Second is no consolation for Whitehead bowlers

Only maximum points would suffice for Whitehead if rivals Bangor won on the same day and the Down men saw off Balmoral 6-1 while Whitehead were virtually certain of second place after a 5.5 to 1.5 winning margin at Dundonald.

It says something for the stature and weight of expectation at Whitehead that they are sorely disappointed to be runners-up, but they will come back even stronger next year, with a deep pool of talent from which to select.

The B team, playing in the newly constituted Division 2, will finish seventh in the table despite competing against many strong A teams, including in their penultimate match, Castle, whom Whitehead defeated 5-2.

Don’t miss the end-of-season reports in the Carrick Times