BOWLS: Good week for Dunluce

The B team won the Hyland Donaghy Cup at the weekend with a one shot win over Dungiven.

And the senior team blew the Progressive League title race wide open with a convincing 41-shot win over leaders Coleraine.

It was the Bannsiders first 7-0 loss in the league for a long number of years, they will be disappointed at the lack of even a consolation point and will be out to make amends in their next league fixture.

The Lodge Road side named an unchanged side from their excellent away win against NIPGBL side Larne in the Irish Cup third round. Dunluce would be out to continue their revival, following a few disappointing results in the early part of the season.

Both sides were neck and neck after the first couple of ends with the scores tied at 11-11, however, Dunluce adapted to the tricky green settings better than the home side and soon found themselves well clear of the Coleraine men. The Bannsiders trailed their opponents by an astonishing 30 shots after seven ends of play across the green, it wasn’t what the Coleraine men had in mind and they could not rein in the Bushmills side as they eventually fell to a disastrous 41 shot loss.

The rink of Mark Mason, Tony Blair, Stephen Brewster and Jonathan Calvin had a tough battle with Uel McKeeman’s foursome. Jonny’s men found themselves 14-2 down early on before fighting back to within five shots, eventually losing 27-22. Over on rink two, Ally Davison lost out to Barry Kane’s rink. Paul O’Neill, Jimmy O’Neill, Alan Irwin and Ally started brightly as they opened up a 4-0 lead, however, things soon changed and they found themselves 10 shots adrift at the halfway stage. The Coleraine rink eventually slipped to a 29-14 loss.

Victor Dallas had a hard fought encounter with Rodney Kane, opening up an early lead on the Dunluce foursome. Kane’s rink fought back and shots were traded over the course of the game, with the Coleraine rink going into the last end four down, Victor had to take a bare jack to the ditch to potentially gain a half point, leaving the Dunluce rink to draw extra shots and the Dallas rink lost a five to fall to a 26-17 defeat, giving the scoreline a slightly flattering look. On rink four, it was a disappointing day at the office for the rink of Hugh McCallum, Gareth McConnell, Basil Kennedy and Richard McDermott. The Lodge Road four found themselves 12-0 down and it was a struggle to get back into the game against Mervyn McKeeman’s foursome. McDermott’s four eventually slipped to a 22-10 defeat to complete a miserable night for Coleraine.

Coleraine will be disappointed at this heavy home defeat, and one which knocks them off top spot in the NIPBA Senior League table, surprisingly they now find themselves in 5th place and six points adrift of new leaders, Portrush. The Bannsiders lacked the fight and determination they have shown throughout the season and they will be out to make amends, with an away league game coming up against Portrush on Monday night to start. Another massive weekend lies in store as the Lodge Road men travel to Portglenone for the Irish Cup fourth round, and the Coleraine men will travel knowing a tough game lies in store.

Fixtures

Thursday 21st June

NIPBA Junior Singles Round 2

M. Jones PG v A. Tennant BM

J. Jacob LK v A. Millar PG

S. Martin BM v G. Kelly BM

P.J. Gallagher LK v R. Kincaid CoD

A. Cassley KR v M. McCracken CT

M. Steen BG v J.P. Fahy BPK

A. Wilson PR v S. Colvin PR

J. Vauls CR beat L. Jacob LK

Friday 22nd June

NIPBA Pairs Round 4

L. Jacob LK beat U. McKeeman DL

L. Graham CoD v J. Moore BG

T. Mullan DL v V. Dallas CR

J. Elder CR lost to I. Ross BG

C. Jones PG v A. Hagan BPK

G. McCloy PR v M. Wilson CT

F. Morrow BC v J. Hagan BPK

L. McHugh CT v M. Ryan LK

Saturday 23rd June

Irish Senior Cup

Dundonald v Ballymoney

Portrush v Londonderry Park

Portglenone v Coleraine

Belmont v City of Derry

Dunbarton v Ballycastle

Irish Junior Cup

Dunluce v Salisbury

Ballymoney v Pickie

Letterkenny v Clarendon

Monday 25th June

Progressive Senior League

Dunluce v Ballymoney

Portrush v Ballycastle

Cookstown v Coleraine

City of Derry v Limavady

Portglenone v Brookgreen