B team disappointed in the end

Lurgan B 78 (2)

Lurgan B travelled to Moat Park with hopes of a repeat win against Dundonald side, Moat Park but were disappointed to lose by just 5 shots.

After 17 ends Moat Park were marginally in the lead by 4 shots but held out to win the match and restrict the Lurgan side to two match points brought about by them winning well on two rinks.

Neil Sloan, Mike Parr, playing his first match for the B Team, Gerry Stewart and Sam Neill, skip, on Rink 1 took any early lead of 11–7 and were well ahead by 20–10 after 13th end and looking good but they dropped 6 shots over the 14th and 15th ends to have their lead reduced to four shots. Another 5-shot loss at 18th end brought the score to 22–22. However a determined finish by Neill’s men gave them victory 26–22.

On Rink 2 Bobby Livingstone, Albert Houston, Rodney McCarthy and Wilfie McCullough, skip, had an inspiring win. Having made a cautious start and losing the first two ends they had a great spell of bowling to lead 12–5 but the home rink made a strong comeback and reduced the score to 13-12. McCullough encouraged his men to up their game and they responded well to restrict the home rink to just two end wins during the second half; while they collected an excellent total of 18 shots to win 31–17 and secure a vital league point.

Roy Poots, Charlie Maguire, Brian Brown and Dan Dempsey, skip, had a troublesome time on Rink 3 and found themselves down 12–1 after the 7th end and 16–3 after the 11th end. They were unfortunate to be the losers by mostly single shots with the deficit widening to 17 shots to put winning the rink well out of sight eventually losing 24–9.

Vincent Devlin, Derek Henderson, Gordon Bell and Bobby Jones, skip, were on Rink 4. They made a good start but had no answer to a sustained home bowling attack which resulted in the Moat Park rink leading 20–7 after the 19th end. Jones’ rink took 5 consolation shots off the last two ends but it was too late with the home rink winning 20-12.