Gerry’s team hold their lead but Dougie’s side are hot on their heels

Dougie Stevenson’s Team Seven, however, are hot on their heels. The fancied team before the start of the tournament, they’re now just half a point off top spot, meaning it’s all hotting up.

TEAM FOUR

Captained by Gerry Blevins, Team Four held onto the top spot in the Winter League but only just.

Their team total was 288 points and four teams scored better. Their competition score is now 10 points and that is only half a point clear of Team Seven, the pre-tournament favourites. Gerry has every right to be worried.

Ashton Clydesdale was Team Four’s top scorer with 35 points. Ashton had the best individual score in the high section.

Peter Hillen had 31, Gary Hazley 30, Eamon Galloway 29, Gerry Blevins himself 29, Malcolm Russell 28, Brendan Magee 27, Colin McDonald 27, Merton McDowell 26 and Kyle Buchanan 26.

TEAM SEVEN

Captained by Dougie Stevenson, Team Seven were strongly fancied to win the Winter League before a ball was hit.

After a lacklustre opening round, Dougie’s men came good in round two.

They had six scores in the 30s, which was brilliant.

Aidy McEvoy had 35, BJ McAnarney 33, Tom Mulholland 32, Will Dickson 31, John Crothers 30 and Mel Hamill 30.

Add Verdon Bond 29, Dougie Stevenson 28, Philip Mallon 26 and Bobby Geddis 24 and you will get a team score of 296 points, the second best in round two.

Team Seven now have 9.5 competition points and are in second place, hot on the heels of the leaders.

TEAM THREE

Philip Strong’s team moved up from fourth to third place in the Winter League after an impressive second round performance.

Dermot Dawson was their top scorer with 34 points.

They had four other scores in the 30s. Kenny Arlow had 32, Philip Strong himself had 31, Bill McCandless had 30 and Michael Robinson also had 30.

Then came Danny O’Boyle on 28, Neville Kerr 27, Robert Haire 27, Sam Wilkinson 27 and John Convery 26.

Those 10 scores totalled 292 points, the third best team total of the round.

Their competition points score went up to 8.5, good enough for third place.

TEAM ONE

Captained by Johnny McKinstry, Team One have had an up and down Winter League so far. They had the worst team score in round one and then had the best total in round two.

Every one of their players marked a card and everyone played well.

How’s this for a lovely run of scores? Robin Jardine 34, Neil Clydesale 31, Joe Glass 31, Johnny McKinstry 31, John McDowell 30, Felix Duffy 30, Nigel Dowds 29, Kenny Baines 28, Paul Faulkner 28 and David McAllister 28.

That adds up to a marvellous 300 points.

Team One picked up the maximum seven points for their top score. They now total eight points and are in fourth place.

TEAM FIVE

Kieran McGreevey’s side slipped from second place down to joint fifth after recording a pretty dreadful second round score.

They had only two scores in the 30s, Brian Henning 32 and Kerry McCluskey 30.

Sean McGreevey had 29, John G Lennon had 28 and Kieran McGreevey had 28.

It was downhill after that.

Paul McCullough had 25, Patrick McAleenan 24, Declan Dooher 23, Tony Lunney 22 and Jeffrey Brown 17.

Their team total was a lowly 258 and they only gained one point.

They now have a total of seven team points and are in joint fifth place.

TEAM 5

Captained by Alan Close, are struggling to make an impact in this year’s Winter League.

In round two, their ten best cards totalled 280 points. That was the sixth best score or, to put it another way, the second worst score.

Vaughan Lamont 35 points, Colin McKinney 34 and Joe Thompson 32 cannot be criticised. They did really well.

Gary McCormick 29, Albert Morrison 28, Alan Close himself 27. Colin Smylie 26, Ian Craven 25, Mark McCullough 23 and Adam Kerr 21 were the other counting scores. Some were ok and some were disappointing.

Team Six now have a total of seven team points and are in joint fifth place.

TEAM TWO

Captained by Sean Quinn, have had a very frustrating start to their Winter League campaign. They have a good team on paper but it’s a different story when it comes to grass.

They totalled 290 points for their 10 best cards in round two. That gave them four team points, a running total of six team points and last place. It’s sad but true.

Seamus McGrath 32, John Poots 31, Cathal O’Neill 31 and Tom Nelson 31 were their top four players.

Then came Nigel Bryson 29, Aidan Lavery 28, Sean Quinn 28, Gerry McBrien 27, Cameron Morton 27 and Philip McCourt 26.

There are still five rounds to go and I expect Sean Quinn’s team to move swiftly up the league table.