Vital haul for Lurgan seniors in derby date

PORTADOWN 81(2)

Lurgan seniors took on local neighbours Portadown on Saturday and came away with a much needed victory.

The game ebbed and flowed with Portadown starting the stronger, leading 21-17 after the opening five ends, but by the halfway mark Lurgan were in the lead 44-42.

At three quarter distance Portadown had retaken the lead 66-62. The home team rallied and in a strong finish gained vital shots to get the bonus three points. This may prove to be a vital win come the end of the season.

On rink one Ivor Mitchell, Richard McClune, Kris Matchett and skip Harry Cosgrove trailed from the start against the Portadown rink skipped by A Corrigan.

Despite this the Lurgan rink never dropped their heads and kept pushing to the end, scoring some late shots that saw the team move into a winning position despite losing the rink 23-17.

On rink two Melvyn Hamilton, Reece Millar, Bobby Ruddell and skip Mansell Montgomery were level at the start of the game against Portadown skip R McMullan, though they lost 10 shots over three ends to let Portadown take the lead.

The Lurgan rink showed great character and reduced the Portadown lead, picking up five shots in the 19th end to put the team in a winning position despite losing the rink 26-20.

On rink three for Lurgan Gareth Bunting, David Millar, Stephen Poots and Alan Roberts built up a 16-3 lead over the first half of the game against Portadown skip M Sproule.

A few lose ends saw Portadown take 10 shots over five ends but the Lurgan four regained focus to score on four of the final five ends, winning 25-15.

On rink four Bobby Boness, Ronnie McCullough, Pete McGrail and skip Alan Briggs, led by a single shot, 14-13, at the half distance against Portadown skip M Whitla.

They found an extra gear over the second half of the game and seeing the other rinks fighting back continued to increase their lead as they won 30-17.