Only a point for seniors

LURGAN seniors only managed to take on point from this first division clash with Banbridge.

This game ebbed and flowed throughout and either team could have picked up the victory.

After 17 ends Lurgan looked on course for five points as they were seven shots up at this stage. However a late rally by Banbridge saw them ease past the finishing post and Lurgan were left to rue an opportunity that had passed them by. On rink one Bobby Jones, Bobby Boness, Seamus Skelton and skip Eddie McCourt battled hard in the opening stages against Banbridge rink skipped by D Buchanan and at the halfway point trailed 10-8.

The Lurgan foursome picked up eight shots in four ends to lead 16-10 going into the run in but they could only watch as Banbridge picked up nine shots over the closing four ends to win 20-17.

On rink two Gareth Bunting, Pete McGrail, Bobby Ruddell and skip Alan Roberts came up against an in-form and very experienced Banbridge rink skipped by B. Davis.

The Lurgan four trailed 14-4 at the halfway stage and should be proud as over the last half battled their way back to trail 19-17 in the 19th end, however they couldn’t complete the comeback as Banbridge picked up three shots over the final two ends to win 22-17.

On rink three for Lurgan, Ronnie McCullough, Alan Briggs, Ivor Mitchell and skip Harry Cosgrove won more ends than their Banbridge counterparts skipped by D. Craig.

Losing a few high scoring ends meant they couldn’t hold on for the win. This rink followed the pattern of the match as a whole as Lurgan led early on 4-0. Their lead diminished at the halfway point to one shot which remained like that at the three quarter distance 15-14. A strong finish by Banbridge saw them edge a tight encounter 19-17

On rink four Stephen Poots, Reece Millar, Billy Martin and skip Mansell Montgomery picked up Lurgan’s only point of the night with a 16-15 victory over the Banbridge rink skipped by A O’Keefe.

The Lurgan four looked secure intheir point from the early stages of this game. However a huge push by the Banbridge rink saw Lurgan scrapping in the closing stages to hold on.