Holders Armagh are through to semi-final

REIGNING champions Armagh are through to the semi-final of the Inter Zone Championship after this win at St Matthew’s Hall last Saturday.

They will now play the highly rated South Tyrone team - who knocked out Donegal - in St Anne’s Church Hall, Dungannon, on Saturday, January 16.

On mat one for Armagh skip Rachel Cassells, Hilary Agnew, Sandra Whittle and Linda Milligan lost their early 4-1 lead to concede several high scoring ends as Western skip C. Scott had their side’s only successful rink with a 14-6 victory.

May Cassells, Diane Agnew, M. Hobson and Michelle Wright on two for Armagh made a confident start by going into an 8-1 lead after the first four ends.

Western, under skip E. Brogan, fought back to go into the last end trailing 10-7 but the Armagh foursome finished strongly to clinch a 14-7 win.

On mat three for Armagh Elizabeth Smyth, A. Patton, E. Lavery and Anne Crozier never gave their opposing rink, under skip J. Parkinson, a chance to settle to go 9-0 ahead after six ends.

The Western rink could only reply with two consolation shots as the Armagh rink recorded a splendid 12-2 win and help put their side 32-23 ahead at the interval.

Flo McNally, Jean Hawthorne, Greta Garvey and Agnes Crozier on four for Armagh had to work hard to get a narrow 5-3 lead after six ends.

The Western rink under skip E. Foster levelled matters at 5-5 with just two ends remaining but the Armagh four had a great finish when they added six shots for an 11-5 victory.

Catherine McMillen, Eileen McDonald, Shelagh Garvey and Eleanor Hunter on mat five won four of the first six keenly contested ends to go into a 5-4 lead.

The Western rink under skip K. Bradshaw fought back to go into the last end level at 6-6 but Armagh managed to get the vital winning shot for a 7-6 victory.

On mat six Armagh’s Pauline Beattie, Sadie White, Lesley Strain and Bernie McGleenon combined well in the first four ends for a 4-1 advantage.

Western, under skip J. Carson, were edged out in the remaining ends as the Armagh four went on to win 13-1 and complete a satisfying 63-35 overall victory.