Seniors v Broughshane tie goes right down to the wire

All to play for at the Eaton Park v Old Bleach League Cup match last week. INBT 46-809H

There may not be a bowling equivalent of the old sporting adage of ‘playing until the final whistle’ but Golf Seniors and BPFA ‘B’ produced their own version last week.

The near neighbours met in a League Cup second round tie in which the outcome of all four rinks was in doubt right up until the final bowls were delivered.

Ivan McMaster’s Golf rink overcame Jim Wasson by six shots, but that margin was only decided after scoring counts of three on each of the final two ends.

Elsewhere, however, it was a late show on Broughshane’s behalf as decisive counts on the closing ends helped the Knockan Road side to wins from father and son George and Andrew Davison, while A Hamill was able to rescue a 7-7 draw with Ian Lecky but BPFA will again have to give their second tier opponents 10 shots on handicap in an eagerly-awaited second leg.

Gary Shaw in action for Eaton Park in last week's League Cup tie against Old Bleach. INBT 46-807H

Broughshane’s ‘A’ team club-mates had a good win at Services ‘B’ but will also start the second leg in arrears after they give their third division opponents a further 20 shots.

But the first division challengers should still go through on their own mats in a fortnight’s time after winning all four rinks in the first leg through David Morrison, Andrew Morrison, Alan Cahoon and Doran Turtle, whose quartet was pushed hard by Sheila Smith’s rink.

Services’ ‘A’ team club-mates were in action against the undisputed League Cup kingpins of recent seasons, Michelin, and the reigning champions are in a strong position to progress to round three after winning the first leg by 17 shots despite giving up 10 shots to the Division Two opponents.

Grant Robinson, Wesley Caldwell and Graham Wilson led their Michelin rinks to convincing victories but the stand-out performance came from the home rink skipped by Mark Shaw, who overcame Matthew Boyd by 10 shots.