Vets triumph in Hatch Cup

Lurgan Veterans triumphed over a strong Hilden team to bring home the prestigious Hatch Cup and a trophy from the NI Veterans League finals for the second year in succession at the Forth River Club, Belfast.

The Lurgan team had the upper hand throughout the game with Harry Cosgrove’s rink storming ahead and although loosing Mansel Montgomery’s fought hard to win ends and ensure an overall victory.

Harry Cosgrove, skip, Bobby Ruddell, Bobby Boness and Ivor Mitchell on Rink 1 stormed into a 10-1 lead after 4 ends, with the aid of a 5-shot win at the 3rd end which shocked Campbell’s Hilden rink. Another magnificent 5-shot win stretched their lead to an amazing 16-2 after the 7th end, followed by a 4-shot at 9th to give them put them 17 shots ahead at 20-3 at the midpoint. While they were met with some resistance from the Hilden rink they defended strongly to win 30-11.

Mansel Montgomery, skip and playing on Rink 2, with Peter McGrail, Declan McCabrey and Michael Bunting did not fair just as well against Murray’s rink.

While they made a confident start to have a slender lead of 5-3 after 4 ends with Montgomery drawing a super shot at the 4th end to reduce the Hilden end win from 5 shots to one.

The Hilden rink reacted strongly to claim the next 6 ends to go into a 10-shot lead after the 11th end but Montgomery settled his rink to share the remaining ends to gave vital support to Cosgrove’s winning rink, although loosing 21-11.

Lurgan’s Hatch Cup win was a superb team effort and the team has to be congratulated on their great success.

A second Lurgan team were runners-up against a strong and determined Ward Park team from Bangor and lost 36-18 in the final of the E Thornton Cup.

Bobby Ruddell, skip, on the green for the second time, with Gerry Stewart, Bobby Jones and Declan McCabrey unfortunately good only win 5 ends against assertive bowling by Michael McKeown’s rink and lost 16-7. Peter McGrail’s rink faced similar bowling from Henry McFarland’s rink and although they had a winning run over 5 ends to gain 9 shots it was not enough to stop the Ward Park winning 20-11.