island Lawn Bowls Club, who aimed at an instant return to the top flight after relegated last season, holds a 5-point advantage; but, with nine more games to play anything could happen.
Women
In the women’s section, Hong Kong Football Club A team needs to push really hard for their eighth successive title as they are now trailing the leader Shatin Sports Association by four points.
STSA were the runners-up last year after occupying the top spot for most part of the season but lost out by three points at the end.
While HKFC-A’s mission is clear, they will face their club-mates from team B in the first game after the break. This is a tricky one as HKFC-B is only 10 points less than their team A and is also in the race for the honour.
At the bottom, the Police team will start their relegation fight at home against mid-table Island Lawn Bowls Club. The team needs to improve their form dramatically if they want to survive as they only won once in the first half of the season.
Claudius Lam is an Officer with the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.
