Two thumping wins for Dunbarton’s A team

THE Dunbarton A team produced an astonishing performance last Tuesday night when they travelled to Castleton and won by a remarkable 90 shots.

In the revamped league Division One there are few if any easy games, however the locals completely disproved this theory on a wet Tuesday night. And this was achieved without Dunbarton stalwart Stevie Adamson who was unavailable due to work commitments.

None of the four individual contests were close. DJ Wilson’s rink did trail 1-4 after three ends but fourteen shots over the next five ends put paid to any thoughts of a home point.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Conor McCartan’s four lost just two ends out of their allotted 21 for a massive 29 shot success while Myles Greenfield’s four were also very miserly, conceding just six shots in their game. They ended up victorious by 23 shots, DJ by 22 leaving Andy Hughes with the smallest victory – just 16 shots!

An excellent display by the visitors and with second placed Belmont having surprisingly lost at home to Falls and leaders Ballymena dropping two points, keeps them well in the title hunt.

Rink 1: E McElroy, G Moore, G McElroy, C McCartan up 33-4 - Conor’s men got off to a flyer and simply never looked back. By the first third they were in front 14-2 and for the remaining two thirds, just conceded one more double whilst scoring a urther 15 themselves. A massive 29 shot win and a very accomplished performance.

Rink 2: J Moffatt, C Mulholland, P Convery, A Hughes up 27-11 - Andy and his front three continued in terrific form and led from start to finish in this game. An early 10-1 advantage ensured that the destiny of this point was going to Gilford and the remainder of the game was a formality. A very comfortable 16 shot win was achieved and the team were heartened to see Chris Mulholland back in a Dunbarton shirt after his recent spell away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rink 3: D Copeland, M Higgins, T Bell, DJ Wilson up 35-12 - DJ’s rink were the only quartet that ever trailed in their game. The loss of two doubles on the second and third end, left them behind 1-4 after three ends but from thereonin there was little to worry about. Fourteen unanswered shots put the away rink firmly in control at 15-4 and they cruised home over the second half of the game to ease to a 22 shot victory.

Rink 4: S Trainor, J Magennis, M Merritt, M Greenfield up 29-6 - Myles’ four started well and never looked back. With skip Myles enjoying the wet conditions, the locals romped ahead 14-2 and were not in any danger of conceding their point. Restricting the hosts to just six shots, the Gilford men romped to a 23 shot success. Lead Sean Trainor also had a fine game.

AFTER their thumping of Castleton on Tuesday, the Gilford Senior team wrapped up a fine week with a 29 shot defeat of bottom side Willowfield at home on Saturday.

Whilst not reaching the heights of four days earlier, importantly, another seven points were chalked up. The home team did start well and led from start to finish but it was not a particularly convincing win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Myles Greenfield’s foursome were always in control while Andy Hughes’ four enjoyed a strong middle to their game to wrap up their point. However both Conor McCartan and DJ Wilson had to fight long and hard to win their points. But crucially both rinks held their nerve to ensure that all seven points were gained.

Rink 1: S Trainor, P Convery, M Merritt, M Greenfield up 29-14 - Myles and his front three got off to a flyer and were in cruise control throughout. With a third of the game played, the home rink were ahead 13-1. The remainder of the game was played in second gear as the hosts were never in trouble. Outbowling their rivals, the hosts actually lay a full house on end fourteen and managed to lose shot when the away skip produced a fantastic delivery to draw shot with his final bowl. By the close, the locals had cruised to a fine fifteen shot win.

Rink 2: J Moffatt, C Mulholland, S Adamson, A Hughes up 20-14 - Andy’s four were involved in a titanic battle with their Belfast rivals and by the midpoint there was just one shot separating the sides as the vistors led 6-7. From ends 11-14 the Gilford men seized control and guaranteed their point. With second Chris Mulholland having a storming game, he and his team mates counted 1,3,1,4 and finally daylight was achieved. Over the final third, Andy’s men kept it tight and eased to a well earned six shot success.

Rink 3: D Copeland, M Higgins, T Bell, DJ Wilson up 24-20 - DJ’s foursome did not start too brightly and after seven ends were in arrears 5-12. Soon they narrowed this deficit but the visitors proved to be very dogged opponents and with five ends remaining, the hosts were behind 16-19. The last bowl of end 17 proved to be the turning point. With one bowl left, Irish International DJ had four shots against him and crucially he delivered a superb pressure bowl to draw shot. This inspired his rink and further scores of 2,2,3 saw the hosts five shots ahead going into the last end. The drama did not finish there as with the skips to play, Willowfield lay four shots. Again DJ held his nerve to draw second shot and their point was won. Lead David Copeland had a fine game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rink 4: E McElroy, G Moore, G McElroy, C McCartan up 23-19 - Conor’s four had a battle royale with their opposition as the game swung to and fro and was not decided until the last end. Early on the home rink forged ahead 7-1 and looked to be in good touch. The loss of a four two ends later quickly reduced the home lead and by the 12 end mark it was the away rink that were in the driving seat as they opened up a 9-14 advantage. Unperturbed however, led by in form skip Conor, the hosts quickly scored 3,1,2,2,2 and their point looked to be in the bag. The visitors had other ideas however and with one end remaining, the home lead was just two shots. Thankfully the locals controlled the 21st end, not just once but twice as the East Belfast skip ‘burnt the jack’ when Dunbarton lay two shots and when it was replayed, still lay two shots and managed to hold these for a hard fought four shot win.

This week is a hectic week for the Dunbarton Seniors. On Tuesday night, the locals host Ulster Transport in the league followed by a mouthwatering Private Greens Cup quarter final away to old rivals Belmont the following night.

Next Saturday the locals hope to make it into the last eight of the Irish Senior Cup when they host Ballycastle and then finish the first half of their league programme when they travel to Pickie the following day in a rearranged game.

If the locals could emerge unbeaten from next week’s fixtures, the locals would be in great shape.