Michelin and BIBC ‘A’ share leadership in District League

Michelin and BIBC ‘A’ are the joint leaders in the race for Ballymena & District Indoor League Division One glory.
Harryville CC bowler Margaret Ramsey sends down a delivery against Antrim Indoor Bowling Club. INBT 45-810HHarryville CC bowler Margaret Ramsey sends down a delivery against Antrim Indoor Bowling Club. INBT 45-810H
Harryville CC bowler Margaret Ramsey sends down a delivery against Antrim Indoor Bowling Club. INBT 45-810H

Michelin, champions two years ago, claimed full points against BIBC, who are finding the going tough on their return to the top flight.

‘BI’ will feel that leaving empty-handed was somewhat harsh as in the first half, Tommy Hill and Roy Torrington’s rinks each led 6-4 with two ends left, only to come unstuck in the closing stages, against Wesley Caldwell and Mark McCullagh respectively.

Matthew Boyd edged another close encounter with David Torrington while Graham Wilson was the only Michelin skip to enjoy any degree of comfort with a 10-shot success over Nigel Robinson.

BIBC ‘A’ recorded a comprehensive 30-shot win over Old Bleach, but they were denied a clean sweep when Mervyn McDonald’s Bleach rink gained half a point from a 9-9 tie with Jonathan Millar.

Elsewhere, there were routine victories for James Gaston, Andy Duncan and Bryan Magrath.

Golf Club maintained their solid start by taking three-and-a-half points against Clough, who had started the week as surprise joint league leaders.

Convincing wins from Johnny Lynn and Sean McGarry meant the golfers were always going to claim the extra point for overall shots total but Clough stuck gamely to their task and their determination was rewarded in the final end as Dennis McClurkin scored a ‘2’ on the last end to earn a draw with Johnny Jamieson, while a ‘2’ on the final end saw Raymond Aitcheson beat David McCullough.

Champions BPFA ‘A’ remain well in touch with the leaders after taking four points from JTI, for whom Graham Maybin’s win over Richard Rodgers averted a whitewash. Alan Cahoon, Doran Turtle and Ivan Craig all had convincing wins for Broughshane.

Michelin 40 (5), BIBC 23 (0): W Caldwell 8, T Hill 6; M McCullough 9, T Hill 6; M Boyd 8, D Torrington 6; G Wilson 15, N Robinson 5.

BIBC ‘A’ 53 (4.5), Old Bleach 23 (0.5): J Gaston 16, J McCullough 4; A Duncan 12, A Booth 2; J Millar 9, M McDonald 9; B Magrath 16, A Chesney 8.

Golf Club 45 (3.5), Clough Rangers 25 (1.5): J Jamieson 9, D McClurkin 9; J Lynn 14, J Gilchrist 1; D McCullough 7, R Aitcheson 9; S McGarry 15, W Patton 6.

JTI 29 (1), BPFA ‘A’ 55 (4): T Rock 5, A Cahoon 16; T Agnew 4, D Turtle 17; B Lynn 10, I Craig 16; G Maybin 10, R Rodgers 6.

DIVISION TWO

Services ‘A’ claimed the bragging rights in the Trostan Avenue ‘derby’ against their ‘B’ team club-mates.

Joe Stevenson, Mark Shaw and Bill Kitson skipped winning rinks for the ‘A’ team, while the ‘B’ team’s response came from Sheila Smith.

Harryville Community Centre moved away from the foot of the table by beating bottom side Antrim Indoor Bowling Club. Bertie McBride, Wilson Burgess and Stewart Wilson led their rinks to wins, while Tommy Evans’ 11-shot success over Joe Patterson made the overall scoreline look closer than it was.

BPFA ‘B’ hopes of reclaiming their top-flight spot suffered a setback when they were beaten at Golf Seniors.

Second half wins from Joe Campbell and David Kernohan were not enough to overturn the deficit created by first half wins for Ian Lecky and George McCrea.

Harryville CC 41 (4), Antrim IBC 35 (1): B McBride 11, D McCullough 6; W Burgess 10, R McCullough 7; S Wilson 15, J Logan 6; J Patterson 5, T Evans 16.

Services ‘B’ 30 (1), Services ‘A’ 46 (4): G Coulter 6, J Stevenson 11; E Smyth 4, M Shaw 13; S Smith 13, D McNeill 8; R Dickson 7, B Kitson 14.

Golf Seniors 39 (3), BPFA ‘B’ 29 (2): I Lecky 14, H henry 3; G McCrea 11, H McCullough 7; J Nichols 8, J Campbell 9; D Smyth 6, D kernohan 10.

DIVISION THREE

Joy at last for Eaton Park as they claimed their first win of the season with a surprise success at All Saints.

The scores finished level but Eaton Park won both first half rinks through Bonar Hill and John Carruthers and tied another as George Reid drew 8-8 with Paddy Martin. Eugene McReynolds’ big win over Gary Shaw was Saints’ sole success.

Maine made it three wins from three outings by taking four points against Round Tower. John Heffron, Laurence McQuillan and Pat Reeves all won with something to spare, while Michael Teer provided Tower’s sole response.

Glenravel ended First Ballymena’s unbeaten start with a five-shot win in Ballymena. Vera Bryson and John McKeegan skipped their Glenravel rinks to wins; Roland Woods replied for ‘First’; while David McQuitty and Michael McKeegan couldn’t be separated in a 9-9 tie.

All Saints 40 (2), Eaton Park 40 (3): S haveron 7, B Hill 18; J McKay 3, J Carruthers 12; E McReynolds 22, G Shaw 2; P Martin 8, G Reid 8.

Maine 50 (4), Round Tower 33 (1): J Heffron 14, G Campbell 7; L McQuillan 14, H Totten 5; P Kerr 9, M Teer 15; P Reeves 13, J O’Neill 6.

First Ballymena 34 (1.5), Glenravel 39 (3.5): R Woods 10, M McAuley 6; M McPeake 7, V Bryson 12; D McQuitty 9, M McKeegan 9; L McQuitty 8, J McKeegan 12.

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