Higher-ranked opponents too strong for Park Seniors

The visitors settled down well to the task right from the start and as the game progressed so too did their advantage and in the end the Randalstown men were well worth their 38 shot victory,

On rink 1 Willie McNabb, Alan O’Loan, Derek Greer and Alex Wilson quickly found themselves 9 shots down after only 7 ends in their game against J Talbot. Seven ends later the Ballymena men had battled their way back in to the game and had cut the deficit to only 2 shots but the visitors turned up the gas over the final ends to run out comfortable winners by a slightly flattering score of 32-15.

Jimmy Shields, Roy Kernohan, Stephen Roberts and John Elliott lifted a count of 4 shots on the first end against M Nutt on rink 2, however the visitors levelled the game on the next ends and 7 ends later the visitors were in charge with the score board reading 13-4.

Both rinks won 6 of the remaining 12 ends but 2 counts of 4 shots on the 16th and 18th ends ensured that victory went to the visitors with the final score 28-11.

On rink 3 Keith Burnett, Alan Smyth, Leslie Jackson and Gary Shaw never really recovered from a slow start against J Millar and with 8 ends completed the visitors lead by 11 shots to 4.

Five ends later the margin was still 7 shots but the Braid men got themselves back in to the game when they lifted a count of 4 shots on the next end to reduce the deficit to 3 shots.

The remainder of the game was closely contested and when the game had been concluded the visitors still held a 3 shot lead with the score board reading 20-17.

Andy Hill, William Crawford, Dessie Shaw and Robert McCready found themselves trailing by 5 shots at the halfway stage of their game against N Booth on rink 4.

The Braid men levelled the game over the next 2 ends when they picked up a count of 4 shots which was followed by a single.

Three more shots on the 15th end actually got McCready’s men in front for the first time but going in to the final end the rinks were level at 17-17 and victory eluded the Ballymena men as a single gave the Old Bleach a hard fought victory by 18 shots to 17.

This week Ballymena Senior Park has two home league matches.

On Tuesday night they entertain Saintfield and on Saturday Knock are the visitors to the Old Ballymoney Road green.