UnconvincingDunbartongo through

Dunbarton A 83

DUNBARTON A started their defence of the Irish Senior Cup on Saturday with a comfortable but unconvincing win away to Belfast side Albert Foundary.

On paper the reigning champions were always going to win this game comfortably but over the 21 ends it was not as easy as the Gilford team would have liked.

For the first half of the game there was little to separate the sides mainly due to the efforts of the home quartet on rink four who were having a day out against Clifford Dennison’s foursome. The Gilford men never got going and soon found themselves behind by double figures.

On the rink beside Myles Greenfield and his front three could not shake off their opposition and were all square at the midpoint. On the other two rinks however DJ Wilson and Conor McCartan were leading the visitors charge and both led by 10 shots.

Around the three quarter mark all four rinks moved up a gear to ensure a 20+ shot advantage which remained until the finish. Whilst not convincing, it was more a case of job done, now on to the second round.

By the close it was Conor’s foursome who finished with the highest victory, cruising home 27-8. Beside him DJ WIlson’s four which included the outstanding Tony Bell at third, led from start to finish in their game, winning by 11 at the close.

On the other middle rink Myles Greenfield’s four finished with a late surge to win by seven. Clifford’s rink however had a day to forget as they finished in arrears by 15.

In the second round, the holders have been drawn away to Castle from NIBA Division Two. Again the locals will be expected to book a safe passage into the next round.

Rink 1: I Perry, C Mulholland, G McElroy, C McCartan - up 27-8.

Rink 2: D Copeland, A Leckey, T Bell, DJ Wilson - up 24-13.

Rink 3: M Higgins, E Campbell, T Mulholland, M Greenfield - up 20-13.

Rink 4: D Pedan, S Adamson, A Hughes, C Dennison - down 12-27.

It’s back to league action this weekend and there aren’t many bigger games in Irish bowls than Dunbarton v Belmont. There have been a number of titanic battles between these two great teams over the past few seasons and this Saturday will be no different.

With both teams having already lost a league match, neither can afford many more slip ups and both will be gunning for the lion’s share of the points.

This game should be a cracker. The game starts at 2pm in Gilford.