Garvey ease into final with win over Dromore in NIBA Senior Cup match

They now play Whitehead in the final on Thursday, July 23.

The result again exposed the gap between Division 1 and Division 2. Garvey are sitting mid-table in the top flight, while Dromore are battling with three other teams to win promotion to Division 1 - and they are likely to be successful in their aims.

Garvey last won the Senior Cup in 2009, when they beat Portadown in the final, while their opponents, Whitehead, will have to look back further for their last success.

But, do not let that fool you for Whitehead are this season’s form team - and Garvey will not start as favourites. They will still look for a shock, though.

Nathan Haire was Dromore’s only winner in the semi, holding on to beat Neil Mulholland by a shot. Nathan’s father, Tom, skipped the only other rink to come close, losing by three shots to Philip Cromie.

There were easy wins for Ivan Craig and Noel Graham, over Sammy Malcolmson and Gavin Clinghan, respectively.

W. Scott, A. O’Rourke, K. Armstrong, I. Craig 26, B. Taylor, R. Malcolmson, W. Clinghan, S. G. Malcolmson 7; S. Irwin, J. Chapman, G. McCloughlin, N. Mulholland 17, W. Steenson, R. Bolton, N. Shaw, N. Haire 18; S. Jess, P. Hughes, M. Nelson, N. Graham 30, A. Matthews, G. Dawson, A. Malcolmson, G. Clinghan 12; A. Johnston, J. Shortt, J. McCloughlin, P. Cromie 18, T. Heasley, J. McKenny, B. Graham, T. Haire 15.

There will be a preview of the final in next week’s bowls column.

Hilden Rinks start next week

Hilden Open Rinks Tournament starts on Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16 and continues throughout the following week.

Play starts each evening at 6pm and it is hoped there will be another big entry for this popular event on the bowling calendar.

Anyone interested in entering should contact Raymond Gourley at 92682467 (home), 92667070 (work) or mobile 07895868806 asap.

Wins for Karen and

Desmond again

The latest winners at the Summer indoor bowling tournaments in Seymour Street Lisburn Methodist were again Karen Ellison and Desmond Hazzard, who have both been previous winners.

The event has now finished and the results from the last week will appear in next week’s bowls news.

Hilden collapse at home

Hilden 55 (0)

Ballywalter 94 (7)

Hilden lost by 39 shots at home to Ballywalter in Private Greens Division 2 on Saturday.

Although lifting a four Raymond Gourley was 6-10 down at the eighth and 9-16 at 15 ends before losing by 12 shots.

Ahead 7-5 at the ninth Keith Morrison was 7-20 down at 15 ends and lost by 19 shots.

Colin Montgomery was leading 15-1 at the eight and was 17-8 ahead at 15 ends but Hilden faled to score again when losing by six shots.

Down 4-7 at the tenth but level 10-10 at 15 ends Jonathan McMullan finished with two, one but still lost by two shots.

J. Williams, P. Harvey, T. Gray, R. Gourley 14, G. Massey 26; M. Smyth, A. Morrison, D. Sloan, K. Morrison 10, G. Robson 29; M. McQuillan, B. Turner, D. Ferguson, C. Montgomery 17, E. Lowry 23; A. Carlisle, J. Liggett, H. McMullan, J. McMullan 14, A. Davidson 16.

‘Dress rehearsal’ ends in defeat

Lisnagarvey 65 (0.5) Whitehead 73 (6.5)

The “dress rehearsal’’ for the NIBA Senior Cup final with Whitehead ended in an eight shots defeat for Lisnagarvey, who only took half-a-point, but it was not all gloom.

Noel Graham shared the spoils but it could have been a win but for a last bowl wick and Ivan Craig dropped a last end four to lose by a shot. The overall margin was only eight shots.

A five at the seventh gave Noel Graham an 8-7 lead at the tenth and 12-10 at 15 ends, but the visitors came back to snatch a tie.

Down 5-14 at the tenth and though lifting a five still down 11-18 at 15 ends Philip Cromie came back a little but lost by five shots.

Ahead 7-4 at the tenth and 10-8 at 15 ends Ivan Craig was leading 16-13 with an end left when dropping a four.

Despite lifting a three Neil Mulholland was 6-8 down at the tenth and 9-15 at 15 ends. Garvey lifted a four at the last end but lost by two shots.

S. Jess, P. Hughes, B. Carroll, N. Graham 15, J. Caldwell 15; A. Johnston, J. Shortt, J. McCloughlin, P. Cromie 16, S. McKinley 17; W. Scott, A. O’Rourke, K. Armstrong, I. Craig 16, S. McKinley 17; S. Irwin, J. Chapman, G. McCloughlin, N. Mulholland 18, B. Browne 20.

Balmoral 68 (1)

Lisnagarvey 81 (6)

This was an important win for Lisnagarvey with Balmoral one of the teams below them in NIBA Division 1.

It keeps Garvey around mid table and it was an impressive win by 13 shots, taking six points off the team who beat them at home in the opening match of the season.

Ahead 9-6 at the tenth Ivan Craig lifted a three to lead 12-11 at 15 ends. But Garvey lost out by five shots.

Ahead 9-4 at the tenth, Neil Mulholland lifted a four and was 15-11 up at 15 ends before winning by two shots.

A four and a three helped Noel Graham to a 12-9 lead at the tenth and a three made it 19-10 at 15 ends with Garvey going on to win by eight shots.

A three helped Philip Cromie to a 9-7 lead at the tenth and another three made it 15-9 at 15 ends before Garvey won by eight shots.

G. Riley, A. O’Rourke, K. Armstrong, I. Craig 17, C. Craig 22; S. Irwin, J. Chapman, M. Nelson, N. Mulholland 18, M. Reid 16; S. Jess, P. Hughes, B. Carroll, N. Graham 26, D. Donaghy 18; A. Johnston, J. Shortt, J. McCloughlin, P. Cromie 20, B. Nixon 12.