League Cup holders in second leg danger?

Social Club will make the journey out the Broughshane Road with just a six-shot advantage after last week's first instalment in the Slemish Drive clubrooms.

Indeed, but for a strong second half performance, the holders might well have suffered a surprise defeat on their home mats after a spirited showing by the golfers.

The Raceview men were in the ascendancy in the first half as they established a six-shot gap.

John Jamieson had a 13-8 success over Uel Fleming, while Johnny Lynn's rink - boosted by the signings of Arthur Stewart and David McCullough from now defunct Towers - accounted for Bryan Magrath by one shot.

The tea break allowed Social Club to haul themselves off the ropes and they came out fighting as Andy Bonnar slashed most of the deficit with a 12-7 win over Kevin McGarry, while Richard Fleming's rink ensured that BUSC had some shots in the bag for the second leg with a 15-8 win over Sean McGarry.

The other all-DIvision One clash wasn't as close, however, as MIchelin racked up a 20-shot advantage going into the home leg of their tie with Broughshane Playing Fields Association 'A'.

That outcome didn't seem likely at the break when just one shot separated the sides, with Grant Robinson's win over Terry McClintock virtually wiped out by Alan McCombe's excellent 11-5 win over Wesley Caldwell.

Matthew Boyd nudged Michelin further ahead with a two-shot win over James Wasson but the potentially tie-ending blow was struck by Graham Wilson's Michelin rink, who cantered to a 19-2 win over Joe Campbell.

Old Bleach seem likely to boost the top-flight representation in the next round, even though technically, once the handicapping system is applied, they will start the second leg of their tie against third division Glenravel five shots down.

Bleach showed enough in the first leg of the tie - where they won by 55 shots to 20 on the mats - to suggest they should progress after comfortable wins for all four rinks skipped by David Burrows, Brian Trimble, Sammy Hall and Mervyn McDonald, against Niall Sands, Gerry Sands, Seamus McKeown and Dermot Higgins respectively.

Elsewhere, the outcome of a number of the other ties look to be largely settled after decisive first leg results.

Eaton Park, even with 10 shots on handicap, face an uphill task to overturn a 29-57 deficit against Moneyglass.

The damage was done on two rinks where the Moneyglass foursomes skipped by Brendan McCusker and Tommy Magee amassed 41 shots against just five from the Eaton Park rinks skipped by George Reid and Bonar Hill.

Henry Marron was the other winning Moneyglass skip, while John Carruthers' Eaton rink had a good win over Kieran Teague.

Third division Golf Seniors, even taking away their 10-shot handicap, beat Services 'B' from the division above by 40 shots to 29 on the mat and with a further 10 shots to come in the second leg, they look a good bet to set up a second round tie with Portglenone Community Centre.

Once again, two rinks laid the groundwork for Seniors' victory with Donald Smyth and Campbell Wade running out winners with plenty to spare against Greta Coulter and John Smith. Services can draw solace from comfortable wins for Eric Smyth and Sheila Smith on the other two rinks but it will require a big performance in the Trostan Avenue clubrooms to turn the tie around.

Clough Rangers will also have 20 shots to play with when they travel to Randalstown to take on Maine, after a 45-25 success.

In keeping with the theme of other games, two high-scoring rink wins - by Dennis McClurkin and David Shaw - put Clough in the driving seat but Maine proved the second leg won't be a formality with two rink wins of their own, for the quartets skipped by Laurence McQuillan and J Heffron.

Arguably the most surprising result of the week came in Antrim where All Saints continued their encouraging start to the campaign with a 12-shot success at Round Tower.

Paddy Martin, Eugene Walsh and Bridie McReynolds skipped winning rinks for the Ballymena side while the best Round Tower could manage was an 11-10 win for John O'Neill's foursome against Eugene McReynolds.

The match between Harryville Community Centre and Dunclug PTA was postponed.

RESULTS

BUSC 45, Golf Club 39: U Fleming 8, J Jamieson 13; B Magrath 10, J Lynn 11; A Bonnar 12, K McGarry 7; R Fleming 15, S McGarry 8.

BPFA 'B' 25, Michelin 45: T McClintock 3, G Robinson 10; A McCombe 11, W Caldwell 5; J Wasson 9, M Boyd 11; J Campbell 2, G Wilson 19.

Round Tower 33, All Saints 45: K McLarnon 12, P Martin 8; G Campbell 7, E Walsh 14; J O'Neill 11, E McReynolds 10; M Teer 3, B McReynolds 13.

Moneyglass 57, Eaton Park (+10) 29: K Teague 6, J Carruthers 9; B McCusker 22, G Reid 2; T Magee 19, B Hill 3; H Marron 10, D McCausland 5.

Golf Seniors (+10) 50, Services 'B' 29: G McCrea 4, E Smyth 13; D Smyth 14, G Coulter 2; C Wade 18, J Smith 2; J Nichols 4, S Smith 12.

Old Bleach 55, St Mary's (+20) 40: D Burrows 17, N Sands 7; B Trimble 10, G Sands 6; S Hall 14, S McKeown 4; M McDonald 14, D Higgins 3.

Clough Rangers 45, Maine 25: D McClurkin 16, P Kerr 4; A Armstrong 5, L McQuillan 11; R Aitcheson 5, J Heffron 6; D Shaw 19, P'O'Neill 4.

Postponed: Harryville CC v Dunclug PTA.