Cookstown suffer shock cup defeat

Cookstown (77) Hilden (81)
By The Newsroom
Published 19th May 2012, 11:46 BST

Cookstown welcomed Private league greens, Hilden to Gunning Moore Park on Saturday in the first round of the Irish Cup.

Cookstowns early season form has been impeccable.Three wins from their opening 3 fixtures. Many pundits had this game downas a walk in the park for a strong Cookstown side, though Hilden had other plans.

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On rink 2 Cookstowns Damien McElroy and his rink of, Gary Scott, Brian Thom and Chris McKnight came up against the Hilden rink skipped by R Gourley. Both rinks started brightly and after 10 ends in the game Cookstown lead by 2 shots with the Hilden skip producing some great bowls to cut down the possibility of big counts. McElroy and his rink raced through the gears and ran out 24-17 victors.

On rink 3 Cookstowns Colin Hogg, Sean Quinn, Noel Glasgow and Robert Aspeniall took on the Hilden rink skipped by R Kirkwood. Hogg and co kept a spirited Hilden rink at bay and although far from their best won the match 21-16

On rink 4 Cookstowns Liam McHugh, Keith Wright, Thomas Allen and Tommy Johnston faced the Hilden rink skipped by the youthful M Kirkwood. Hilden started this match in blistering form and McHugh and his rink were put under the cosh, end after end. After 10 ends Cookstown trailed 16-3 and things didn’t get much better with Hilden coasting to a 25-12 win

On rink 6 Mark Wilson and his rink of Philip Wallace, William lennox and Ashely Wright faced Hildens H McMullan, Wilson and his rink started brightly on the tricky rink 6 and built up an early lead. As it looked like Wilson and his rink were going to rack up the shots, Hilden stepped up the pace and sneaked into the lead with 2 ends remaining and ran out 23-20 winners.

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This was a bitterly disappointing performance from a well below par Cookstown team. However there is no time to dwell on this performance with 3 games in the space of a week.

Forth coming fixtures. Monday 14th May Dunluce @ home in the league. Wednesday 16th May: Portrush away in the league. Thursday 17th May Dunluce @ home in the Piggot Cup.