Larne men lose out to Dunbarton in Senior League

Nigel Todd bowling for Larne in the match with Dunbarton. INLT 19-433-PR

Charlie Millar, Brian Smyth, Gavin Johnston and David McRandal got off to a great start on rink two, racing into a 13-2 lead after seven ends.

The visitors came storming back to reduce the deficit to two shots going into the latter stages, but the home rink finished strongly, before dropping a count of four on the final end for a 25-19 success.

On rink three Larne’s Darren Witherspoon, Raymond Lyness, Chris Snoddy and Alan McLean led 8-0 after four ends and 12-6 after seven. The Dunbarton quartet gradually came into the game andgot back to 17-17. McLean managed to win just one of the final four ends as Larne lost 22-19.

Alan Mairs, Andrew Robinson, Nigel Todd and Michael Murphy got off to a better start and reaped their rewards with a confident display against ex-international Myles Greenfield. With Robinson and Todd in good form, Murphy was able to play his game and record an excellent 16-14 success.

In the final game Stephen Dalrymple, Eddie Wilson, Simon Bell and Paul Robinson were up against a rink who had recorded an opening day 41-6 win. Robinson’s four were undaunted, however, as they opened up a 9-3 lead after seven ends with Wilson and Bell calling the shots in the middle.

As in the other games, the visitors fought back and Robinson found himself a couple behind going into the final ends. Disaster struck when the visitors picked up 2, 7 to take their point and the game. Robinson eventually lost 27-17 which in no way reflected the performance of his rink. Larne also lost the game by five, having led by 11 going into the last end.

There was a sense of disbelief amongst both sets of players, but despite only picking up two league points, the Larne squad should be proud of an excellent performance, albeit for 20 ends.

Next up: Pickie (away).

n In Junior Division One, Larne picked up five points as they edged to a 84-81 victory over Dunbarton.

Rink 1: M. Adamson 23 v J Smith 18; Rink 2: M. McIrney 16 v L. King 21; Rink 3: G. Magennis 16 v D. Snoddy 21; Rink 4: R. Gough 26 v J. Hamill 24.