Down to the wire for Lurgan

Lurgan Bowling Club Senior team kept their hopes of survival alive going into the last weekend of the season with a vital win against Dundonald.

Knowing only a win would keep them in the relegation battle Lurgan started strong and built up a 19-13 lead after five ends, however Dundonald led 36-34 at the halfway stage. At three quarter distance it looked like Lurgan would be playing second division bowls next season as Dundonald led 55-45, the team dug deep and with one final push got back into the game, with three rinks finished and two ends left to play only a single shot separated the teams, with the rink skipped by Alan Briggs to score 5 shots in the final two ends to secure the win.

On Rink 1 Gareth Bunting, Davy Millar, Stephen Poots and skip Alan Roberts, fell behind early in the game. They trailed 6-3 after five ends, which would be as good as it would get for the Lurgan four as the Dundonald rink would lead 15-6 at the halfway point and 19-8 at three quarter distance. Knowing the game was tight the Lurgan four never gave up and in a few high scoring ends reduced Dundonald’s winning margin to 25-18.

On Rink 2 Ivor Mitchell, Richard McClune, Kris Matchett and skip Harry Cosgrove, started well and punished the Dundonald rink skipped by W Buchanan building up an 11-0 lead after five ends. The Lurgan four never allowed the Dundoald rink to get a foothold in the game and continued to increase the margin throughout the game leading 14-3 after ten ends and 21-5 at the three quarter distance and coming home 28-11 victors in an important strong victory that helped Lurgan to the overall victory.

On Rink 3 Melvyn Hamilton, Ronnie McCullough, Bobby Ruddell and Skip Mansell Montgomery fought as hard as they could though Dundonald impressed in their victory in this rink leading 13-3 at the halfway point and 19-4 after fifteen ends, both rinks secured five shots in the remaining ends helping Lurgan to take the overall victory, though the away rink secured a 24-9 victory

On Rink 4 Bobby Boness, Reece Millar, Pete McGrail and skip Alan Briggs, kept the rink tight against Dundonald skip C. Orderly, the game was tied at 3-3 after five ends before Lurgan built up an 11-5 lead at the half, the Dundonald rink came back strong and the game was again level at 12 apiece at three quarter distance.

Though the Lurgan four regained their form and finished strong winning 24-13.