Ballymoney bowlers seal league championship

The Lodge Road outfit put the newly crowned champions, Ballymoney, to the sword winning by 30-shots in the end and picking up six points in the process. They added another five to their total on Saturday with an eleven shot win over Cookstown to open up a nine shot lead over the Sizzlers who remain in third place.

Against the 'Toon' Mervyn McKeeman set Coleraine off on the right track with an 18-shot win over Alistair Steele before Gary Kelly edged out Victor Dallas by three points.

In the remaining two rinks David Reilly beat Nicky McCaw by 15 shots before Richard McDermott shared the spoils with Willie McCaw.

It was a bit tighter on Saturday as Coleraine and Cookstown shared two rinks each. Richard McDermott and Mervyn McKeeman were the victors for the hosts with Colin Hogg and Liam McHugh hitting back for Cookstown.

Cookstown moved in to third place with victory over Portrush last week. The Sizzlers grabbed a three shot win with both sides winning two rinks each.

At the other end of the table Brookgreen picked up a vital 19-shot home win over City of Derry to open up a 6.5 point lead over the basement boys.

B Lindsay recorded an excellent 23-shot win over D Kincaid before M Thompson picked up a point for the visitors with a five shot win over D Gaile.

Lorenzo Graham secured another point for City of Derry as he beat Ian Ross by four, but T Steele secured the overall win for Brookgreen with a five shot win over J Campbell.

Dunluce crashed through the 100-shot barrier at Portglenone as they beat the hosts by 33 shots in the end.

Uel McKeeman and B Smyth won rinks for Dunluce with Eamon McCann hitting back for Portglenone.

The race for the Division One title and promotion to the Senior League looks like going to the wire.

Ballycastle currently lead the way by 1.5 points following their vital win over Brooke Park last week.

The Seasiders picked up six points following their 21-shot win to leapfrog the hosts in the table. Brooke Park though have a game in hand which should set up a tense finish.

Limavady lost ground as they suffered a grand slam defeat away at Ballymoney B. Cookstown still have an outside chance of glory as they picked up 16-shot win at Magherafelt.

It's tight in Division Two also as just 3.5 points separate leaders Portrush B from second placed Coleraine B.

Meanwhile, the destiny of the Division Three title has been confirmed as Letterkenny were crowned champions following their 23-shot win over Dungiven. The newly crowned champions will be hoping to finish the season with their 100% record intact having won all 17 league games to date.

NI Provincial Bowling Association Provincial Building Society Senior Division: Ballymoney 67 (1) Portrush 87 (6), Coleraine 80 (5) Cookstown 72 (2), Portglenone 85 (6) City of Derry 71 (1).

Division One: Magherafelt 64 (1.5) Cookstown B 80 (5.5), Ballymoney B 79 (7) Limavady 60 (0), Brooke Park 49 (1) Ballycastle 70 (6).

Division Two: City of Derry B 74 (6) Limavady B 67 (1), Fairhill 76 (6) Kilrea 61 (1).

Division Three: Dungiven 61 (1) Letterkenny 84 (6), Ballycastle B 76 (4) Dunluce B 76 (3), Lisnagelvin 54 (1) Riada 56 (1).

PBA Mullan Cup final: Ballymoney 71 Cookstown 71 (Ballymoney won on tie end).

NI Provincial Women's Bowling Association Senior League: Limavady 78 (6) Londonderry 54 (1), Magherafelt 45 (0) Portstewart 78 (7), Ballymena 78 (6) Ballymoney 57 (1).

Fixtures

Friday 27 August

Cupples Cup Final - Lisnagelvin v Castlerock at Coleraine BC 7pm.

Saturday 28 August

Irish Senior Cup Final - Ballymoney v Ballymena at Belmont BC 7pm.

Progressive Senior League - Portrush v Cookstown; Dunluce v Portglenone; City of Derry v Brookgreen.

Monday 30 August

NIPBA Youth Tournament at Coleraine BC 7pm.

Tuesday 31 August

Progressive Division 1 League - Cookstown B v Brooke Park; Magherafelt v Ballymoney B.

Wednesday 1 September

Progressive Division 2 League - Fairhill v Portrush B; Kilrea v Coleraine B; Castlerock v City of Derry B; Brookgreen B v LImavady B.

Wednesday 1/Thursday 2 September

Progressive Division 3 League - Ballycastle B v Letterkenny; Dunluce B v Dungiven; Riada v Portstewart; Lisnagelvin v Culrathain.