Late slip costs visitors

LESS than 24 hours after a stunning victory against Balmoral, Lurgan seniors travelled to Musgrave Park to take on Musgrave in the first round of the NIBA cup on Wednesday 15th May.

On a high from the previous night Lurgan arrived brimming with confidence and matched the home team in the opening of the game as they led 20-18 after 5 ends, on a tricky green Lurgan kept the match level at halfway 59 each and at three quarter distance.

However the home team finished strong leaving Lurgan deflated travelling home after an early exit by 91-77. Lurgan will hope for better fortune when they return to play the same team in the IBA cup on Saturday.

On Rink 1, Bobby Boness, Davy Millar, Pete McGrail and skip Alan Briggs started sluggishly on a tricky and heavy green as they trailed 9-1 after five ends. The Musgrave rink skipped by experienced skip R Johnston punished Lurgan’s slow start further by increasing their lead to 17-2 after ten ends and further increased it to 21-5 after 15 ends. On a night the Lurgan four will want to forget Musgrave never let up to win 28-8.

On Rink 2, Ivor Mitchell, Richard McClune, Sam Neill and skip Harry Cosgrove settled well initially on the Musgrave green taking a 4-3 lead after five ends. Musgrave skipped by R Walker took over the match at this stage and won 8 out of the next 10 ends to build up a 17-6 lead at the three quarter distance. They continued to control the rink in the closing stages eventually winning 23-7.

On rink 3 for Lurgan Stephen Poots, Reece Millar, Bobby Ruddell and skip Mansell Montgomery controlled their match from the start and never let the Musgrave rink skipped by G Barry settle on the green as they raced out to a 7-3 lead after 5 ends. It would get better for the Lurgan rink as they won 9 out of the next ten ends running out to an impressive 28-5 lead after 15 ends. Musgrave rink finally pulled back some of the lead Lurgan had built as Lurgan won 31-15.

On Rink 4, Melvyn Hamilton, Gareth Bunting, Billy Martin and Alan Roberts raced into an early lead 8-3 after 5 ends they continued this run for the next five ends leading 16-5 after ten ends, however three slack ends allowed the Musgrave rink skipped by M Dunlop to pull back 11 shots though Lurgan still held the advantage 20-16 at the three quarter distance. Roberts settled his colleagues down and steadied the ship to ensure Lurgan would still win this rink 31-25.