Seniors into Irish Cup semi-finals

BALLYMENA Seniors travelled to Castleton on Saturday in the quarter final of the Irish Senior Cup and recorded a comfortable 100-61 victory to book their place in the last four of the competition.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Jul 2010, 09:59 BST
Updated 27th Jul 2010, 11:37 BST

On Rink 1 Steven Shields, Mark Torrington, Sammy Allen and Andy Kyle played B Magill. Over the early stages of the game, the Ballymena rink was dominant.

After losing a 2 in the first end the Ballymena rink scored heavily over the next five ends with a 2, 3, 5, 3 and 4 to take the score to 17 2.

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Over the next 10 ends the Castleton rink started to bring themselves back into the game. After 16 ends the score was 19 13 to the 'Mena men. However, over the final five ends, Kyles rink saw out the game to finish 26 16.

It was a similar story on Rink 2 with James Gaston, David Duncan, Andy Morrison and Nigel Robinson. Robinsons rink got the better of the early exchanges racing into a 8 3 lead after 6 ends.

At the midpoint of the game the Ballymena rink showed their dominance, only conceding one end and having a 15 shot advantage over the home side to take the score to 21 6. Over the latter stages of the game, the Castleton rink started to make a comeback but the Mena Men held their nerve, allowing them to win 27 17 after 21 ends.

Rink 3 saw David Torrington, Andy Bonnar, Johnny Millar and Andy Duncan play A Adair. After 9 ends the Ballymena rink was in control with a score of 13 6, but a count of 6 shots saw Adair's rink reduce the deficit to only one shot.

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Despite the impressive count the Castleton rink failed to capitalise and the Braidmen were undeterred. Duncans rink overpowered the home side by only losing 4 ends throughout the game, leading to the Castleton rink shaking hands after 19 ends with a score of 26 - 12.

However, it was a different matter on Rink 4 with J.R. Nicholl, Steven Falls, Jimmy Hodges and Steven Coleman playing T Brown.

The Ballymena rink scored 9 unanswered shots over the first 6 ends. The early work was soon undone as the Castleton rink scored 11 shots without reply to race into an 11 9 lead. The two sides tussled to gain an advantage but after 19 ends the score was tied at 16 each. Coleman's rink recorded a 2 and a 3 to come out on top 21 16.

This sets up a semi final against Portrush which will be played on the Ballymoney green.

Ballymena Seniors are next in action when they travel to Comber tonight (Tuesday) in the NIPGL Senior League Division 1.

Related topics:SeniorsBallymena