Despite defeat ladies earn two league points

Guiding the bowls in during Thursday's match between Lurgan and Ward Park. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

Ward Park 58 (5)

Although the Lurgan Ladies lost at home against Bangor side, Ward Park, last Thursday in a match reduced to 15 ends because of the inclement weather they still won two rinks and took two valuable points from the match.

They were ahead by two shots after the ninth end but a strong finish from the visitors denied them victory with Ward Park winning by 13 shots.

Edith Hobson, Jenny McVeigh, Molly Ward and Winifred Kirkwood, skip, fought hard on Rink 1 and were all square at 5–5 all after 6 ends. The visitors tried to take the upper hand but the score was still close at 11-9 in their favour. They went on take another three shots on the thirteenth and fourteenth ends to lead five going into the last end. However the home rink tried their best and got three shots at the last end to lose just 14-12.

Iris Anderson, skip, was ably supported by Geraldine Tallon, Dot McCoy and Moira McGoldrick on Rink 2. They led 7–3 after 7 ends and maintained their lead at the halfway point with afive shot difference over the visiting rink. Having restricted the opposition to series of double and single shot wins over closely fought ends the home rink succeeded in gaining a valuable three shot win at the fourteenth end and although they dropped a shot on the last end they emerged deserved winners by 14–11.

On Rink 3 was Beth Wilson, K. McGrail, Gloria White and Angela Thompson, skip. By the fourth end they led confidently 5–0. Having dropped 4 shots at the sixth end they immediately responded by collecting 4 shots at the next end to keep their lead by 9–5. Although they were unfortunate to drop 3 shots at the eleventh end they won the next 2 ends and led 14–9. They lost the last 2 ends but still won the rink 14–12.

Gwen Hayes, Irene Cunningham, Nora Johnston and Genny Little, skip, were engaged in tough encounter with the visitors on Rink 4 and were 10–3 down after 6 ends. Facing a determined Ward Park rink they were up against it but were unfortunate to lose close ends resulting in a shot per end to the opposition for them to lead 15–5 after the twelfth end. Further triple and double shot wins on thirteenth and fourteenth ends gave the visitors an unassailable lead and eventually took the rink 21-5 to enable them to win the match overall and take five winning points.