Portglenone show Plate class to retain trophy

Twenty-four hours after they narrowly failed to win the Division Two title, the Bannsiders did claim some silverware by retaining the League Plate.

Opponents Eaton Park were unable to pull another giant-killing act out of the hat and even with their 10-shot handicap advantage, the Division Three side went down by six shots in the final, played at Services Club.

Two of the rinks finished all square but convincing winning margins for the Ports on the other two were the difference in the end.

Portglenone had wiped out eight of the 10-shot deficit by the interval, thanks to Kevin O'Kane's 13-5 win over David McCausland.

The other first half game saw Bonar Hill and Jim Gaul share 14 shots evenly.

Declan McCann's 13-5 win over John O'Neill put Portglenone firmly in the driving seat and the best that Eaton Park could manage in response was a 9-9 tie for John Carruthers against Joe McErlean.

Eaton Park (+10) 36, Portglenone CC 42: D McCausland 5, K O'Kane 13; B Hill 7, J Gaul 7; J O'Neill 5, D McCann 13; J Carruthers 9, J McErlean 9.

LEAGUE CUP FINAL

The final piece of silverware of the season will be contested this Wednesday evening, March 31, when BUSC take on Services 'A' in the final of the League Cup.

Services, from Division two, will have a 10-shot advantage against the top-flight opponents in the decider, which takes place at Eaton Park.

The curtain will also come down on the league campaign this week when a number of outstanding games will be completed.

In Division One, BPFA 'A' can't finish any higher than third, even if they beat bottom side Moneyglass in Broughshane on Tuesday night, but there is more at stake in the Division Three meeting of Services 'B' and Round Tower, where a clear-cut win for either side will see them leap-frog St Mary's to finish runners-up behind Dunclug PTA.