White-hot Ports see off Brookgreen

PORTGLENONE were at home to Coleraine side Brookgreen on Saturday afternoon and succeeded in garnering all seven league points in a game that for most part looked like it could have gone either way and was not decided until the final three ends.

After 5 ends Portglenone did have a 10 shot lead (22-12) across the green but with 10 completed it was the visitors who were 34-36 in front.

With 15 ends played the score had swung marginally in favour of the home team 49-48 and indeed after 18 ends the margin was still the same at 60-59. It was during the last 3 ends that Portglenone put clear water between the sides as they outscored the Coleraine by 16 shots for a final winning score of 81-64.

On rink 1 Andrew Millar, Jim Gaul, Kieran Adams and Roy Hunter established an early 7-0 lead over Davy Gaile with just 3 ends played and this start proved crucial as the remainder of the match was very even.

The contest was level at 11-11 after 14 ends and a 1,2,1,1,3 by Roy put him 19-11 ahead however a 2,1 finish by Davy left a final score of 19-14.

Adam Hunter, Tommy Mc Cart, Geoff Padgett and Eamon Mc Cann played Trevor Steele on rink 2 and after taking a 5-2 lead after 4 ends it was the visitors who won 6 of the next 7 ends to lead 8-12 with 11 ends played.

A 1,2,2 for the loss of a 2 brought Eamon level at 13-13 after 15 ends and although Trevor recorded a 1,2 on the next 2 ends it was the home rink who finished at a canter scoring a 3,2,3,3 sequence for an excellent 24-16 victory.

Rink 3 saw Frankie Cassidy, Stephen Young, Aaron Foster and Chris Jones against Harry Sweeney and this game was very even until the 15 end when Chris lead 11-10.

Harry threw down the gauntlet with a 1,2 to put him 11-15 clear with 17 ends completed however the home rink had saved the best wine until last as they recorded a 1,1,1,2 on the last 4 ends to snatch a 1 shot win.

This excellent performance by the Portglenone team was completed on rink 4 when Mark Pearson, birthday boy Mark Jones, Frank Jackson and Keith Padgett won against Ian Ross. Keith led 8-5 after 7 ends but a 3,1,3 by Ian gave him a 8-12 advantage and with 12 played he had extended his lead to 9-14.

A 2,1,1,3 by Keith put him back in the driving seat on 16-14 but Ian responded with a 1,2 to lead 16-17. The home rink picked up a brace of 3's for the loss of a 2 on the final end to secure a 22-19 win.

Portglenone travelled to Ballymoney last night (monday) for a semi final Mullan Cup tie and are at home to Dunluce on Saturday 10 August.

MULLAN CUP

Portglenone 74, City of Derry 72: Portglenone played City of Derry on Monday evening in the quarter final of the Mullan Cup. This competition differs from the traditional format in that it is comprised of a singles, a pairs, a triple and a rink with the combined scores determining the winner. The game ended in a 2 shot (74-72) win for the home team.

The triples match was played on rink1 where Adam Hunter, Kieran Adams and Roy Hunter were against Malcolm Thompson. Malcolm took a 1-6 lead with 4 ends played however 4 singles by Roy made it 5-6.

The visitors responded with 3 singles which in turn were matched by 3 singles by the home rink to leave a 8-9 score with 14 of the 15 scheduled ends played. A 4 on the last end gave Malcolm a 8-13 win.

On rink 2 it was the doubles pairing of Peter and Eamon Mc Cann who won the cup tie for Portglenone with a 27-16 victory over Lorenso Graham. Eamon lead 12-3 after 4 ends and controlled the rest of the game to claim his win and a place in the semi-final for his club.

In the rinks match played on rink 3 Geoff Padgett, Mark Jones, Chris Jones and Keith Padgett got off to a flier against R Kinkaid storming into a 19-2 lead after 9 ends however it was the city men who finished in style winning 8 of the last 9 ends for a dramatic 21-22 victory.

The singles game was played on rink 4 and Tommy Mc Cart for the home team found himself 0-9 behind after 5 ends to A Smyth. Tommy was further in arrears after 8 ends as Smyth led 3-14 however Tommy won 7 of the next 8 ends to reduce the arrears to just 2 shots (13-15). The remainder of the game was close as Smyth won 18-21.

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