Ballycruttle struggle with champs

Ballycruttle struggle with champs

16 November 2011

BALLYCRUTTLE 2 

ST. MARY'S, NEWCASTLE 8

BALLYCRUTTLE had the reigning league champions as visitors, but were unable to lower their colours.

The champions made their customary good start and then consolidated their position with a competent performance that saw them ease to a comfortable 53-31 shot win and 8-2 on points.

The match began brightly for the visitors as they put early points on the board. On mat one Kyle Blakely's four had a fine 8-1 win. On the other mat St. Mary's' rink of Frank McLaughlin, Dick Keag, Joe Corrigan and skip Benny McArdle had a good 6-3 win over Willie Bassett.

In the second quarter wins were exchanged. On mat one the visitors' rink of Gary Madine had a 7-3 win. On the other mat Ballycruttle's Eileen Green, Mary McMullan, Doris McQuoid and skip Noel Holland put the home team's first point on the board with a solid 7-3 win over Robert Graham.  At the interval St. Mary's led 24-12 and were 3-1 up on points.

On the restart the champions showed their class and started pulling away.  Benny McArdle's rink secured their double with an 8-6 win. Kyle Blakely did likewise with a 9-2 win. With the match already in the bag wins were exchanged in the last quarter. Robert Graham's four had a 7-5 win over Willie Bassett, while the home team's Assumpta Taggart had a fine 6-5 win over Gary Madine.

DRUMAROAD 7 

MARINA 3

DRUMAROAD played hosts to unbeaten Marina and inflicted the first defeat of the season on the bowlers from Mourne.  

This fine win also propelled Drumaroad into the top spot in the division. The home team built up a good lead in the first period, then kept a tight grip on proceedings in the second half to finish 52-44 winners and 7-3 on points.

The match started with wins exchanged in the first quarter. On mat one Marina's rink of Jim McConnell got their team off to a bright start with a 9-5 win over Harry Addis. On mat two the home rink of Henry O'Hare, James Murray, Martin Burns and skip Kevin Walsh put Drumaroad's first point on the board with a 7-3 win over Ronan Smyth. 

In the second quarter the home team took control. On mat one Thomas Walsh's four had an 8-4 win over Bridget Smyth. On mat two the rink of Pat Lennon made an explosive start with two 3s and were never headed in a fine 8-3 win over Dermot Collins. At half-time Drumaroad were 28-19 in front and 3-1 up on points.

The second half began with wins exchanged. On mat one the visitors' rink of George Gordon, David Radcliffe, Pat Trimble and skip Ronan Smyth put another point on the board for Marina with a 7-5 win over Pat Lennon. 

On mat two Thomas Walsh was keeping Drumaroad's nose in front with a 7-6 win over Jim McConnell. The last two games saw Drumaroad keep a firm hold on their advantage with two hard earned draws.  

On mat one Kevin Walsh and Dermot Collins finished at 5-5, while Harry Addis and Ronan Smyth had to settle for a 7-7 scoreline. The new Division 1 leaders are having a great season so far and are the team to beat at the moment.

SEAFORDE 4 

DOWNPATRICK GOLF CLUB 6

SEAFORDE had the Golf Club as visitors and were hoping to do well against the fancied club from Downpatrick.

Just as they did in their last home match, Seaforde were doing well for most of the match, but then faded badly in the last quarter. The Downpatrick aces hit them with a storming finish to turn a one shot deficit into a 16 shot triumph by 52-36 and the overall win by 6-4 on points.

The match began with the Golf Club getting the upper hand after the first two games. On mat one Seaforde's rink of Derek McCann and the Golf Club's Ashley Gibson fought out a 5-5 draw. On mat two the visitors' rink of Agnes Logue, Tom Higgins, Teresa Powell and skip Collie Gibson put the Golf Club in the driving seat with an 8-2 win over Paddy Burns snr.

In the second quarter Seaforde hit back immediately. Graham Christie's quartet had a good 6-2 win over Michael McCashin. On the other mat the home rink of Robert Shaw, John McCandless, Hugh Burns and Paddy Burns jnr were one of the few rinks to lower the colours of the Paul Fitzsimmons four as they had a close 6-5 win. At the interval the Golf Club led 20-19 with Seaforde 2.5-1.5 up on points.

On the restart it was all to play for. On mat one Paddy Burns jnr and Collie Gibson could not be separated as they fought out a 6-6 draw. On mat two Graham Christie's squad secured their double and put Seaforde in the lead with a fine 7-5 win over Ashley Gibson.  

Going into the last two games the match was there for the taking and it was the Golf Club who took it in devastating fashion. On mat one Paul Fitzsimmons got his charges going as they swept to an emphatic 13-1 win. On the other mat Michael McCashin was rubber-stamping the victory with a good 8-3 win over Derek McCann.

ST. MARY'S, KILLYLEAGH 9 

ST. PATRICK'S 1

ST. MARY'S, KILLYLEAGH, eased to a comfortable 9-1 win over their visitors from St. Patrick's.

Both teams were slightly understrength, but the host club carried too much heavy artillery for St. Patrick's, who are still looking for their first win of the current campaign.

The match began with the home team in total control. On mat one the rink of Brian Jess, Liam Woodside, Tommy Patterson and skip Kieran McMullan won five ends in a solid 7-1 win over Stephen Hunter.  

On mat two Paddy Murray's rink was also in command as they had an 8-3 win over Gerry Walsh. In the second quarter the trend continued. On mat one the home rink of Davy Boal found the going a lot tougher against the visitors' rink of Ed Murnin.  

Davy's charges put in a good finish for a close 6-5 win. On mat two St Mary's Ricky Cathcart and St. Patrick's' Jim Toman had a right old tussle with the home rink going on for a 5-2 win. At the interval St. Mary's led 26-11 and 4-0 on points.

After the break the home team upped their game even further. On mat one Ricky Cathcart's squad secured their double with a comprehensive 11-1 win.  

On mat two Davy Boal's quartet were doing likewise with a splendid 11-2 win. Going into the last two games St. Patrick's had only their pride to play for and the rink of Marg Toman, Patricia Laverty, Sean Laverty and skip Jim Toman gave them their only point with a 6-3 win over Paddy Murray.  

On mat two Kieran McMullan's quartet were simply unstoppable as they secured their double with an emphatic 11-1 win.