BOWLS: Larne lose out to rivals Ballymena

Having capitulated there in a cup match earlier in the season, Larne were hoping to put up a better fight but David McRandal’s quartet got off to a nightmare start losing 11 shots over the first three ends. They came back into it but their slow start meant they suffered their first league defeat by 15-24.

Paul Robinson’s four battled well through the first half of the game and were in touch 6-11 at the halfway stage. The home rink moved through the gears in the latter stages to stretch their advantage and Robinson eventually lost 12-29.

Michael Murphy’s men were involved in a similar type of game in which they led through much of the first half. Again the Ballymena rink improved as the game developed and Murphy’ men went down 14-22.

Darren Witherspoon, George Woods, Nigel Todd and Alan McLean had a great game against strong opposition and found themselves level with two ends to play. A double on the penultimate end gave McLean’s men the advantage going into the last but the Ballymena skip added another to draw 19-19, giving Larne a half point for their efforts.

Result: BALLYMENA (6.5) 95 v LARNE (0.5) 61

Saturday’s match report from Falls v Larne in this week’s Times. Available in shops on Wednesday (July 2).