Glenarm Road men end season with win over Falls

The visitors had been relegated a few nights earlier and were looking to end their season on a high and salvage some pride following a torrid campaign. But Larne emerged as 5.5-1.5 (82-62) winners.

Larne were without the services of Harry Millar and junior internationals Darren Witherspoon and Chris Snoddy, but Alan McCord, Charlie Millar and Jim Rennie stepped in.

They took control from the off and soon opened up a 20-shot advantage. Nigel Todd, Alan McCord, Gavin Johnston and Paul Robinson powered their way into a 22-2 lead by the halfway stage with all four Larne men in top form. The second half saw the visitors just reach double figures but Robinson notched up the best win of the night 29-10. A count of seven on the fifth end ensured a profitable night for the delighted Larne rink.

Alan Mairs, Eddie Wilson, Simon Bell and Michael Murphy also dominated their game but were not quite as ruthless. The eventual eight-shot winning margin arguably understated the excellent performance, men but nobody was complaining.

Charlie Millar, Stephen Dalrymple, Raymond Lyness and Alan McLean finished their game with an identical scoreline but won their point the hard way. They found themselves 9-11 down at halfway but dominated the next seven ends picking up 14 shots to turn their game around.

The final game of the evening was the closest with both sets of players in excellent form. Jim Rennie, Andrew Robinson, Brian Smyth and David McRandal were made to battle all the way for their four-shot success. Rennie had an outstanding game at lead but seldom got to see his fine work as the opposition players turned the jack time and again. The home rink’s greater consistency eventually told but it was close. McRandal’s team can also be pleased with their return of league points throughout the campaign helping Larne to fifth place, just half a point off Irish Cup winners Old Bleach.