Agonising defeat spells relegation for Lurgan

Banbridge 85 (5 points)

Lurgan Seniors hosted local rivals Banbridge in this must win game to keep Lurgan in Division 1, it was a tight affair with Lurgan up on two rinks and down on two.

Lurgan made a good start leading 19-14 after five ends and had increased this lead to 41-35 at the half.

A disappointing middle of the game saw them drop to 65-49 in arrears and with a strong comeback narrowly losing.

With the game in the balance Lurgan had the last bowl to try and win the game, with the bowl just missing the head Lurgan would fall agonisingly one shot short which all but confirms the Senior teams relegation to Division 2 for next season.

On rink 1, R McCullough, J McCullough, H Cosgrove and Skip R.M. Montgomery were 5-4 up against Banbridge skip C Dennison. The Lurgan rink then took control of the game to go 14-6 up at the half way point, though Banbridge came back strongly and was level at 15 all at three quarter distance. Montgomery marshalled his rink who regained control and won 27-18.

On rink 2, M Bunting, D McCabrey, G Bunting and skip J Gilliland started strongly and were 7-3 up after five ends against Banbridge skip I Gallagher. This would remain a tight affair throughout the game with Lurgan leading 10-7 at the half, however Banbridge would win four of the next five ends to take a 15-11 lead, the Lurgan four kept battling and trailed by a single shot going into the last end.

Some superb bowling would see the Lurgan four pick up four shots to win 23-20.

On rink 3, B Boness, D Dempsey, P McGrail, and skip A Briggs, got off to a bad start against Banbridge skip A O’Keefe, trailing 6-1 after five ends.

Despite some good bowling by the Lurgan four, Banbridge would maintain their advantage at the halfway point leading 10-5. The rink would fall further behind 18-9 at the three quarter distance, knowing that the game was tight the Lurgan rink fought to the end and finished down 22-16.

On rink 4 R McClune, E Quinn, S Poots and skip A Roberts got off to a good start against Banbridge skip B Davis leading 6-4 after the first five ends, the Banbridge rink came back strong and had levelled the game at 12 all at the half way point.

The Banbridge rink then took the lead at the three quarter distance 17-14 and continued to lead until the end winning 25-18.