Mid Down comeback to sneak past rivals South Down

Hosts South Down went into an early lead and by the beginning of the fifth end had opened an eleven shot advantage as the visitors took time to settle to the pace and line of the mats. On mat1 Mid Down claimed a double to level their game at 3-3 while South Down had taken control of the other two matches leading 5-2 after a single and a treble on the first two ends got them off to a great start. 

It was even better for the hosts on mat3 where B Flanaghan at skip had changed some heads to the maximum effect with positive shots. On the second end there was five shots against her, she assessed the head and promoted a South Down bowl into the head to take shot and strike a demoralising blow to the opposition who had high hopes of getting on the scorecard. The third end was changed on several occasions including by the skips with the Mid Down promoting a bowl into the head to turn a two shot deficit in a one shot advantage. Flanaghan responded by chopping out the lying bowl and moving the jack to claim a three to win the first three ends and open a 6-0 lead. South Down also changed the fourth end from a negative into a positive to further frustrate a Mid Down rink that had not bowled badly. The early star was L McMahon the South Down lead who proved to be very consistent. 

South Down were desperate to build on the early overall advantage but they knew that the visitors would be fighting back as they got used to the pace of the mats. South Down did not panic and calmly went about their task even though Mid Down had slowly reduced the deficit to only three shots. It could have been considerable closer as Mid Down finally got on the card on mat3 scoring a double but missing the opportunity to take out an opposition bowl for five choosing instead to try and draw a third shot. It was the change in momentum that Mid Down required on this mat3 as the game could easily have run away from them despite the only difference between the sides being the couple of telling bowls by South Down. 

Then a potentially critical juncture of the semi-final arrived. The hosts increased their lead from three to fourteen shots as they claimed a count of five on mat1 then another count of five immediately on mat2 while mat3 consolidated the position to take a single. An accumulated of 11 shots across the mats within minutes. Needless to say the Mid Down convener was rather taken aback by the suddenness of the increase in their deficit but a smirk was not long in returning as Mid Down hit back on mat1 to claim their own count of five.

Mat2 was almost complete and in a game where the antagonists were closely matched they were all square at 6-6 after eight ends. Then the hosts claimed one of those fives in the ninth end but unlike the other mat they followed it up with a single to finish first and give the home side a six shots win.

Next to finish was mat1 where neither side could take control. South Down went from 4-5 after six ends to lead by four shots after the first count of five. A rink is always vulnerable after winning a count if they let their guard slip and can easily undo the advantage they had just gained. It was also a testament to the fighting spirit of Mid Down that they immediately battled back to lead 9-10 after eight ends and increase their lead by a further two shots in the ninth end. South Down could easily have been deflated due to the twist in circumstances over the previous few ends but they showed that they also have fighting spirit to claim two in the last end to narrow their deficit to only one shot.

The hosts had control of mat3 with that early eight shot advantage which still stood at five after seven ends. By this stage the momentum had swung to Mid Down as consistent bowling especially from M Burgess at lead, pressurised South Down and enabled their skip E McKinley to be the one to change the heads and pick up a double, single and single over the last three ends to reduce that early eight shot deficit down to only one shot. They almost salvaged a draw but for the South Down skip to draw in for second shot.

32 - 26 at halftime.

It was a score that both teams were relatively pleased with. Mid Down were happy that they had reduced the deficit which at its peak had stood at fourteen shots while South Down were content to have that size of advantage as they restricted the Mid Down fightback.

Rink1: R Glavin, J McClure, B Walsh & H Chapman 11 v T Connor, I Menarry, A Taggart & C Tumelty 12

Rink2: K Magee, O Galloway, K Ryan & M Dowd 12 v M Ward, J Davies, G Crockard & L Lusty 6

Rink3: L McMahon, M Burns, B Fleming & B Flanaghan 9 v M Burgess, N Russell, T Bell & E McKinley 8

The second half started promptly without a break in proceedings as players and spectators alike went in relays for the nourishment supplied. This organisation saved 30-45 minutes and would be best adopted by all host zones if they have the facilities available.

Mid Down claimed a confidence boosting three on the first end of mat4 but it had to be tempered with the realisation that South Down had claimed a single on the other two mats meaning that instead of a significant dent immediately being made in the deficit Mid Down were only able to make minimal inroads. 

There was however sufficient ends remaining and while it would have been a psychological blow to have wiped out the deficit in one swoop Mid Down would have to be patient. 

South Down were dogged in their resistance and did not allow Mid Down to go into the lead in the early part of the second half as the difference between the sides fluctuated between 2 and five shots. South Down again countered a loss of three shots on the fourth end of a mat by winning the other two ends being played at the same time cancelling out the three. Mid Down again claimed three shots on a mat after five ends but South Down restricted the damage to only one shot as they won singles on the other two mats. 

