Uphill strugglenow for Lurgan

Lurgan Seniors will have an uphill struggle to avoid relegation from NIBA Division 1 for the second time in three years following their surprise midweek defeat by Balmoral who were just above the home team at the bottom of the table.

Having suffered defeats in their previous matches against Lurgan earlier in the season Balmoral meant business from the start and were ahead by seven shots after five ends.

Knowing that a six point win would take them clear of the bottom slot ahead of Balmoral and Carrickfergus, Lurgan fought hard to be only five shots short of the lead after 13 ends with Mansel Montgomery’s and Alan Roberts’ ahead on their rinks.

A win and five valuable league points was a possibility but a determined Balmoral side finished strongly to restrict the home side to a solitary point.

John Gilliland, skip on Rink 1, with Peter McGrail, Jeff McCullough and Ivor Mitchell had a titanic struggle with Clifford Craig’s rink and were unfortunate to lose just 17-13.

After their six point loss at the fifth end, Gilliland’s rink tried their best to win the rink; eventually losing even though they won a number of ends in the second half.

Skipping on Rink 2, Alan Briggs, Michael Bunting, Dan Dempsey and Bobby Boness struggled against Annesley Harrison’s rink that included Michael Bickerstaff and seasoned lead, Tom Turkington.

Briggs’ rink was behind from the first end, plus losing a 4-shot in the first half and a crippling 6-shot at the 16th end did not help their cause; eventually losing 25-12.

On Rink 3, Mansel Montgomery, skip, Harry Cosgrove, Mike Parr and Ronnie McCullough had the rink win for Lurgan against Matt Reid’s rink.

They took control from the start to shoot into a 12-4 by the midpoint. Reid’s rink traded winning ends but the home rink remained determined to secure a vital league point; and so they did with a very good 20-12 win.

At one time there was a prospect of a Lurgan six points win with John Gilliland’s and Alan Robert’s rinks getting closer to their opponents and with Roberts’ rink leading 16-13 against Drew Donaghy’s after 16 ends; but Donaghy seized the initiative and beat Alan Roberts, Stephen Poots, Declan McCabrey and Dick McClune 21-16 to deny Lurgan another league point.