Fifth Title for Armagh Ladies

Armagh are the new Ladies Inter-Zone title holders as they delivered a champion performance which very few other female teams could have matched. It was unfortunate for battling Mid Down that they came up against a team that had no weaknesses and who produced an excellent all round performance from all rinks.

Mid Down could not live with the quality of the champions. Armagh took their opportunities and pressurised Mid Down to the extent that the pressure of having to take the few openings that came their way had a detrimental effect. Consistency produces pressure and it was Armagh who applied it time and time again.

Mid Down did what was required of them to settle their nerves and won two of the opening three ends across the mats including three shots for Clare Tumelty’s rink against the Armagh stalwart May Cassells. This should have given the Mid Down ladies a lift and relaxed them however the boost was short-lived as Armagh hit back with force in the second end. Rachel Cassells who was one of the stand-out players of the day claimed a four to go along with her opening two shots to take a six shot lead after two ends and strike a demoralising blow. May Cassells’ rink leveled their score with a three while the biggest blow came on mat3 where Daphne Marshall’s rink claimed a massive five. From being two shots behind after the first end Armagh had struck a major psychological blow by transforming the game on the second head to open a ten shot advantage. It was early in the game with no need to panic but it was a significant body blow to Mid Down who were aware that they could not let the lead extend further. This in itself changed the mindset of Mid Down who were no longer relaxed and were feeling the pressure. If they had of been able to consolidate in the second and third ends and be level or narrowly behind their confidence would not have taken such a knock as it had done on the second end of the game. They did respond in the third end as they gaind singles on mat1 and mat2 while losing a single on mat3. If Mid Down kept this form then they could compete.

Armagh proved how ruthless they can be in the early round of this competition especially their comprehensive win over Oriel in the quarter-final and they stepped up a gear maximising their opportunities as Armagh scored heavily across the three rinks. They accumulated ten shots across the three mats as Rachel Cassells’ foursome claimed a three to lead 9-1, Daphne Marshalled her troops to a single while May hit her opponents for six. This gave Armagh a massive nineteen shots advantage after only four ends and from here on Mid Down would have to take every chance that came their way and hope that Armagh reverted to the form of the semi-final which was their poorest display of the competition. It was not to be as Armagh showed their class and maintained their momentum throughout the first half. The one shining light for Mid Down was the quartet skipped by the impressive Clare Tumelty who only lost four ends to May Cassells. Mid Down will rue the fact that they lost a six and a three in the opening four ends. It is always important to try and minimise the damage of the opposition and at times it is better to settle for second or third shot rather than lose decisive count going for the shot or no-head. Apart from these two ends the Tumelty four would have claimed this rink game due to their consistency as they gave the Armagh rink their toughest game of the competition.

With the exception of mat2 Armagh were better in every department than Mid Down. The Mid Down front ends struggled under the consistency of their Armagh counterparts and only matched them on mat2. This piled added responsibility on the Mid Down thirds and skips which were constantly under pressure. In addition the Armagh back-ends were more accurate in changing heads at the appropriate times to further demoralise the opposition.

The mats were good but tricky. There was a good draw on one hand while the other side had a tighter line. This hand was still playable with perfect weight as the Armagh rinks showed. Armagh adjusted better to the playing conditions over the entire game. Mid Down had a tendency to play the tight hands too wide and when trying to put a foot on to be behind the head they invariably ended closer to the ditch line. Armagh executed the draw on the tighter hand far better and most of their early counts were a result of the opposition not adjusting when playing the narrower drawing side.

Rink1: L Milligan, E Lavery, H Agnew & R Cassells 14 v M Burgess, N Russell, T Bell & E McKinley 5

Rink2: M Wright, M Hobson, D Agnew & M Cassells 12 v T Connor, A Taggart, A McCreanor & C Tumelty 10

Rink3: Anne Crozier, S whittle, A Patton & D Marshall 16 v I Meharry, G Crockard, R Wylie & L Lusty 5.

Armagh 42: Mid Down 20.

A twenty two shot advantage would not been overcome against an Armagh team who still had three strong rinks to come. Mid Down were well aware of this fact but still had their rink game to win and show their true capabilities.

The first end of the second period was positive for Mid Down as Peggy Rice’s four started with a triple on mat2 and Robin Gibson scored a single on mat3. However mat1 was proving as hazardous for Mid Down as it had previously. Sadie White and Pauline Cassells played excellent bowls over the first few ends cumulating in a count of six on the third end to take a ten shot lead with Mid Down yet to score. It was not a true reflection of the bowling of Mid Down’s front end but a matter of very good bowling by the Armagh third and skip who maximised their opportunities and closed heads making it very difficult for the Mid Down back end. The good start was enough of a foundation for Armagh to win 14-4 as by the end of play all four Armagh players had out-performed their opposition. One lesson that still has not been learnt by management of this Armagh rink is when to be gracious in victory. It is fine to be competitive but when the overall game is won and the rink win secured it is not the time to try and rub salt into the wound of the opposition. In such a situation it is poor etiquette to go for the throat of the opposition. What is being proved or gained? It gives the impression of trying to humiliate the opposition and that is surely not what bowls is about. This also happened in a previous game and left a sour taste for the opponents and the more discerning spectators.

On mat2 Flo McNally’s rink flourished once the skip found her range taking full advantage of the heads her front three had built to finish victorious. It was a close game on mat3 but the Armagh rink edged the majority of the heads with steady bowling to complete a comprehensive overall victory with all six rinks winning for Armagh.

Armagh showed quality and had the answers at the appropriate time throughout the second period while Mid Down did show some improvement.

Rink4: B Wilson, V Leckey, S White & P Beattie 14 v M Ward, B Bassett, A McElnea & K Woodside 4

Rink5: Agnes Crozier, J Hawthorne, C McMillen & F McNally 14 v E Kennedy, G Morgan, J Copes & P Rice 6

Rink6: Y Hayes, S Garvey, E McDonald & B Malone 10 v F McCann, M Woodside, K Doyle & R Gibson 5

Armagh 80: Mid Down 35.

Mid Down impressive in wins over Western and South Down but this proved a game too far as they did not do themselves justice. Armagh did however make it very difficult for Mid Down and as previously stated only one or two ladies teams in top form would have challenged this display from Armagh. Even Armagh’s spectators won the early exchanges as right from the off they gave their team full encouragement while Mid Down who had the same opportunities to express their support in the early stages did not do so. Many zones could learn from the enthusiasm of the Armagh spectators which adds to the occasion and atmosphere.

Armagh have now won the prestigious ladies team competition for the fifth time. It puts them joint second with North West on the list of most wins but they are still four behind Mid Ulster who are way out in front with nine.

Armagh have had the resources to reduce this deficit over the past decade and should have won it more then the three occasions they have been successful. If they can keep this squad together they will be capable of dominating this competition but as in the past they do enter games with the wrong attitude and expect to win rather then performing for the win.

There were many impressive displays from Armagh with possibly nobody producing a poor display. From observations Sadie White, Rachel Cassells, Catherine McMillen all vied for player of the match with their consistency and ability to play the important head changing bowls however there were some special deliveries from Daphne Marshall who skipped her rink well and made them employ a positive game plan which worked. Taking into consideration her tactical gameplan and the execution of her deliveries she was arguably the player of the match.