Fours glory for Lurganbowlers at Bangor

After winning through from the qualifying rounds and the quarter-finals of the Fours at the 70th Bangor Open Bowls Tournament the Lurgan rink skipped by Alan Roberts assisted by former Lurgan bowler, Kristofor Matchett, Reece Millar and Stephen Poots secured a superb final win against a defiant Donaghadee rink.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jul 2014, 09:00 BST
Alan Roberts winning Bangor Fours rink, including from left former Lurgan player, Kristofor Matchett, Reece Millar and Stephen Poots.Alan Roberts winning Bangor Fours rink, including from left former Lurgan player, Kristofor Matchett, Reece Millar and Stephen Poots.
Alan Roberts winning Bangor Fours rink, including from left former Lurgan player, Kristofor Matchett, Reece Millar and Stephen Poots.

Robert’s rink started well to lead 2-0 after the second end when the match sparked into life. Robert’s fired a super bowl to take Brown’s shot bowl out and trail the jack onto Poots’ bowl lying right on the edge of the ditch.

The fourth end resulted in Robert’s rink taking the lead again at 3-2 and again at the 6th end by 4-3. Shots were traded and the Lurgan rink were down 6-5 after the 10th end. Roberts brought the mat up the rink to disturb the Donaghadee rink but they were unfazed and took another shot off the end to lead 7-5.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The match seemed to be slipping away from the Lurgan men when Brown’s won another shot off the at the 12th end to extend their lead to 8-5 but Robert’s rink was right back in the game on the 13th end. With the Lurgan front end drawing amazing close bowls and Matchett’s bowls covering well Brown drove through the head to allow Roberts to draw a great bowl right onto the jack to collect 3 vital shots - 8-8 all after 13 ends with the match still in the balance!

Robert’s rink held their nerve to take a double shot off the next end and a single shot of the 15th to lead again 11-8. To the delight of the dozen Lurgan supporters Robert’s rink had taken control.

The opposition panicked during the 16th end. Poots opened the end with brilliant close bowls almost on the jack. Following great positioned bowls from Millar and Matchett, Roberts nailed the end with a super toucher to claim 4 match-winning shots.

A win was now in sight for the Lurgan four. While Brown’s took a shot off the next end good close bowls on the last end, resulting in a shot for Robert’s rink ensured a superb and well deserved victory by 16-9 - a great effort by the Lurgan men to win the prestigious Fours in an excellent, well organised and tightly competitive tournament.