Portglenone outscore last league year's champions

Saturday, June 12

PORTGLENONE entertained last year’s league champions at their Gortgole Road venue on Saturday afternoon and it was the visitors who made an early impact on the match taking a 11-21 lead after 5 ends. However, determined not to endure a repeat of the opening game of the season when the Fairhill men took all 7 points at a canter,the home side outscored the visitors by 15 shots on ends 6-10 to go in front with a 35-30 scoreline. The balance swung back in favour of Cookstown as with 15 played the match score was 56-57 and with 18 completed the sides were deadlocked on 69-69. An exciting conclusion to the contest saw the home team secure the overall score for an excellent 84-76 win.

On rink 1 Andrew Millar, Jonathan Reid, Aaron Foster and Roy Hunter were drawn against Mark Wilson and an enthralling contest ensued. The scores were level on 5-5 after 4 ends, 9-9 with 11 played and 11-11 after 13 ends. A single for Roy on the 14th was followed by the loss of a demoralising 5 on the next. A further 2 singles by Roy's quartet and a 2 for Mark on the 18th left the home rink trailing by 4 shots and in a determined finish Roy recorded a 2,1,1 for a well deserved 18-18 draw.

Portglenone's match winning performance came on rink 2 when Stephen Young, Tommy Mc Cart, Frank Jackson and Kieran Adams had a 12 shot victory over Tommy Mc Aleavey. Tommy kicked off with a single on the first end but 9 unanswered ends gave the home rink a 11-1 advantage with 10 played. A 4 for the visitors on the 11th reduced the arrears but it was responded to by a 4,1,2 for an 18-5 score with 15 played. End 16 saw the visitors pick up a 3 but again it was more than matched with a 5 for the home rink on the 16th.The next 4 ends saw a good response by Tommy's rink as they recorded a 4,2,2,1 sequence to leave the score at 23-17 with 20 ends played. A dramatic last end with 3 of the 4 rinks on the green finishing at almost the same time and only a couple of shots in the overall score, a 6 by Kieran's rink guaranteed the overall score with a 29-17 victory.

Geoff Padgett, Patsy Boorman, Peter Mc Cann and Eamon Mc Cann played Liam Mc Hugh on rink 3 and it was Liam who was quickest into his stride opening with a 1,2,2,2 for an early advantage. A brace of singles for Eamon followed by a 2 for Liam made it 2-9 after7 ends. A home 3 and an away 4 before a 2,1,1,4 for the home rink brought the scores level on 13-13 with 13 played. The visitors restored their lead with a 3,2 but a 2,1,1,1 by Eamon again levelled the score at 18-18 after 19 ends. It was the Cookstown foursome who took the rink point with a brace of singles on the last two ends.

Rink 4 saw Mark Pearson, Mark Jones, Chris Jones and Keith Padgett take on Phillip Wallace and again it was the visiting rink who took the early iniative leading 0-6 after and 4 ends. Keith was back on terms at 7-7 with 9 played and a 3,3 put him 13-7 clear. An excellent response by Phillip scoring a 4,2,1,1put him back in front but a 2 for the Portglenone rink levelled the score at 15-15. The advantage again swung in favour of the away rink as they scored three unanswered 2's to lead 15-21 with 2 to play. A brave 3,1 finish by Keith was not enough to deny Phillip a 19-21 win.

Portglenone's next match is on Tuesday 22th June with an away fixture at City of Derry.