Glenravel give themselves fresh hope of beating drop with big win

The Martinstown side have spent most of the campaign in the bottom two positions in their second season in the second tier.

Glenravel are still in the mire in the lower reaches but they will take considerable heart from their best result of the season, as they took all five points from their home game against Harryville Community Centre.

The signs were looking good for the Glensfolk after first half wins for the rinks skipped by Vera Bryson and Martin O’Neill.

And the pattern continued after the break as Turlough McKeegan and Martin McKillop’s rinks completed a chastening evening for Harryville in an otherwise impressive season.

At the top end of the second division, Portglenone Community Centre took another decisive step towards the title as they overcame one of their title rivals, Golf Seniors.

The Bannsiders claimed the lion’s share of the points from an eight-shot overall win thanks to rink wins from Roy Hunter and Kevin O’Kane.

Portglenone looked to be on course for a fourth point as Adam Hunter’s rink had a handsome lead over Donald Smyth, but the Raceview rink won the final four ends - including a count of five shots on the seventh end - to snatch a 15-13 win, to add to Ivan McMaster’s first half win for the golfers.

First Ballymena are now cut adrift at the foot of the table after they lost at home to Services ‘A’.

Bill Kitson and Declan McLaughlin’s rinks helped ensure a five-shot overall win for Services, while Roland Woods and Lyle McQuitty’s rinks contributed a brace of points for the church side.

Golf Seniors 37 (2), Portglenone Community Centre 45 (3): I McMaster 8, J McErlean 6; B Russell 7, R Hunter 12; I Lecky 7, K O’Kane 14; D Smyth 15, A Hunter 13.

First Ballymena 32 (2), Services ‘A’ 37 (3): R Woods 10, M Norton 6; J Davison 7, B Kitson 15; D McQuitty 6, D McLaughlin 10; L McQuitty 9, M Shaw 6.

Glenravel 41 (5), Harryville Community Centre 24 (0): V Bryson 13, G Worthington 11; M O’Neill 11, H Smyth 4; T McKeegan 8, M Allen 5; M McKillop 9, D Wilkinson 4.

Standings: Portglenone Community Centre 12-39; Golf Seniors 12-35.5; BPFA ‘B’ 11-32.5; Antrim IBC 11-30.5; Harryville Community Centre 12-29.5; Services ‘A’ 12-27.5; Glenravel 12-22; First Ballymena 12-18.5.

DIVISION ONE

Broughshane PFA ‘A’ have opend up a potentially significant gap in the race for the Ballymena & District Leagie Division One title.

The week had started with a congested look to the top of the division but a Broughshane win at JTI, coupled with a couple of unexpected setbacks for potential title rivals has put the baton in the hands of Broughshane.

The drama started on Wednesday night as champions Michelin fritted away two points on their own mats against BIBC. It had all looked to be going to plan for Michelin as they claimed both first half points through Grant Robinson and Wesley Caldwell.

However the complexion of the game changed entirely after the break as ‘BI’ battled back to win both points via Andi Duncan and Roy Torrington, only to come up short by five shots overall.

That handed the initiative to erstwhile joint leaders Golf Club but they nosedived spectacularly at home to Old Bleach, taking just one point.

That in itself looked an unlikely outcome as David McCullough trailed Nigel McNally by 10 shots to two going into the final two ends, only to produce a remarkable 5,4 finish to pinch an 11-10 win. Earlier, there had been wins for the Bleach rinks guided by Neil Booth, Mervyn McDonald and Alan Scott.

BPFA ‘A’ were last in action on Friday night but there were no slips from them as they saw off JTI, thanks to rink wins from Alan Cahoon, Ivan Craig, William Morrison and David Morrison.

Michelin 41 (3), BIBC 36 (2): G Robinson 14, T Hill 10; W Caldwell 13, S Shields 4; G Wilson 6, A Duncan 11; M Boyd 8, R Torrington 11.

Golf CLub 28 (1), Old Bleach 42 (4): F Dawson 6, N Booth 9; J Lynn 6, M McDonald 14; S McGarry 5, A Scott 9; D McCullough 11, N McNally 10.

JTI 16 (0), JTI 57 (5): L McIlroy 5, A Cahoon 15; T Rock 2, I Craig 20; G Maybin 6, W Morrison 11; H Lynn 3, D Morrison 11.

DIVISION THREE

Moneyglass are within touching distance of the Division Three title after coming from behind to claim victory at All Saints.

The Cushendall Road side had claimed both first half points through Nicholas Mitchell and Eugene McReynolds, but ‘MG’ overturned that 10-shot deficit with convincing wins from Tommy Magee and Brendan McCusker.

That completed a miserable week for Saints, who were whitewashed at Services ‘B’ in a rearranged game. Eric Smyth, Greta Coulter, Stewart Smith and John Sayers skipped winning rinks for the Trostan Avenue side.

Round Tower made it back-to-back wins with a 19-shot win at inconsistent Eaton Park.

Helen Totten and Michael Teer’s rinks won for the Antrim side, while John O’Neill and John Carruthers’ meeting ended deadlocked at nine shots apiece.

Bonar Hill’s rink won for the rugby club.

Maine remain in joint second place after beating West Church by a single shot at Dunclug.

The church side looked in cruise control after first half wins for Victor Mahon and Jim Rainey.

But the tables turned completely after the interval with big wins for the Randalstown outfit for the rinks skipped by Paddy Kerr and Brian Kerr.

Services ‘B’ 49 (5), All Saints 29 (0): E Smyth 15, E McReynolds 9; G Coulter 7, N Mitchell 6; S Smith 14, S Haveron 3; J Sayers 13, A Mitchell 11.

All Saints 34 (2), Moneyglass 38 (3): N Mitchell 12, S Kerr 6; E McReynolds 12, S McNeilly 8; A Mitchell 4, T Magee 12; S Haveron 6, B McCusker 12.

Eaton Park 25 (1.5), Round Tower 44 (3.5): G Shaw 3, H Totten 14; B Hill 9, G Campbell 8; J Carruthers 9, J O’Neill 9; N Crabbe 4, M Teer 13.

West Church 34 (2), Maine 35 (3): V Mahon 13, B Magill 2; J Rainey 13, L McQuillan 5; A Erwin 3, P Kerr 18; M Livingstone 5, B Kerr 10.

Standings: Moneyglass 10-35.5; Maine 10-27; Eaton Park 11-27; Round Tower 11-24.5; All Saints 10-23.5; Services ‘B’ 9-23; West Church 10-19.5.