Seasiders leave with the spoils

Bangor (5.5 points)

LURGAN Bowling Club Senior team took on a strong Bangor team in the opening match of the NIBA division 1 clash, with the sun shinning the bowlers couldn’t ask for better conditions for the game.

Bangor looking to build on last seasons senior cup success came to Lurgan Park and got this seasons league campaign of to a good start, they built up a 7 shot lead by the fifth end 18-11, increased this lead to 15 by the halfway stage. Lurgan rinks should be happy that over the second half they fought hard and Bangor only increased their lead by 4 shots to win by 19, 79-60.

On Rink 1, Bobby Boness, Davy Millar, Pete McGrail and skip Alan Briggs built up a 6-2 lead in the first five ends against Bangor skip G McKee. They held onto their lead at the halfway mark 9-7, the Bangor rink came back to overtake the Lurgan rink 13-12 at the three quarter distance. Some excellent bowling by the Lurgan 4 showed they would not go down easy and came back to earn a half point for the home team as the rink score was 17 each.

On Rink 2, Ivor Mitchell, Richard McClune, Kris Matchett & skip Harry Cosgrove, started slowly and allowed Bangor under skip K Taylor to build up a 5-1 lead after 5 ends with skip Cosgrove inspiring his front 3 the Lurgan

rink took the lead 9-8 in the tenth end which was a lead they would maintain for the rest of the game leading 14-11 and leading 17-13 going into the last end, Bangor were holding a rink winning 6 shots with only one bowl left. Skip

Cosgrove managed to draw second shot leading to a 17-14 win to secure Lurgans only full point from the game.

On rink 3 for Lurgan Stephen Poots, Reece Millar, Bobby Ruddell & skip Mansell Montgomery got of to a bad start against a very experienced Bangor rink skipped by G Scott. The Bangor four were in an unforgiving mood as they

lead 8-0 after 5 ends and increased this lead to 16, 18-2 at the halfway point. The Lurgan rink showed some excellent spirit and fought hard to get 7 shots over the next five ends to eat into the Bangor lead. However it was a bridge to far

as Bangor struck back to win 26-11. However the score doesn’t reflect how tight the rink was with the Lurgan four showing some great skill and playing some great shots.

On Rink 4, Melvyn Hamilton, Gareth Bunting, John Gilliland & Alan Roberts started of well against Bangor skip R Hastings leading 4-3 after five ends. However the Lurgan rink dropped 7 shots over the next two ends and trailed 10-8 at the mid stage point and despite winning more ends they dropped some high scoring ends as Bangor led 17-9 at the three quarter distance. Again over the final quarter the Lurgan rink won more ends however the Bangor four held onto their lead winning 22-15. The Lurgan four won 11 of the 21 ends however losing some high scoring ends were their downfall.