THE Isle of Wight continued to enhance its huge reputation for producing top bowls players after another group made it through to area and national finals.

The Isle of Wight Indoor Bowls Club were well represented in the area finals, with mixed results, but the ladies’ triples team of Gay Allen, Anne Bernard and Pauline Proud beat a trio from Bournemouth 15-10 on Sunday to book their place in the national finals in Nottingham.

Their Bournemouth opponents got off to a flyer — 8-1 ahead after six ends — but from that point on, the match swung in the Islanders’ favour, with consistent scoring over the final four ends.

Darren Griffith was unable to make it through to the nationals after he lost 21-7 to Five Rivers player, Peter Ward, in the area final of the two woods competition, at East Dorset Club.

Alan Cawdell, Ian Morey and Bob Mortlock will hope to make the national finals when they face Portsmouth-based Victory in the area final of the men’s over-50s triples, in Bournemouth, on Saturday, March 14.

Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight Indoor Bowls Club men's triple team, from left: Ian Morey, Alan Cawdell, Bob Mortlock, will be hoping to make it through to the national finals if they can beat a Victory trio in their area final on March 14.Isle of Wight Indoor Bowls Club men's triple team, from left: Ian Morey, Alan Cawdell, Bob Mortlock, will be hoping to make it through to the national finals if they can beat a Victory trio in their area final on March 14.

Allen won her way through to the area final of the national over-60 ladies’ singles following her emphatic 21-6 quarter final win against Julie Hudson of Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Club, then Joy Travers, of Palmerston, 21-15, in the semis.

In the area final, Allen will take on Bournemouth’s Lyn Howard, at Palmerston, on Sunday, March 15.

There was disappointment in the area final of the men’s fours for Islanders Griffith, Alan Cawdell, Paul Dickinson and Jack Berry.

Up against a quartet from Bournemouth, at neutral venue, Atherley, the Island team fought a match of fluctuating fortunes, with the lead constantly changing.

After Bournemouth took a three-shot lead after seven ends, the IW scored eight without reply to take a 12-7 lead.

However, they immediately conceded a four to allow Bournemouth back into it and extended it to a three-shot lead.

The Islanders fought back, scoring seven without reply over the next three ends, to go into the final two ends with a four-shot advantage.

But dropping four on the penultimate end saw the scores level going into the final end, with Bournemouth sneaking home to reach the national finals.

The club took on the Isle of Wight Community Club in the second leg of this season’s Ralph Jenvey Trophy — retaining the team which took a huge 40-shot advantage from the tie’s opening leg.

But at the half-way stage, the home team had cut the deficit by 18 shots, which continued in the same vein to come within three shots and one rink to play.

Dramatically, the Isle of Wight Community Club overturned the impossible-looking deficit to win by three.

In two friendlies against Cotswold Bowling Club, the Islanders won 121-53 and 120-58.