‘Minnows’ in hunt for quarter-final places in League Cup

First Ballymena and All Saints both defeated opposition from the division above on the mats - and with healthy advantages on handicap, both sides will be in a strong position ahead of their second instalments.

All Saints pulled off the most eye-catching result as they defeated Division Two leaders Portglenone Community Centre by two shots, even before their 10 point handicap was added on.

There was perhaps no great surprise that the Ports won three of the four rinks, albeit by narrow margins, through Gerry McLarnon, Jim Gaul and Eamon Cassley.

But the undoubted heroes for Saints were the rink skipped by Paddy Martin who beat T McGarry by 10 shots to see the Ballymena side win by two shots - 12 after handicap - and with a further 10 shots going to Saints in the second leg, Portglenone will effectively start the second leg some 22 shots adrift.

That will be the exact same scenario facing Antrim Indoor Bowling Club in the second leg of their tie against First Ballymena - and unlike the Ports, they won’t even have the benefit of home advantage, after losing on their own mats to the church side.

David McQuitty’s rink 14-shot win over Robert McCullough was the main difference, while Matt McPeake’s rink also won. Darren McCullough and Tommy Evans skipped winning Antrim rinks.

Two all-first division clashes provided clear-cut results, with Michelin beating Old Bleach by 38 shots.

The Randalstown side’s misery was compounded when Jim McCullough’s rink suffered the dreaded ‘shut-out’ as they failed to gain a single shot against Wesley Caldwell’s foursome, who plundered 23 shots themselves.

League champions BPFA ‘A’ were also in commanding form as they inflicted a 30-shot defeat upon BIBC, who are not making the impact many observers expected on their return to life among the ‘big boys’.

No such problems for ‘BI’s ‘A’ team clubmates who are as good as in the quarter-finals after overwhelming third division Glenravel, inspired by large winning margins for James Gaston and Bryan Magrath and even though they still have 20 shots to come on handicap, the Glensfolk will still start the second leg in arrears.

Golf Club will have to avoid any slip-ups as they will start their second leg trip to Harryville Community Centre two shots down. That margin might have been much greater as David McCullough rink was lying seven shots in the final end, only for Harold Smyth’s final delivery to overturn that and claim a shot from that end - could that yet prove an important moment in the overall context of the tie?

Clough Rangers will hope that their good form from the early part of the season will continue when they travel to Golf Seniors on a level footing after the first leg.

In the remaining tie, Moneyglass will be expected to progress at the expense of Eaton Park, although the rugby club side will have a seven shot advantage to defend.

Clough Rangers 47, Golf Seniors (+10) 37: J Gilchrist 15, D Smyth 2; D McClurkin 9, I Lecky 11; A Armstrong 8, J Nichols 8; W Patton 15, S Surgenor 6.

Michelin 57, Old Bleach 19: W Caldwell 23, J McCullough 0; G Robinson 9, B Trimble 9; M Boyd 11, A Chesney 4; G Wilson 14, M McDonald 6.

BIBC ‘A’ 62, Glenravel (+20) 37: D Elliott 12, M McKillop 4; J Gaston 19, V Bryson 2; J Millar 13, M McKeegan 8; B Magrath 18, M McAuley 3.

Golf Club 44, Harryville Community Centre (+10) 36: S McGarry 8, W Burgess 8; D McCullough 11, H Smyth 7; J Lynn 13, J Patterson 5; J Jamieson 12, B McBride 6.

Eaton Park (+10) 42, Moneyglass 45: G Shaw 6, B McCusker 13; B Hill 11, K Teague 7; G Reid 6, T Magee 13; J Carruthers 9, H Marron 12.

All Saints (+10), Portglenone Community Centre 33: J McKay 6, G McLarnon 9; S Haveron 9, J Gaul 10; E McReynolds 7, E Cassley 11; P Martin 13, T McGarry 3.

Antrim IBC 35, First Ballymena (+10) 47: D McCullough 12, L McQuitty 4; D McQuitty 19; T Evans 10, R Woods 4; J Logan 8, M McPeake 10.

BPFA ‘A’ 54, BIBC 24: A Cahoon 15, R Torrington 8; A Morrison 9, J Coulter 8; W Morrison 16, N Robinson 3; D Morrison 14, D Torrington 5.

DIVISION TWO

There was a rearranged league game where Portglenone Community Centre stretched their lead at the top of Division Two by beating fellow promotion hopefuls Moneyglass.

Portglenone Community Centre 42 (3), Moneyglass 33 (2): J Gaul 8, S Mcneilly 10; G McLarnon 13, K Teague 14; E Cassley 9, T Magee 7; J McErlean 12, H Marron 2.