Dunbarton progress in Senior Cup as seven prepare for trial

THIS Thursday night, seven senior bowlers from Dunbarton Bowling Club will be aiming to make it onto the Senior Private Greens team when they attend the annual trial at Falls Bowling Club.

Only league rivals Ballymena can boast the same number of trial participants. The bowlers hoping to be selected are Michael Higgins, David Copeland, Gary McElroy, Andy Hughes, DJ Wilson, Myles Greenfield and Conor McCartan. The Gilford club would like to wish all seven A team bowlers good luck.

The Dunbarton A team produced a superb display at home on Saturday against fellow PGL side Pickie to cruise into the second round of the Irish Senior Cup. On paper this was a tough game for the hosts but it didnt take long for the hosts to get into gear and it soon became obvious that there was only going to be one winner.

It was an terrific performance by the locals as they led from start to finish. DJ Wilson’s four started well, scoring eight shots without reply and when Myles Greenfields four scored successive counts of 4 and 5 the hosts had built up a double figure lead. As the game moved past halfway the home lead was extended to over twenty shots and from then on, the overall result was never in doubt. Over the final few ends, each of the home quartets finished strongly ensuring they all emerged victorious and a thumping 41 shot success. A trip to another Private Greens team, 2nd Division side Comber awaits in the next round.

Rink 1: D Copeland, K Conlon, T Bell, DJ Wilson up 23-11 - DJ’s four got off to a flyer as the home skip decided to celebrate his 40th birthday in style by producing some fine deliveries to help his rink roar into an 8-0 lead. From thereonin, there was only one outcome of this match as the hosts continued to apply pressure end after end. By the close, the locals had coasted to a fine twelve shot success and an excellent reposne by this rink after last week’s defeat at Old Bleach.

Rink 2: M Higgins, J Magennis, M Merritt, M Greenfield up 29-10 - Myles’ four started slowly and trailed 1-4 after four ends, but within two ends, successive counts of four and five and the game was turned on it’s head. The homesters seemed to gain confidence from these counts and then continued to move up the gears. Further counts of four and five in the middle of the game and Myles’ quartet was now out of sight. By the close a very convincing 19 shot success was gained by this so far unbeaten rink.

Rink 3: S Trainor, G Moore, G McElroy, C McCartan down 17-12 - For the second week in succession, Conor’s four were involved in the closest and lowest scoring game of the day. It was the visitors that started the brightest and opened up a 4-6 lead. During the second third of the game there was little to separate the sides and the game was very much in the balance. However over the final third the locals put their foot on the accelerator and won a close battle by five shots.

Rink 4: E McElroy, C Mulholland, S Adamson, A Hughes up 20-15 - Similarly to rink four, Andy’s four didnt get off to the best of starts and trailed their rivals early on, albeit by just three shots after the first third. The second third was nip and tuck as both rinks tried to seize the iniative without success. With three ends remaining, it looked as though the North Down bowlers were going to be the only successful away rink of the day. However Andy’s men had other ideas and finished with a bang scoring a single and two trebles for a hard earned five shot win

This was a morale boosting victory for the Gilford men after last week’s unfortunate defeat to Old Bleach. As usual however, the big games come thick and fast and they dont come much bigger than current league leaders Ballymena away this Tuesday night. Five days later the locals travel to Falls, also in the league for yet another tough test.