A look at new season

Section A

Can Ballinderry maintain their remarkable record of wins in the Lisburn Indoor Bowling League which has been ongoing for the past 26 years?

The simple answer is they can, but each year it gets more difficult to continue an amazing record and, yes, someone can take over their mantle.

Hillsborough Social and Soldierstown have threatened to win the title for the past few years, so why not?

Killaney have continually finished in fourth place and if they could have all their club members available that situation could change, for they have the players in their ranks to win honours.

Derriaghy, St Paul’s and Pond Park finished in mid-table last year and will be happy to stay there, but Priesthill Methodist narrowly avoided relegation last time and could again struggle along with promoted Hilden and Annahilt Parish.

Section B

Last season’s two relegated teams, Aghagallon and Eglantine should start as promotion favourites with St Joseph’s again in contention.

Sloan Street are struggling to find a full complement of players, but hopefully they will still contest the League.

This is a highly competitive section with little between the teams but St Clare’s A and St Matthew’s Broomhedge will hope they can stay up after being promoted.

There is nothing between St Mark’s, Lambeg Parish and St Colman’s Lambeg but Rock have flirted with relegation over the past two years.

Section C

Royal British Legion and Suffolk were relegated last year and will hope to bounce back, though Seymour Hill and St Colman’s Dunmurry can have a say in the promotion battle.

Lisburn Masonic are unlikely to want to be too involved and Derryvolgie, St Columba’s and St Clare’s B are likely to again be the bottom three.

Neil is part of Elite Squad

Lisnagarvey’s Neil Mulholland was included in the NI Elite Squad for the Test Series against Wales in Scotland.

Team manager, Jim Baker, says Commonwealth Games place are still up for grabs and the squad played on the greens where next year’s Commonwealth Games will take place at Kelvingrove, Glasgow.

Baker added that all the squad members will have the opportunity to stake a claim for a Games place, so Neil has his future in his own hands.