Michelin claim outright leadership in District League

The 2012 champions have shown impressive form thus far, with their only defeat in five outings coming at the hands of their successors to the crown, BPFA ‘A’. They encountered little opposition from Old Bleach, whose early season struggles continue.

Grant Robinson, Graham Wilson and Matthew Boyd all had convincing wins, while Wesley Caldwell was made to work a bit harder before edging home a shot against Willie Fullerton.

That ‘clean sweep’ was enough to put Michelin top on their own as BIBC ‘A’ - who had started the week level on points with the Woodside Road team - could only manage four points from their home game against Clough Rangers.

Clough have bloodied a few noses in the opening weeks of the season and another surprise looked to be on the cards as Raymond Aitcheson defeated Jonathan Millar by 13 shots.

But the former Social Club outfit quickly recovered and wins from Andrew Bonnar, James Gaston and Bryan Magrath guided BIBC ‘A’ to their fourth win in five games.

Defending champions BPFA ‘A’ have gathered some momentum after losing their opening game and they reeled off their fourth straight victory by beating BIBC.

The sides were deadlocked at the interval after both first half games ended in 9-4 scorelines, with Roy Torrington’s win for the visitors cancelled out by Alan Cahoon for Broughshane.

After the interval, Ivan Craig beat Nigel Robinson before David Morrison - warming up for the Home International Championships - put the gloss on the scoreline with a 15-shot win over David Torrington.

It leaves BIBC still searching for their first win in the top flight and they are locked on five-and-a-half points with Old Bleach and JTI, who added another point to their tally from their trip to Golf Club.

Johnny Lynn’s rink remains unbeaten this season after a win over Brian Russell, while Johnny Jamieson’s quartet also helped the golfers to a healthy half-time advantage.

Graham Maybin hit back for JTI but David McCullough’s rink halted any hopes of a comeback with a 13-shot win over Timothy Rock.

BPFA ‘A’ 41 (4), BIBC 22 (1): A Morrison 4, R Torrington 9; A Cahoon 9, J Coulter 4; I Craig 11, N Robinson 7; D Morrison 17, D Torrington 2.

BIBC ‘A’ 40 (4), Clough Rangers 33 (1): J Millar 2, R Aitcheson 15; A Bonnar 12, J Gilchrist 6; J Gaston 19, D McClurkin 6; B Magrath 16, W Patton 8.

Michelin 48 (5), Old Bleach 29 (0): G Robinson 13, A Booth 3; W Caldwell 9, W Fullerton 8; G Wilson 11, B Trimble 7; M Boyd 15, M McDonald 11.

Golf Club 50 (4), JTI 26 (1): J Lynn 14, B Russell 6; J Jamieson 15, B Lynn 8; S McGarry 6, G Maybin 10; D McClurkin 15, T Rock 2.

DIVISION TWO

Leaders Portglenone Community Centre extended their advantage at the top of the table.

While the Ports were maintaining their 100 per cent league record with a fifth win from five outings, challengers Broughshane Playing Fields Association ‘B’s match against Antrim Indoor Bowling Club was off, while Moneyglass were defeated at Services ‘A’.

The Ports were narrow five-shot winners at Golf Seniors, in a game switched to the Raceview venue.

There was little between the teams in the first half with Ivan McMaster’s rink win for Seniors just shading Jim Gaul’s success for Portglenone.

The closeness of the contest continued after the tea break as Donald Smyth took three shots from the final two ends to pip Aidan Cassley by a shot.

Eamon Cassley’s rink proved to be Portglenone’s heroes as an eight-shot win over John Nichols also helped sway the overall scoreline in the Bannsiders’ favour.

After a promising opening, Moneyglass’s form has faltered somewhat in recent weeks and they suffered a second successive defeat at Services ‘A’. who now join ‘MG’ on 13 points, in joint second position.

It was all square at 19 shots apiece at the interval with Brendan McCusker’s win for Moneyglass negated by William Stewart’s triumph for Services.

Moneyglass edged back in front when a ‘3’ on the final end enabled Tommy Magee to pip Joe Stevenson by a shot but Mark Shaw’s rink produced a fine performance to defeat Henry Graham by seven shots to seal the overall outcome in Services’ favour.

A good week for the Services Club was completed as the ‘B’ team also won, at Harryville Community Centre - despite finishing a shot behind overall.

Greta Coulter, Eric Smyth and Sheila Smith’s wins for Services gave them an advantage of nine shots overall but Harold Smyth’s 10-shot win over Roy Dickson not only sealed a point on his rink but also earned the point for overall shots total.

Services ‘A’ 40 (3), Moneyglass 34 (2): D McNeill 7, B McCusker 10; W Stewart 12, K Teague 9; J Stevenson 7, T Magee 8; M Shaw 14, H Graham 7.

Harryville Community Centre 40 (2), Services ‘B’ 39 (3): W Burgess 8, G Coulter 10; H Smyth 14, R Dickson 4; S Wilson 10, E Smyth 11; J Patterson 8, S Smith 14.

Golf Seniors 32 (2), Portglenone Community Centre 37 (3): I McMaster 13, J McErlean 5; G McCrea 4, J Gaul 10; D Smyth 8, A Cassley 7; J Nichols 7, E Cassley 15.

DIVISION THREE

Round Tower claimed their first win of the campaign with a 13 shot victory at Eaton Park. Michael Murphy, John O’Neill and Michael Teer won for Tower after George Reid had won for the rugby club.

There was also a ‘first’ of different kind as Maine tasted defeat for the first time this season.

Their conquerors West Church claimed the lion’s share of the points after rink wins from Victor Mahon, Tommy Wilson and Maurice Livingstone.

Laurence McQuillan’s 16-shot win over Jim Rainey was effectively worth two points as it also enabled the Randalstown side to win by two shots overall.

In the other game, All Saints claimed three points after beating First Ballymena by 12 shots.

Sean Haveron and Eugene McReynolds skipped winning Saints rinks, while Lyle McQuitty and Matt McPeake won for ‘First’.

Eaton Park 34 (1), Round Tower 47 (4): G Reid 14, H Totten 8; B Hill 7, M Murphy 12; R Kelly 8, J O’Neill 9; J Carruthers 5, M Teer 18.

All Saints 40 (3), First Ballymena 28 (2): S Haveron 13, D McQuitty 5; J McKay 6, L McQuitty 15; E McReynolds 16, R Woods 2; P Martin 5, M McPeake 6.

West Church 37 (3), Maine 39 (2): V Mahon 13, P Reeves 8; J Rainey 5, L McQuillan 21; T Wilson 10, J Heffron 4; M Livingstone 9, P O’Neill 6.