Cookstown double joy in bowls cups

Ards 65 Cookstown 88

Cookstown travelled to Ards as clear favourites in this fixture and came away with a comfortable victory.

Rink 1 saw Mark Wilson’s rink of Dayne Jordan, Paul Mitchell and Philip Wallace paired against the Ards rink of J Eager.

Ards started brightly in this match and raced into a 10-1 lead after nine ends. Wilson’s experienced rink started to pull things back and, with 15 ends played, had taken control of the match and sailed home for a 22-16 win.

On rink 2 for Cookstown was Liam McHugh, Derek Mitchell, Damien Mccracken and Ashley Wright who faced the Ards rink skipped by D Gardiner. McHugh’s rink who are still undefeated this season carried on there fine form and, although only won by two shots, they were in total control for the match and cantered home to a 21-19 win.

Rink 3 for Cookstown was Damien Mcelroy, Gary Scott, William Lennox and Chris Mcknight who faced the Ards rink skipped by B Thompson.

Cookstown raced into a great lead after 10 ends and continued to dominate this match and never had to get out of second gear. With McKnight and Lennox building good heads, Scott and McElroy were for most of the match just trying to add to the count and test out their drawing skills and sailed home to a 24-16 win.

On rink 4 for Cookstown was Colin Hogg, Sean Quinn, Noel Glasgow and Clarke Hill who faced Ards most experienced skip in D McCloy. This match followed similar pattern to the other rinks with Hogg and co enjoying a comfortable day and ran out 21-14 victors.

Cookstown know there will be tougher tasks that lie ahead and, although were favourites for this tie, complacency can lead to an early exit from the Irish cup and the cookies put in a professional performance.

Double joy for Cookstown followed on Saturday with the B team in the Irish junior cup. The Cookstown boys faced a fancied Falls team in Cookstown. They gave Falls a bowling lesson and won 83-34.

Cookstown seniors also progressed to the Semi final of the Piggot cup with a fantastic result away to arch rivals Ballymoney. The Cookies won by eight shots overall and now face Portrush in the semi-final.

Next up for Cookstown is an away fixture to Coleraine this Saturday.