Ladies continue to steamroller opposition in Senior League

Ballymena Ladies continued their excellent unbeaten run in the PTWBA Senior League this year with another victory last Wednesday.
Andrea McKeown delivers a wood for Ballymena in last week's game against Limavady. INBT 25-822HAndrea McKeown delivers a wood for Ballymena in last week's game against Limavady. INBT 25-822H
Andrea McKeown delivers a wood for Ballymena in last week's game against Limavady. INBT 25-822H

The Braid ladies actually dropped half a point against Limavady as they won on two of the rinks and drew on the other, when the two sides met at the Old Ballymoney Road venue.

But such has has been their domination of the league this year, the Ballymena team have only dropped a total of 3.5 points out of a total of 48.

Jean Rainey, Andrea McKeown, Donna McCloy and Jennifer Dowds started slowly against D Baird on rink 1 and with 6 ends played they trailed by 8 shots to 5.

Ballymena and Limavady bowlers watch as an end develops during last week's match at the Old Ballymoney Road green. INBT 25-823HBallymena and Limavady bowlers watch as an end develops during last week's match at the Old Ballymoney Road green. INBT 25-823H
Ballymena and Limavady bowlers watch as an end develops during last week's match at the Old Ballymoney Road green. INBT 25-823H

A count of 5 shots on the next end saw the Braid ladies level the game and from then on they never looked back.

Over the next few ends they opened up a slight advantage but a second count of 5 shots on the 12th end gave the home rink a 10 shot advantage.

The remainder of the game was closer but in the end the Braid ladies ran out victors by 23 shots to 15.

Barbara Burnett, Kathleen Hoey, Linda McCullough and Sarah Jane Coleman had quite a battle against N Marshall on rink 2 and for most of the game there was little to choose between the two rinks.

Scores were level at 3-3 after 3 ends, 5-5 after 5 ends, 9-9 after 10 ends and 10-10 after 12 ends and so with only a third on the game remaining everything was still to play for.

The Ballymena ladies won 2 of the next 3 ends to lead by 3 shots and put themselves in a good position with only 3 ends to play but the visitors picked up 3 singles over the closing ends to tie the game at 15-15.

Jennie McCready, Maree Houston, Sile Garvey, and Barbara Cameron were in excellent form against A Forrest on rink 3.

They picked up a count of 5 shots on the first end to set the tone for the game and they continued to rack up the shots to lead by 20 shots to 8 at the half way stage of the contest.

The Ballymena rink continued to hold the upper hand and they outscored the visitors by 11 shots to 4 over the remainder of the game to wrap up an excellent 31-12 victory.

INTERNATIONAL HONOURS

This week Ballymena ladies have no game as the British Isles Championships and the International Series take place at Leamington Spa in England (12-16 June 2015).

Ballymena are well represented in the International team and congratulations and best wishes go to Sarah Jane Curran, Jennifer Dowds, Sile Garvey and Donna McCloy who have been selected to play in the team event.

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