Senior vs Ards PG Cup

Thursday Night on a very quick green saw NICS entertain an Ards team who are riding high at the top of Senior 2 in the quarter final of the PG Cup.

Rink 2 had Derek Forsythe, Billy McCullough, Mansel Montgomery and Davy Hunter take on I Gourley, C Ralph, J Fulton and D McCloy. The home side started well getting out to a 6-1 lead after 5 ends. McCloys rink pulled back to trail 10-7 at 10 ends and the game remained tight at 12-10 at 15 ends. The game finished all square at 15-15.

Rink 3 saw Mark De Conink, Michael Bell, Ian Hutton and Brian Leonard face J Murphy, C Robson, B Duncan and D Gardiner. The NICS boys were unlucky to be trailing 6-2 at 5 ends and were 11-6 down after 9 ends before winning all but 1 of the next 6 ends to lead 14-12. Brian's boys kept their noses in front to win 18-14.

Rink 4 had John Mooney, Albert Preston, Artie Rice and Freddie Murdock take on J Poots, R Fulton, T Thompson and P Thompson. A great start saw Freddie's four leap out to a 9-1 lead at 5 ends. The lead was extended to 16-3 by 10 ends before the Ards 4 pulled back to trail 19-10 at 15 ends. The remaining ends were shared and the final score was 24-14.

Rink 5 saw Geoff McKinney, Chris Graham, JJ Leonard and Stanley Hegan face D Wilson, G Davis, J Eager and B Thompson. This game started well with the home rink getting out to a 9-2 lead after 5 ends. The Ards rink got going and cut the defiict to 12-7 at 10 ends, but Foxy's fellows responded to lead 19-8 at 15 ends. The run in saw Foxy lift a 6 in the 19th end after taking out a bowl and the final score was 28-9.

Overall a good team performance without Alan Montgomery and the ill Norman Shields see NICS progress to the Semi finals of the PG cup for the 4th time in 6 years.