It's all square in the Rossmore

Jim Matthews is the team captain and he was well aware that the men from Silverwood would be tough opponents. And he was right.

Colin Smylie and Gary McCartney were first out and they lost a close game

by 2 and 1.

John McDowell and John Crothers were considered a very strong pairing but they came up against a couple of sharpshooters from Craigavon. The two Johns lost 5 and 4.

It didn’t look good at this stage for Banbridge. But Jim Matthews had a few aces up his sleeve.

Timothy Beattie and Eamon O’Hagan, two very quiet and modest men, got off to a flier by winning five of the first six holes. They eventually won 5 and 4. That was the fillip Banbridge needed.

The final game was crucial and it wasn’t decided until the very last hole. In near darkness, Alex Clarke and Joe Glass walked off the 18th green one up winners.

So the first leg finished all square, two games each. It’s all to play for in the second leg at Banbridge on Friday May 28.