Thrilling end to North West Championships

President Carson Boyd welcomed the competitors and the large gathering of spectators to the final and he wished all the finalists the best of luck.

Play commenced with the rinks being played on mat one.

The rinks were contested between Boveedy and St Mary's, who adapted well to the fast swinging mat and with Eamon Casley, lead and Seamus Doherty, second playing well, they swept into a seven shot lead after four ends.

Things looked brighter for Boveedy in the next end when skip, Nigel Gamble turned out St Mary's lying bowl to pick up three shots. However Aidan Cassley, third and captain Declan McCann won ends six and seven to lead 11-3. Gamble always found himself in trouble having no bowls in the head and he was forced on two occasions to burn the ends, but try as he may he could not get any shots back and conceded the match with two ends still to play.

McCann's four deserved their win for on the night they were the superior team.

In the triples Dunluce played Castlerock on mat two.

This was really a mis-match for the Dunluce trio proved to be too strong for their Division Two opponents who except for the lead, Marion Campbell, could not master the fast mat. All three for Dunluce on the other hand played their part and piled on the agony, winning end upon end and eventually Castlerock threw in the towel with the score standing at 20-0.

The ladies pairs then held centre stage with Castlerock taking on Boveedy.

By winning the first four ends Boveedy were leading by five shots. Castlerock hit back to pick up three shots in the next end.

They were also lying a further two shots in the next end, but somehow Mary Graham’s last bowl wiggled in the back door to win the head. Boveedy claimed the next two ends and with no way back the Castlerock pair shook hands and brought the game to an end.

All four ladies played well but Boveedy proved the stronger pairing.

Play was temporally stopped whilst the members of Drumreagh served a most beautiful supper.

Play resumed with the final of the singles. Many thought that this would be the match of the night but unfortunately even Gary Merron (Marian) could not get the pace of the mat and Trevor Workman (Moneydig) lifted the coveted trophy 12-2. It would be unfair to totally blame the mat for Trevor played some delightful bowls to secure his win.

This left the final of the open pairs and thank goodness this turned out to be a thriller. Danny Taggart and Alastair McIntyre (Dunluce) took on Aidan Cassley and Declan McCann (St Mary's). It was nip and tuck the whole way for although Dunluce led 4-0 after three ends, by end five the scores were level again.

Heads were changing with each bowl. Once more Dunluce took a four shot advantage but the St Mary's pair fought back with great bowls and went into the final end leading by one shot. Dunluce were only lying one shot with the likelihood of a tie end looming but McIntyre, with one bowl left to play and with nerves of steel, played a drawing shot to pick up a second shot and secure an overall win.

Before asking President Carson Boyd to present the various trophies to the winners and losers, Jim McIlroy thanked the Drumreagh Club for hosting the finals and more importantly for providing the lovely supper.

He also presented Mrs Anna White with a cheque for 500 on behalf of all the NWIBL clubs to go to the MacMillan Trust Foundation to help secure a new care centre for patients suffering with cancer. Jim then thanked Bryan Shaw not only for umpiring the finals but also for umpiring all of the play-offs.