Clough ‘B’ bowlers enjoy change of fortune in league and Nelson Cup

The Ballymena & District CHurches League’s Nelson Cup knockout competition produced two surprising results last week.
Harryville's Ned Loughlin. INBT 51-178CSHarryville's Ned Loughlin. INBT 51-178CS
Harryville's Ned Loughlin. INBT 51-178CS

Buckna, beaten finalists in each of the previous two years, crashed out of this season’s competition when they lost on their own mats to COnnor, who produced an excellent performance to win by 51 shots to 28.

And there was also some welcome cup cheer for Clough ‘B’, a side who traditionally find themselves in the lower reaches of the league table.

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They defeated St Patrick’s Ballymena - a side who are having an excellent season and who are currently sitting third in the league - by four shots.

Clough A's Alastair McCrea (left) and Ian Crawford work out their next move during last week's Churches League game with St Patrick's. INBT 51-175CSClough A's Alastair McCrea (left) and Ian Crawford work out their next move during last week's Churches League game with St Patrick's. INBT 51-175CS
Clough A's Alastair McCrea (left) and Ian Crawford work out their next move during last week's Churches League game with St Patrick's. INBT 51-175CS

Buckna 28, Connor 51: S Alexander 3, D Elliott 11; S Hamill 6, J Elliott 21; J Reid 8, M Boyd 10; A McCullough 11, N Garrett 9.

LEAGUE

Meanwhile, Second Broughshane ‘A’ continued their pursuit of First Ahoghill at the top of the league table by taking four points from their meeting with Cullybackey Methodist.

St Patrick’s and Ballymena Methodist have both enjoyed excellent first halves of the season and they bith improved their psoitions with victories at Clough ‘A’ and Killymurris Carnlea respectively.

Declan McCullough of St Patricks. INBT 51-174CSDeclan McCullough of St Patricks. INBT 51-174CS
Declan McCullough of St Patricks. INBT 51-174CS
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Buckna have recovered from a slow start and are slowly climbing the table and a haul of four-and-a-half points from their trip to High Kirk was another boost.

As well as their victory in the Nelson Cup, CLough ‘B’ completed a memorable week by grabbing a rare win in the league when they overcame Harryville.

With matches in hand over the teams around them at the foot of the table, the village side wil be optimistic that they can avoid finishing in the wooden spoon position this season.

Latest Churches League results are:

Cullybackey Methodist 5, Second Broughshane B 0: T Rock 18, W Barr 2; W Reid 15, J Currie 7; N Laverty 14, J Smylie 7; N Peacock 16, N Graham 3.

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Second Broughshane A 4, Cullybackey Methodist 1: C Turtle 14, T Rock 5; Jean Montgomery 8, W Reid 13; M Montgomery 11, N Peacock 5; I Montgomery 8, N Laverty 6.

High Kirk 0.5, Buckna 4.5: D Robinson 6, S Hamill 8; T McPeake 10, S Alexander 10; R Mitchell 4, A McCullough 17; J Brown 8, J Reid 9.

Ballymena Methodist 4.5, Killymurris Glarryford 0.5: M Arbuthnut 9, S Dunlop 8; T Dillon 14, A Sayers 7; J Simms 8, J McWhirter 8; A Bacon 11, M Shaw 10.

Killymurris Carnlea 1.5, St Patrick’s 3.5: Dan McCullough 2, D McCullough 13; David McCullough 8, J Gage 9; W J McAlonan 14, T Agnew 7; W Crawford 9, M O’Neill 9.

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Killymurris Carnlea 3.5, Cuningham ‘A’ 1.5: D McCullough 17, D Stewart 4; W Crawford 6, S McKee 12; D McCullough 10, J Calderwood 5; W J McAlonan 7, L McIlroy 7.

Clough A 0, St Patrick’s 5: A McCrea 10, D McCullough 11; W Stewart, M O’Neill 16; D Wasson 7, J Gage 13; J Wasson 6, T Agnew 10.

Clough B 3, Harryville 2: S Johnston 14, B White 4; S Anderson 8, J Patterson 5; R Frew 6, A Lowry 9; L Cubitt 8, B McLaughlin 14.

LEAGUE TABLE

First Ahoghill, played 10, points 43; Second Broughshane A 11-35.5; St Patrick’s Ballymena 10-34; Ballymena Methodist 11-33.5; Cloughwater 8-29; Buckna 8-28; First Broughshane 10-26.5; Cuningham Memorial ‘B’ 7-24.5; Craigs 9-22.5; Glenwherry 10-22; Cullybackey Methodist ‘A’ 8-19.5; Harryville 10-19.5; Killymurris Carnlea 8-19.5; Connor 8-19; High Kirk 10-18; Killymurris Glarryford 6-15; Grange 7-14.5; Cuningham Meorial ‘A’ 8-14; Clough A 11-14; Second Broughshane B 11-13.5; Clough B 8-9.

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