Shatin Sports Association Win First Premier League Title

Lawn Bowls—Premier League

A jubilant Shatin Sports Association team celebrates their first ever Premier League title, after finished runners-up for the last 3 years. Stephanie Worth

HONG KONG—Four times runners-up Shatin Sports Association (STSA) finally triumphed over their arch rivals Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) to lift their first ever Women’s Premier League title.  

The results also marked an end to the dominance of HKFC in the Women’s Premier League, which they have won for 9 consecutive years since 2007.

STSA, whose name was finally etched into the history books of the sport’s most prestigious tournament, also won it with style. The team won the most games (13) in Division 1 and scored the most shots. The achievement was largely due to the consistent performance in the 2nd half of the season, when they won 8 of the 9 games and drew the other one.

In the final game last Saturday, Oct 22, STSA just needed 4 points from Indian Recreation Club to take the crown but they finished winning 2:6. As 2nd-placed Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) lost 0-8 to bottom club Seabird Sports Association (SBSC), the winning margin was increased to 11 points.

STSA-A Skip, Alice Lee, encourages her team's wood into the head watched by IRC-A Skip, Maple Tai, in the last game of the Women's Premier League 2016 Season held at IRC on Saturday Oct 22. STSA-A won the match to become Champions of the 1st Division for the season. Stephanie Worth

HKFC registered their 1st victory in 4 games, against 4th-placed City Lawn Bowls Club, however it was not enough to for them to edge KCC for the runners-up. The two teams were tied on point but KCC took it with one shot more.

In the other end of the table. SBSC ended their ever-presence in the top flight before delivering a bowl last Saturday. Going down with them will be Kowloon Bowling Green Club who just returned to the top division two seasons ago.

In Division 2, Craigengower Cricket Club and United Services Recreation Club, the 2 teams relegated from Division 1 last season, finished 1st and 2nd and will make an instant return to the top flight next season.

This weekend the focus will be on the men. As Craigengower Cricket Club has been crowned a champion of Division 1, the attention will focus to the relegation battle between Kowloon Bowling Green Club and Hong Kong Cricket Club. One of them will accompany Island Lawn Bowls Club in Division 2 next season.

All games will start at 3:00 this weekend.

Claudius Lam is an officer of the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.