Churches League champions make strong start

While a number of sides have yet to open their campaigns, Glarryford – last season's runaway league champions – have posted two wins from their opening two games.

One of those victories came at the expense of Cloughwater, a side who will be aiming to break into the top bracket of clubs this season after an encouraging eighth place finish last year.

Ronnie Anderson's rink prevented Cloughwater from being whitewashed when they edged past James McWhirter by the narrowest of margins, 9-8.

The surprise name in second place is St Patrick's Ballymena, who have taken six points from their opening two games.

The Castle Street side, who finished in the lower reaches last year, took four-and-a-half points from their home match against Craigs – a result which will give them an early-season confidence boost.

Bob McCombe, Ann Agnew and David Balmer all skipped winning St Patrick's rinks, while Craigs' only contribution to the points tally was a half-point secured by Robert Kirkpatrick, thanks to an 11-11 draw with David McCullough.

Craigs also suffered a defeat on their own mats by Killymurris Glarryford but have plenty of games ahead in which they can climb the table.

In the other games played this week, Second Broughshane 'A' and Cullybackey Methodist 'B' shared the points, while Cullybackey Methodist 'A' won at High Kirk.

SCOREBOARD

Second Broughshane 'A' 30 (2.5), Cullybackey Methodist 'B' 29 (2.5): H Henry 4, G Stewart 6; J Turtle 10, J Marshall 9; C Turtle 9, T Gage 9; M Montgomery 7, J gage 6.

Craigs 25 (1), Killymurris Glarryford 43 (4): P Boyd 11, I McMaster 10; C Graham 3, S Dunlop 15; H Spiers 3, J McWhirter 9; B Herbison 8, I Adams 9.

Killymurris Glarryford 48 (4), Cloughwater 35 (1): S Dunlop 17, G Kirk 12; I Mcmaster 10, J Scott 7; J McWhirter 8, R Anderson 9; I Adams 13, W Adams 7.

St Patrick's Ballymena 47 (4.5), Craigs 35 (0.5): B McComb 13, C Graham 11; A Agnew 12, P Boyd 9; D Balmer 11, W Herbison 4; D McCullough 11, R Kirkpatrick 11.

High Kirk 32 (2), Cullybackey Methodist 37 (3): H Smyth 11. J Kirk 5; T McPeake 5, T Rock 12; D Smyth 13, N Peacock 10; E Lackey 3, C Ramsey 10.

STANDINGS

Killymurris Glarryford, played 2, points 8; St Patrick's Ballymena 2-6; Cloughwater 2-5.5; Second Broughshane 'B' 1-4; Clough 'A' 1-4; First Ahoghill 'A' 1-3.5; Harryville MF 1-3.5; Cullybackey Methodist 'A' 1-3; Second Broughshane 'A' 1-2.5; Cullybackey Methodist 'B' 1-2.5; High Kirk 1-2; Connor 1-1.5; Craigs 2-1.5; Ballymena Methodist 1-1; Grange 1-1; First Ahoghill 'B' 1-0.5; Cuningham B 0-0; First Broughshane 0-0; Buckna 0-0; Clough 'B' 0-0; Cuningham 'A' 0-0; Glenwherry 0-0; Killymurris Carnlea 0-0; St Patrick's Broughshane.

FIXTURES

This week’s Churches League matches are: First Ahoghill ‘A’ v High Kirk; Second Broughshane ‘B’ v Cuningham ‘A’; Ballymena Methodist v First Broughshane; Second Broughshane ‘A’ v Cullybackey Methodist ‘B’; Cullybackey Methodist ‘A’ v Grange; Clough ‘A’ v Connor; Clough ‘B’ v Killymurris Carnlea; Cloughwater v St Patrick’s Ballymena; Craigs v Harryville MF; Cuningham ‘B’ v Buckna; Glenwherry v Killymurris Glarryford; St Patrick’s Broughshane v First Ahoghill ‘B’.