Juniors retain NIPGL Junior League Division 1 title

BALLYMENA Juniors finished the year on a high when they were crowned league champions last week without having to throw a bowl. Castleton were supposed to travel to the Old Ballymoney Road green last Tuesday night, however they were unable to field a team so the 7 points were awarded to the Ballymena men so it meant that no matter what happened with results elsewhere the title would be coming back to Ballymena again. The season had started well for the Juniors with a full house of 7 points again

The Braid men then went on a great run of 11 consecutive victories against Larne (A), Belmont Park (H), Old Bleach (A), Ulster Transport (H), Falls (H), Ards (A), Willowfield (H) Pickie (A) Knock (H), Belmont (A) and Mossley (A) and although they were defeated by Dunbarton (H) in their penultimate game they had done enough to retain their title.

There was however disappointment in the Irish Junior Cup action this weekend. Wins against Dungiven (A) and Balmoral (H) Balmoral (H) Castleton (H) saw the Juniors progress to the quarter final stages where they were defeated by Dunbarton.

In the NIPGL Junior Cup, Ballymena Juniors received W/O's against Castleton and Belmont in the early rounds. They defeated Belmont Park in the quarter final stages but were surprisingly beaten by Knock in the semi final.