By the completion of five ends on each mat in the second period Mid Down were in front on two by four shots but a five shot lead for the hosts on mat6 ensured that they still had the overall lead. Mid Down finally took a lead of two shots but held it only briefly as South Down levelled and then took a narrow lead. With four individual ends to play the teams were level but the visitors had control of the head on mat4. Ethna Smyth only had one bowl remaining for the home four and was under pressure as her opponents lay five shots. Smyth hit the head and reduced the count down to two and to the delight of the Mid Down spectators Karen Woodside kept her composure to draw a third shot to give the visitors the lead with one match completed. This was a tremendous battle of the skips. Mid Down were the steadier rink with Smyth often shot against when going to the mat but she played some telling bowls to keep her rink in the game. The problem for South Down was that Woodside was equally impressive as she responded to the pressure of her opponent and the tight finish.

The picture got even better for Mid Down as nerves took their toll on mat5. The South Down front end held their nerve to lie three shots but the Mid Down second then played an excellent heavy bowl to spring the jack two yards into the ditch and lie with the back bowls. The tension was high as the home skip failed to make an impression on the head and with Robin Gibson also unable to draw an additional shot Mid Down were more than happy to settle for the three shots. The hosts also claimed a single on the ninth end on mat6 meaning that with two matches completed and only one end to be played on mat6 Mid Down had taken a seven shot lead. It was an impossible task for the South Down rink who claimed two shots to at least finish level at 8-8 but the match was lost overall by five shots. It was possible that the game could have gone away from Mid Down on this mat as they trailed by five after six ends but they fought back to lead going into the last end.

Fortunes can change so quickly in bowls which adds to its intrigue as nothing can be taken for granted. E McKenna's rink had a convincing triumph in the quarter final to allow South Down to progress but on this occasion it was the rink which was defeatred by the largest margin and where the nerves were visibly having an adverse effect in the closing ends.

Rink4: P Corrigan, R Campbell, L Young & E Smyth 7 v M Massey, B Bassett, A McElnea & K Woodside 11

Rink5: C Gray, B Smyth, S Rice & E McKenna 8 v F McCann, M Woodside, K Doyle & R Gibson 15

Rink6: L Burns, P Magenniss, A Pinnington & A Grant 8 v E Kennedy, G Morgan, J Copes & P Rice 8

South Down 55 Mid Down 60

Armagh 56 v West Down 45

Outright favourites Armagh did not have it all their own way on home mats against outsiders West Down and had to fight hard to win the opening three rinks as they opened a good but not totally comfortable halftime advantage. In one of the first have match-ups there was only a total of eleven shots scored over the ten ends yet the home four gained a seven shot victory. May Cassells often the foundation upon which Armagh build their first half cajoled her rink that is proving tough to beat to another win.

In the second period panic almost set in for the home side and especially the home convener who was on the wrong end of the scoring on her mat. West Down produced some telling bowls across the mats to reduce their deficit and almost pull level. However they were unable to sustain the pressure and Armagh were thankful to once again pull away from their opponents and prevent a dramatic ending and a potential upset.

Shield

North Eastern 53 v North West 59

North West is becoming the new South Tyrone, a team that has potential but produces better performances in the shield rather than the main competition. They may be favourites for the title but they started sluggishly and were unable to recover on mat1 as the home side maintained a consistent level of performance for the full ten ends. North Eastern had a surprise fifteen shot lead at the interval which would have been more but for the wins on the other two mats by the visiting rinks.

The visitors were anything but sluggish in the second period and by the halfway stage of the second period had overturned the deficit and went into the lead. Despite one other rink win for the homesters North West controlled the game once they hit the front with a convincing display by the foursome skipped by L Rice.

A McKillop beat S Simpson

M Magill lost to P Black

L McKillop lost to J Douglas

J Dowds lost to L Rice

A Elliott beat M Douglas

J Sharp lost to F McDermott

Monaghan 45 v Lisburn 67

Monaghan would have entered this game with positive expectations if they could produce an optimum performance but Lisburn would also be hopeful of a win despite being away from home. 

The shield should be about the teams who will not win the main competition having an opportunity of silverware but more importantly to be able to compete with teams of an even footing. This competition should be used to develop teams who do not have the squad depth of other zones.

A place in the final was up for grabs and it was the visitors who produced a more determined performance to emphatically claim that place in the final. If they can repeat this level of play then could cause an upset and give bowls in the Lisburn area a major boost.

M Treacy 4 v K Ellison 12

C McKenna 8 v T Irwin 12

M Howe 11 v M McCammick 13

B Comiskey 6 v M Corey 15

L Carleton 9 v V McCourt 7

B Stewart 7 v J McConnell 8