email info for the web to Paul Mearns

JUNIOR PAIRS

The North West Junior Zone completed their IIBA pairs on Saturday 21st January 2012 played at Derramore Church Hall.
Two first round games took place with Jordan and Adam Rankin (Derramore) playing Craig Marshall and Gregory Simpson (Dungiven COI), The Derramore pairs produced good bowls to edge out the Dungiven pair. In the other game Laura and Jamie Cochrane (Largy) played Jill Young and Orlagh McCloskey (1st Limavady and St. Canices, Dungiven) had an excellent game with both pairs playing some excellent bowls, playing the last end the game was all square and in a tense last end Jill and Oralgh got the decisive shot.

The quarter-finals commence with Alan Cochrane and James Pollock (Leck) playing Tamisn Elder and Lee Devenney (1st Limavady), the Leck pair got off to a quick start and maintain this but in the later part of the game the 1st Limavady pair came back strongly only to be defeat by two shots. John Crown and Shauna O’Neill (Largy and Limavady CRFC) played against the brother and sister combination of Emma and Adam McLucas (Christ Church), Shauna and John took a four shot lead and maintain this throughout the game until the second last end when Adam picked up a count of two to trail by one shot going into the last end, as this end was played the Christ Church pair were unlucky to lose one shot and eventually losing the game by two shots. The third game got under way with brothers playing brothers, Jordan and Adam Rankin playing Graham and Stephen Kennedy (Largy) this was a good drawing game with the Largy pair being too strong in the end and winning by three shots, Credit to the Derramore pair who pushed the fancy Largy pair all the way. The last quarter-final saw the introduction of James Caskie and Jordan Mullan (Derramore and St. Mary’s, Ballerin) against Jill Young and Orlagh McCloskey, the boys prove to be far too strong for the girls but credit also goes to the girls for playing excellent bowls throughout the day.

The semi-finals took place with Graham and Stephen Kennedy playing Alan Cochrane and James Pollock, the Largy pair proved their quality in this game and out played the Leck pair to progress to the final. The other semi produced an excellent match, John Crown and Shauna O’Neill played against James Caskie and Jordon Mullan, the two boys power their way to an commanding lead with Jordan playing excellent bowls, the junior Captain had to be in good form as John and Shauna were producing some good bowls, seven up with two ends to play the match was over? Or was it? John and Shauna produced an excellent second last end to lift a four and in the last end the young pair were lying a count of three before Jordan played his first bowl, Jordan produced an excellent bowl to secure the match.

The final took place with the BIG TWO pairs battling it out to see which pair would represent the zone at the IIBA junior pair’s competition. This was a real battle was a high standard of bowls being played by both pairs, James and Jordan took an early lead and command this lead throughout the game, Jordan especially playing superb bowls, Stephen tried everything but eventually as ends ran out James and Jordan secured an excellent victory.

Outstanding player on the day was Jordan Mullan.

Well done to everyone who participated, an excellent standard of bowls I would like to wish James AND Jordan the best of luck on behalf of the Junior Zone.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended to support all the young ones playing; this was appreciated by the young players, also thanks to Derramore for the use of their facilities.