Bowlers can secure league title with ‘derby’ win

A few weeks ago it looked as though the title belonged to Belmont but the Ballymena men have shown really strong character in coming back to claim victory in matches which in truth they had no right to win and so with two matches left the Braid men sit at the top of the NIPGL Senior League Division 1 with a lead over by Belmont of 8 points, however the Belfast men have a game in hand.

Steven Shields, Sammy Allen, Andrew Morrison and Andrew Kyle trailed B Johnston by 3 shots with 6 ends remaining and then conceded a count of 5 shots on the 16th end.

The Ballymena men however showed their fighting spirit when the scored 6 shots over the next 4 ends to reduce the arrears to only 2 shots, however victory eluded them when the home rink picked up a single on the final end to win by 18 shots to 15.

James Gaston, Graham Wilson, Steven Falls and Nigel Robinson started well against M Trew and with 5 ends played they led by 8 shots to 2. The visitors then picked up 2 singles and when they followed this with a count of 4 shots they were back in the game. Five ends later the game was still close with the Ballymena rink 1 shot to the good but a count of 4 shots on the next end saw them take control of the game.

Two singles followed and even though the home rink scored a shot on the 17th end Robinson’s men wrapped up a comfortable victory when they scored 6 shots over last 4 ends to leave the final score 24-12.

Andrew Bonnar, Jimmy Hodges, Andrew Duncan and Jim Baker lost the first 2 ends against M Devlin however a count of 5 shots on the next end got the Braid men up and running.

The visitors scored a single on the 4th end but the Ballymena rink destroyed the Transport men over the next 4 ends when they scored 6,3,4 and 1 to take a commanding lead. From this time on there was only ever going to be one winner and the Braid men kicked on and with the help of 2 more counts of 4 over the remaining ends they went on to claim an excellent victory by 34 shots to 13.

J R Nicholl, Mark Torrington, Alistair Coleman and Steven Coleman were involved in a close contest with R Fiddis and held a 5 shot lead with 4 ends remaining. The home rink lifted a count of 3 shots on the next end to give them a glimmer of hope but the Braid men were able to see the game out to win by 17 shots to 15.

Tonight (Tuesday) Ballymena can secure the title by taking maximum points gainst local rivals Old Bleach in their final league game, but will have to be at their best to do so.