Dunbarton four win Irish final in dramatic style

The rink of Michael Higgins, Andy Hughes, DJ Wilson and Myles Greenfield won a nailbiting Irish Fours final on Saturday against the Bangor rink skipped by Robert Hastings to bring yet more silverware back to the Gilford club.

It was a nailbiting finale with the locals leading by a shot going into the last end and holding their nerve to gain two shots and the much coveted Irish title.

First up on Friday morning the locals had to get past the rink skipped by Ballymoney's Alan Paul in the semi final.

A poor start saw the Gilford men trail 1-7 early on and the signs were looking ominous. However, thanks in the main to some fine attacking shots by third DJ, the locals began to exert pressure on their opposition.

Scores of 1 and 2 narrowed the deficit to three shots but on the following end it took a magnificent last bowl drive by skip Myles to burn the jack with four shots against.

When the end was replayed, the locals dropped a double but then the locals moved up a gear. A superb count of four was quickly followed by a count of five and suddenly the locals held a four shot lead at 13-9.

Further scores of 2, 1, 1 improved the Dunbarton lead to 17-9 and Myles' men were sniffing a place in the final.

The loss of a treble kept the locals in check but with Andy Hughes now in imperious form, once again the Gilford four bounced back and a further single and treble increased their advantage to 21-12 with just five ends remaining.

Two singles each were shared and Myles had led his rink to a third Irish Fours final winning 23-14 with one end to spare.

Standing in their road for the much coveted Irish Fours title was the rink skipped by Robert Hastings from Bangor. With Graham McKee (who played third to Hastings) through in all four Irish semi finals and Hastings having qualified in three, these two players were the form players of the competition.

And sure enough, Hastings in particular started off like a house in fire. Similarly to the semi final the Dunbarton quartet saw themselves trail 1-7 again after five ends.

With the rain pouring down Myles and his team mates were struggling to find any sort of rhythmn and any time that they scored a shot, they immediately dropped a shot or two the following end.

After 11 ends, the deficit was seven shots and the locals needed to get going if they were to lift the trophy they all wanted so much.

At this stage it was Dunbarton lead Michael Higgins that took the game by the scruff of the neck and began to find the consistency that was much needed. End after end, Michael put his two bowls close to the jack and built the platform for his team mates and scores of 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 and the game was level with five ends remaining. At 13-13 it was all to play for!

With the momentum now completely with the Gilford men, the locals had a fantastic chance for a count of five on end 17 and lay two shots with one Dunbarton bowl remaining. Trying to take out the Bangor third shot, Myles had the horrible misfortune of turning a short opposition bowl onto the jack for shot and their rivals had gotten off the graveyard score of 13 that they had been stuck on for the previous five ends.

On the following end, a superb double and the Gilford men were ahead again, though the loss of a single on end 19 left the scores tied with two ends remaining. A dramatic two ends were in store!

The penultimate end shaped up badly for Myles' foursome and with just two bowls remaining, their rivals lay two shots and a measure for three. If ever skip Myles needed to produce a pressure bowl, this was the time and true to form as he has so often, he delivered!

As his final delivery rested out the shot bowl, Myles was greeted halfway down the green by the rest of his rink and when opposition skip Hastings missed with his last bowl the Gilford men were one shot ahead going into the all important final end.

And the Dunbarton boys could not have played a better final end! Lead Michael drew a toucher with his first bowl and Andy drew a vital second shot to leave their rink lying two shots with just the two back ends to play.

First up was the Bangor third who drove at the head and missed so DJ played a blocker. With his second bowl, the Bangor bowler was perilously close to the jack but removed the closest shot bowl, leaving the Gilford rink lying one shot.

It was important for DJ to draw a second shot which he duly did, leaving Hastings with the conundrum of draw or drive with his final two bowls. With his first bowl Hastings drove and edged off DJ's blocker but missed the head. With the head sitting very kindly, Myles left well alone with his first bowl and Hastings once again decided to play weight.

To the delight of the Gilford rink, the North Down skip pulled his weight shot tight and scenes of joy erupted.

This was a nervewracking ending to such an important game but the locals dug in throughout and held their nerve when it mattered most. All the way through the Private Greens and Irish campaign this rink gelled superbly with all four bowlers stepping up to the mark when required.

Their reward now is a trip to Scotland next summer for the British Isles championships. A fantastic ending to a fantastic season for Michael, Andy, DJ and Myles.