Bowls: All to play for in DIstrict League Cup

At ‘half-time’ in the second round, most of the ties remain finely poised – indeed, by the time handicap shots are added on for the second legs, many of the games will be starting off virtually all square.

Arguably the performance of the week came from JTI, who made light work of a potentially tricky trip to second division pacesetters Moneyglass.

Even by the time ‘MG’ receive a further 10 shots for the second leg, JTI will only be two shots in arrears overall and will fancy their chances on the fast-flowing mats at Ahoghill.

Had it been a league fixture, JTI would have taken maximum points – something not many teams achieve at Moneyglass – after wins for all four rinks skipped by Ivan Craig, Timothy Rock, Brian Russell and Billy Lynn.

Possibly the most eagerly-awaited match-up was that of first division leaders BPFA ‘A’ and BIBC – a team with aspirations to also be playing at the top level next season, and it was Broughshane who emerged winners by six shots, although they will have to give up a further 10 at the start of the second leg.

It was all square at the break with Danny McCullough’s one-shot win over Doran Turtle cancelling out Alan Cahoon’s victory over Roy Torrington by the same margin.

The close games continued with David Morrison seeing off David Torrington by two shots but William Morrison blew the tie wide open with a 16-2 win over Tommy Hill.

Another close second leg game lies in store at Clough, where the visitors will start off one shot behind Michelin, after losing by 11 shots at the Woodside Road clubrooms.

Clough ran their top flight opponents close in the first half, where Mark McCullough and Wesley Caldwell’s rinks established a five-shot interval lead but the reigning league champions moved up through the gears after the break with comfortable wins for Grant Robinson and Graham Wilson.

A couple of first division clubs remain very much under threat at the hands of lower division opposition.

BPFA ‘B’ will have to overcome a deficit of 24 shots on their visit to First Ballymena after the third division outfit took full advantage of their 20 shot handicap bonus to win by four shots.

But it wasn’t all down to the handicap – ‘First’ had a winning rink skipped by Lyle McQuitty, while Roland Woods’ foursome drew their match with Noel Graham. Terry McClintock and Joe Campbell skipped Broughshane’s winning rinks.

Golf Club will also have to overhaul a 16-shot deficit against Harryville CC, although they may fancy their chances of doing so on their own Raceview mats.

They’ll have to perform better, though, than they did at the Wakehurst clubrooms, where Johnny Lynn skipped the only winning Golf rink, while Wilson Burgess, Stewart Wilson and Bertie McBride all emerged victorious for Harryville.

No such worries for Old Bleach, whose tie against Antrim Lawn Bowling Club went ahead at the request of Jim Richardson’s family, following the passing of the Randalstown club committee member earlier in the week.

Bleach not only chalked off their 20 shot handicap disadvantage but actually finished 16 shots ahead on the night, therby virtually wiping out their second leg as well, making them strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.

Neil Booth, Nigel McNally and Willie Fullerton all had plenty to spare with wins for Bleach, but Robin Kennedy’s Antrim rink produced a plucky display to beat Alan Scott.

In the remaining game, third division Services ‘B’ look well placed to reach the last eight, after beating second division Maine by 13 shots, with a further 10 to come in the second leg.

Sheila Smith, her husband John and Roy Dickson skipped winning Services rinks, while Laurence McQuillan’s rink accounted for exactly half of Maine’s 36 shots on the night.

The remaining game between All Saints and BUSC was postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Jim Richardson.

SCOREBOARD

Services ‘B’ (+10) 49, Maine 36: S Smith 11, M O’Neill 4; G Coulter 7, L McQuillan 18; J Smith 12, P Kerr 9; R Dickson 9, H Heffron 5.

BPFA ‘A’ 43, BIBC (+10) 37: A Cahoon 7, R Torrington 6; D Turtle 9, D McCullough 10; D Morrison 11, D Torrington 9; W Morrison 16, T Hill 2.

BPFA ‘B’ 44, First Ballymena (+20) 48: T McClintock 15, D McQuitty 6; A Chesney 7, L McQuitty 9; N Graham 10, R Woods 10; J Campbell 12, M McPeake 3.

Moneyglass (+10) 37, JTI 45: B McCusker 5, I Craig 13; K Teague 8, T Rock 10; T Magee 9, B Russell 11; S McNeilly 5, B Lynn 11.

Harryville CC (+10) 43, Golf Club 37: J Patterson 4, J Lynn 13; W Burgess 13, S McGarry 10; S Wilson 9, J Jamieson 8; B McBride 7, D McCullough 6.

Michelin 51, Clough Rangers (+10) 40: M McCullough 11, A Armstrong 9; W Caldwell 16, J Gilchrist 13; G Robinson 14, D Shaw 4; G Wilson 10, R Aitcheson 4.

Old Bleach 59, Antrim LBC (+20) 44: N Booth 19, T Evans 5; A Scott 6, R Kennedy 8; N McNally 12, D McCullough 8; W Fullerton 21, R McCullough 3.