Five points towardstitle challenge

Ballyholme 51 (2)

Lurgan Ladies secured a 22-shot home win over Ballyhome last Thursday and gained another five points towards the NIWBA league challenge.

They were never behind at any stage due to strong opening 5 ends when they had an amazing 19 shots lead and strong finishing on two rinks ensured them a well-earned victory.

Iris Anderson, supported by Geraldine Tallon, Dot McCoy and Maura McGoldrick on Rink 1 had a superb 21–5 win against E Neill’s Ballyholme rink. After being all square at 3–3 after 4 ends they won the next 7 ends, including two clinching 4-shot wins on sixth and eleventh ends to take a commanding lead of 19–3. The visitors had no answer to Anderson’s rink’s sustained effort which allowed the home rink to win convincingly.

On Rink 2 were Angela Thompson, skip, Gloria White, Molly McBarron and Beth Wilson. They were in the lead 7-4 after 6 ends against M Nelson’s visiting rink but dropping 5 and 4 shots on the seventh and eighth ends caused them to be 6 shots adrift. They fought back to square the rink score sat 13–13 after the eleventh end but were denied victory by the determined visiting who won the remaining four ends for Thompson’s to lose 20-13.

Genny Little, skip, Nora Johnston, Irene Cunningham and Gwen Hayes had a tight run against M Murray’s rink on Rink 3. Little’s rink was well ahead at 8–2 after 6 ends but they allowed the Ballyholme rink to take control with the visitors winning the next 6 ends to lead 19–8 after 12. While the home rink won the remaining 4 ends Little’s rink was just 4 shots short of a win and lost 19-15.

Winifred Kirkwood, skip, Molly Ward, K McGrail and Edith Hobson on Rink 4 raced into a 16–0 lead after the sixth end. In a match reduced to 15 ends because of the poor weather, Mustard’s Ballyholme rink had no time to come back into the game and while remaining ends were shared in double and single shots wins the home rink had an excellent win by 24 – 7.