landsman moll: KBGC Polarising The Men's Lawn Bowls Triples League

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KBGC Polarising The Men's Lawn Bowls Triples League | Other ...

Lawn Bowls ? Triples League

By Claudius Lam Created: January 30, 2013 Last Updated: January 30, 2013

We are that much better ? Chinese international Ye Sui Ying (right) skips his Kowloon Bowling Green Club team-mate to a tight victory against Pat Lai of Hong Kong Football Club. He took five shots on the last end to kill the game 19:15. (Stephanie Worth)

While the B team of Kowloon Bowling Green Club (KBGC) successfully won their fourth consecutive championship title in the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association?s Men?s Triples League, the attention now turns to their brothers in Team A. Sitting rock bottom of Division 1, KGBC-A need a miracle to be free of relegation fears.

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Men?s

KBGC-B?s win over the A team of Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) at home last Saturday Jan 26 represents their third 8-0 victory in a row and gives them a lead of 17 points in the table. This is enough for them to secure their title with two games to spare.

Meanwhile, Craigengower Cricket Club (CCC), who took over the second position from Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) by beating them 6-2, maintained their push for runners-up, but may face a big hurdle when they play the leader in the last game.

As KBGC-B celebrates championship glory, their clubmates in the A team face the agony of relegation after they could only draw 4-all with HKFC-B.

Two teams will be relegated from Division 1 and, languishing at the bottom of the table, KBGC-A appears doomed ? they are seven points away from the safety line; awaiting them on the fixture is an away game to the third-placed Kowloon Cricket Club and a home game with the team just above them also in the relegation firing line, Shatin Sports Association (STSA).

For STSA the escape path is not easy either as they are five points behind the team in front and will face second-placed CCC in the penultimate game this Saturday. But the bright side is that they will be playing at home and will aim at picking up the full points.

After losing to KBGC-B, HKFC-A was also dragged into the relegation dogfight as they are now fourth from the bottom, with only six points above the relegation zone. They will play third from bottom CLP Lawn Bowls Club this week and both teams may seek a draw to move away from the drop zone.

Depending on the outcomes, the relegation battle could be settled this week leaving the final game between the bottom two meaningless.

Meanwhile, in Division 2, Greende Lawn Bowls Club (GLBC) is on their way to return to the top division, from which they were relegated five years ago. With two teams to be promoted, GLBC is leading the table with just one point, but is seven points more than the third-placed United Service Recreation Club. Should they defeat second-placed Indian Recreation Club this weekend they will probably secure their promotion with a game to spare. Further to their likely promotion, in the final week of games they will play second from bottom Victoria Lawn Bowls Club.

Elsewhere in other divisions, Seabird Sports Association looks like the biggest winner as their teams occupies the top spot in Division 6, 7 and 9.

Women?s

In the women?s section, KBGC?s slim chance of winning their fourth consecutive title is officially over when they could only draw with third-placed Filipino Club on the weekend.

Meanwhile, leader KCC won their game 8:0 against Victoria Lawn Bowls Club to extend their lead to six points; however, the campaign is still wide open as KCC needs to play the last two games away from home. First, they will travel to Victoria Park for a tough game against Victoria Lawn Bowls Club this week, before playing third-placed Filipino Club away in the final week of Divison 1?s competition.

The six points lead has never been so vulnerable before.

This week we will also see a game between second and third, when Filipino Club hosts HKFC. Both could challenge for the title should KCC stumble.