Early season form carries through for the B team

With an early 24 shot lead chalked up after just seven ends across the green, there was little doubt who would obtain the lion’s share of the points. Only James Kelly’s rink struggled to gain their point and thanks to some fine pressure bowls in the run in, they held on for a two shot success and a maximum point victory.

The rinks skipped by Robbie Gough, Fergie Larkin and Clifford Dennison were never in trouble.

Rink 1: K Kelly, L Magennis, N Wilson, J Kelly - up 16-14: James’ four were the only rink to face stiff opposition and had to battle all the way for their point. After the first third, they trailed 3-7 and this deficit was narrowed slightly to 8-11 at the two thirds mark. Over the final third however, the homesters put their foot down and outscored their rivals 8-2 meaning that they could afford to lose a single on the last end and still record a two shot success.

Rink 2: A Magennis, R McElroy, M McInerney, C Dennison - up 37-7: This game was a mismatch as the hosts hammered a very poor opposition quartet. Two early counts of four and a count of six saw the locals romp to a 20-1 lead. From then on it was plain sailing and by the close the Gilford men had eased home by a massive thirty shots.

Rink 3: J Gray, F Doyle, J Magennis, R Gough - up 26-13: Skip Robbie and his rink got off to a flyer and never looked back. An early 10-2 lead was maintained and by the two thirds mark, the hosts were still eight shots in front at 18-10. By the close this advantage had been extended to 13 shots and a comfortable afternoon’s work.

Rink 4: G Magennis, D Dennison, T Gray, F Larkin - up 36-18: For the first third of this game there was little to separate the sides as the home quartet held a narrow 7-6 lead. Over the next seven ends however, the game was effectively put to bed as the Dunbarton rink outscored their Belfast opponents by 11 shots to 2. A massive count of seven on end 18 rounded off a fine performance and a massive 18 shot win for the home rink.

Amazingly the Gilford juniors have a second bye in the Irish Junior Cup this weekend as the team they were drawn against has since pulled out, so the locals will be still be in the Irish Cup in June without having played a game! This Thursday the locals travel to Ards in the second round of the Private Greens Junior Cup.