Laughlin in treble time

Laughlin in treble time

18 January 2012

EDENGROVE Church Hall, Ballynahinch, was packed last Friday night for the Mid Down Zone bowls finals.

A number of bowlers had reached more than one final, including Colin Wilson, Paul McNamara and Alan Laughlin, of Spa Golf Club; Paddy Murray, Patrick Rooney, Kieran McMullan, Tony Ward and Liam Woodside, of St Mary’s, Killyleagh; Anne Patterson, of Seaforde YFC; and Conal McLaughlin, of Downshire Hospital.

Alan Laughlin was successful in the national singles, triples and rinks. Double winners were Colin Wilson and Paul McNamara in the national triples and rinks, Anne Patterson in the ladies’ singles and triples and Conal McLaughlin in the junior singles and pairs.

FOURS FINAL

In the national fours final it was a St Mary’s versus Spa Golf Club clash as Kieran McMullan, Liam Woodside, Tony Ward and Paddy Murray played Colin Wilson, Don McNamara, Paul McNamara and Alan Laughlin.

This was a high quality match that went down to the last bowl. The nine ends played, along with three burnt ends, took the best part of two hours.

Murray’s rink scored two shots on the opening end, but then ped a single on the next two ends to leave the scores level. Four ends later the scores were still tied at four each.

Two shots to Laughlin on the eighth end gave him a slender lead. On the final end Murray lay three shots to win the match, but Laughlin play a magnificent bowl to get the shot. It was all down to the last bowl but Murray could not remove the Spa bowl. The final score was 7-4 in Alan’s favour.

TRIPLES

In the national triples final David Boal, Stephen Bleue and Patrick Rooney were defending their title against Colin Wilson, Paul McNamara and Alan Laughlin.

This had all the makings of a close game, but it didn’t turn out that way. St Mary’s won the opening end, but then lost the next four ends to trail 6-1.

A single to the St Mary’s triple left them 6-2 behind after six ends but three shots to the Spa triple on the seventh end virtually sealed the victory. A further single to the Spa triple on the eighth end secured the title by 10-2.

PAIRS

The national pairs final once again was an all St Mary’s clash between Kieran McMullan and Tony Ward against Patrick Rooney and Paddy Murray. Both pairs had already qualified for the Irish finals in Ballymoney by winning their respective sections.

After five ends the McMullan/Ward combination led 4-2. A brilliant last bowl by Murray secured three shots to take the lead for the first time. Going into the last end the scores were level but the Rooney/Murray just did enough to get the shot and retain the title.

SINGLES

The singles final was a similarly tight affair with Spa Golf Club’s Alan Laughlin, who was playing his third final of the evening, against Liam Woodside, of St Mary’s.

Despite being in his first Mid Down singles final Liam showed no nerves and quickly settled into the game.

After six ends Liam was 5-3 ahead, but Alan scored a brace to even things up. Two ends later the score was 6-6. In an exciting last end Alan removed Liam’s shot bowl to leave himself lying two shots.

Liam had to draw close to the line to claim victory but his last bowl was just too heavy and the title belonged to Alan. Both Alan and Liam have qualified for the Irish finals in Ballymoney, having won their respective sections.

LADIES’ TRIPLES

The ladies’ triples final was contested between Seaforde YFC’s Frances McCann, Babs Bassett and Anne Patterson, and the Second Saintfield trio of Sally McAllister, Renee Mills and Josephine Copes.

Josephine scored one shot on the opening end before Anne scored four shots over the next two ends. Josephine scored another shot on the fourth end but this proved to be their last contribution as the Seaforde triple reeled of seven shots over the next four ends leaving them worthy 11-2 winners.

LADIES’ PAIRS

Lorna Stevenson and Rose Marie Wylie, of Spa Golf Club, were defending their ladies’ pairs title against Mary Woodside and Teenie Bell, of Crossgar.

Mary and Teenie made a confident start to lead 3-0 after two ends. The Spa pair opened their account with four shots on the third end.

After this it was just singles to both sides and after the Spa pair scored a single on the ninth end this left the Crossgar pair requiring all four shots on the last end to draw. After Teenie’s bowl went off on the last end she conceded the game to Lorna and Rose Marie.

LADIES’ SINGLES

In the ladies’ singles final Anne Patterson, of Seaforde YFC, played Betty McClurg, from the host club Edengrove, and Betty took an early 2-1 lead after three ends.

Anne upped her game to lead 4-2 after five ends. The second half of the game saw Anne taking complete control and she ended won winning very comfortably by 12-3.

OVER 55 PAIRS

In the over 55 pairs final, sponsored by Charles Rourke & Sons, Downpatrick, the final was an all-Ballygowan Presbyterian battle between the husband-and wife-combination of Susan and Dessie Long and Wilbert Glover and Jim McClenaghan.

The Longs were quickly into their stride and took a 6-3 lead after six ends, but the Glover/McClenaghan combination scored six shots over the next three ends to give them a 9-6 lead going into the last end.

The Longs made a valiant effort on the last end, but could only collect two shots to leave Wilbert and Jim winners by 9-8.

JUNIORS

In the Under-18 singles final, Conal McLaughlin, from Downshire Hospital, once again played Samuel Vance, from Kilmore Presbyterian, in a repeat of last year’s final.

Conal started confidently, taking a 4-0 lead after two ends. Samuel then settled down and he scored two shots over the next two ends. Conal then scored three shots on the fifth end and one shot on the sixth end to lead 8-2.

Samuel suddenly found his weight and with three shots on the ninth end the scores were level again. In an exciting last end Samuel lay two shots to seemingly complete his comeback but Conal played a magnificent bowl to remove Samuel’s two bowls and win 10-8.

Conal made it a double celebration, having already won the U-18 pairs Final with his sister Shauna.

All winners will represent Mid Down Zone at Ballymoney in the Irish finals in March. There is strong representation from Mid Down in all competitions and it is hoped that an Irish title could be brought back to the Zone.

A lovely supper was supplied and served by the committee and a collection was taken up for the premature baby charity, Tiny Life. A sum of £145 was raised.