Buckna hold nerve to secure Churches League title

With rivals First Ahoghill having already completed their campaign, Buckna knew they needed three-and-a-half points from their final fixture, at home to Second Broughshane ‘A’.

Despite having comfortably despatched the Broughshane side from the Nelson Cup, Buckna knew it was going to be a tense occasion but they held their nerve to take all five points and secure the title by a two-point margin.

In the first half, a late rally by Jonathan Reid’s Buckna rink saw them overcome the Broughshane foursome skipped for the first time by Molly Turtle, while Sammy Hamill’s rink scored seven shots over the last two ends to beat James Turtle.

In the second half, the Broughshane rink skipped by Colin Turtle were lying the shots needed for victory when Alistair McCullough cut this to just a single shot and a narrow 9-8 win for Buckna.

And the title was wrapped up in the final end when A Hamill’s foursome defeated M Montgomery by two shots.

Other result: Glenwherry 3, St Patrick’s Ballymena 2: A Bonnar 20, L Jackson 3; L Davidson 9, D McCullough 10; S McIlwaine 7, A Agnew 11; R Crawford 10, S Smith 7.

LEAGUE TABLE

Buckna, played 21, points 84; First Ahoghill 21-82; Cuningham ‘B’ 21-79; Killymurris Glarryford 21-79; First Broughshane 21-69; Cloughwater 21-64.5; Cullybackey Methodist ‘A’ 21-60.5; Second Broughshane ‘A’ 21-56.5; Connor 21-51; Grange 21-49.5; Killymurris Carnlea 21-48.5; Ballymena Methodist 21-48; High Kirk 21-47; Glenwherry 20-46; Craigs 21-45; Second Broughshane ‘B’ 21-44.5; St Patrick’s Ballymena 20-44.5; Harryville MF 21-40; Clough ‘A’ 21-39; Cuningham Memorial ‘A’ 21-35.5; Cullybackey Methodist ‘B’ 21-25.5; Clough ‘B’ 21-12.