Superb effort lands cup

Lurgan 2 Veterans out-bowled Lisnagarvey in the final of the Stevenson Cup at the Forth River Club, Belfast last Thursday and are in the running to achieve the double with two league matches to go.

Both Lurgan rinks were ahead at all stages; compensating for each other during the opening ends. At the midpoint they were five shots ahead and during the last few ends they maintained a good 13-shot lead to win 43–30.

Bowling on Rink 1 were Bobby Ruddell, skip, Bobby Jones, Derek Henderson and Ronnie McCullough. At the halfway stage they had established a 12–5 lead but lost the next five ends to a determined Lisnagarvey rink who took the lead at 13–12 for the first time. Ruddell’s rink received a boost at the next end when they collected 6 shots to go ahead again by 18-13. The other Lurgan rink had already finished when heavy rain came on. Such was the deficit over the two rinks, it was inevitable that Lurgan team were going to win so the teams agreed to finish after 16 ends with rink score well in their favour at 20-14.

On Rink 2 were Alan Briggs, skip, Peter McGrail, Roy Poots and Gerry Stewart. Against stiff opposition they struggled to cope with the unfamiliar green and were behind 9–7 after 9 ends, but having picked up 9 shots, including a super 5-shot at the 10th end, they went into the lead 16-9 after the 12th. Things were looking with Ruddell’s rink having also taken the lead. Another 5 shots on the 13th and 14th ends took their lead to 21–12. A rink and match win were on the cards and Briggs’ rink sealed it with a 23–16 win.

The Lurgan bowlers salute the Lurgan 2 Veterans’ team on bringing the prestigious Stevenson Cup home.

Lurgan 1 met Dungannon in their Zone B Section B4 League match last Wednesday but dropped vital points, losing by 9 shots and getting only 2 points which could cost them a league place. Mansel Montgomery’s went down 21–10 against A Hardy’s Dungannon rink but Harry Cosgrove’s rink tied 18–18 all with H Dunbar’s to secure two vital league points.

Lurgan were also ten shots short of a win in a rearranged match at Dromore. Harry Cosgrove’s rink won 19–12 to collect four points from the game. They hope to collect maximum points from their last two league matches to finish in the top three in their Division.

Lurgan 2 won 6-4 at Newry and have kept the top spot in their Division, leading Dunbarton by 12 points at present. A 6-point win this week against Rathfriland 2 could gain them the title.