Whites topple league leaders

WHITEHEAD Bowling Club’s ‘B’ team faced one of the most serious challenges they have encountered this season when Londonderry Park came to call.

The Ards men currently top the Division Two table and are tipped for a return to the Northern Ireland Bowls Association top-flight in 2012.

Club vice-president Dean Smith led by example. Out on rink four, he led a furious onslaught on his guests. A six and a five on early ends established home supremacy and they cruised to a 28-19 triumph. Of course credit must be given to the deadly accuracy of Sean Mullen, who stepped off a jet plane and straight onto the green for this big match. Osbourne and Tweedie ensured that there would be no big slip-ups and the reward for their accuracy was another delightful, morale-boosting six - this time on a dramatic seventeenth end.

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The Connor four threatened to win big too, but had to settle for a 20-17 victory. Michael Crooks was drafted into the four to provide power and precision and he delivered the goods with a pile-driver which secured a two on the last end! Another point was safely lodged in the Whitehead coffers.

John Phillips banked point number three, guiding his veteran troops to a pulsating 23-17 triumph. For 16 ends the home four had to toil for survival, but third Cecil Knox has been in the game long enough to know that encouragement pays better dividends than criticism. He coaxed and prompted and the tide turned with winning effects. Thirteen shots over the last seven ends saw them home 23-17.

Geoff Falconer nearly emulated this, despite trailing by 13 shots at the halfway stage. There was no happy ending to the Larne man’s story this week, but, by cutting the deficit to 15-20 his rink ensured overall success and a lifeline of six unexpected points.

Whitehead will lose Crooks senior and junior plus John Phillips for some vital games over the coming weeks. The selectors will have to be at their most ingenious to make the most of available resources. Meanwhile, this victory will provide a big boost to the team’s confidence.

Result: Whitehead ‘B’ (86) 6 Points V Londonderry Park (73) 1 Point

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