BOWLS REVIEW: Three wins on the spin gets Larne back on track

Larne's Darren Witherspoon in action against Ulster Transport. INLT 19-215-AM

Larne eased to a 6-1 win and they will take great confidence into their next match against local rivals Ballymena on Tuesday (May 17).

Result: Larne A 87 (6) – (1) 76 Ulster Transport

Rink Scores: D Witherspoon, S Dalrymple, M Murphy & J Kerr won 25-15; T Liddle, S Bell, P Robinson & A Kyle won 22-18; B Smyth, C Snoddy, R Lyness & D McRandal lost 29-16; A Robinson, P McRandal, G Johnston & A McLean won 24-14.

Tommy Lyttle delivers his bowl for Larne. INLT 19-212-AM

- Larne Seniors won away to Ewarts for a tough first-round tie in the Private Greens League Cup. David McRandal’s rink played out a tight match for much of the game against their opponents until a spell of unanswered shots for the Ewarts rink left the score at 25-14 after 18 ends. McRandal’s rink composed themselves over the last three ends to reduce the deficit to six shots for a 25-19 defeat.

Andy Kyle’s rink came from 18-10 down and pushed Ewarts all the way only ro lose out 19-18.

Alan McLean’s men led 8-2 after seven ends before the Ewarts rink turned the match around to lead 13-11 after 14 ends. At this stage, Larne were in need of shots to give them a fighting chance in the match and McLean’s men duly obliged. Over the final seven ends, McLean picked up an incredible 14 shots without reply to put Larne on the brink of the round two.

Michael Murphy’s rink had another tight encounter against their opponents and were 17-16 down with an end to play. Murphy’s rink were playing their last end knowing their opponents needed at least a score of four to keep the match alive. Murphy made a big change to head and lay two down with the Ewarts skip’s last bowl to play. Unfortunately for Ewarts, they didn’t get the desired result from their last bowl and Murphy had the luxury of declaring the head without needing to play his last bowl.

Result: Ewarts A 76 – 78 Larne A

- Last Tuesday (May 3) the men from Glenarm Road bounced back from their opening day league defeat against Dunbarton with success against NI Civil Service.

Result: Larne A 98 (6.5) – (0.5) 56 NICS A