Senior vs Ewarts (PG Cup)

Thursday 5 August saw NICS travel to Falls to take on Ewarts in the PG Cup Semi final. NICS were hoping for a repeat of the recent league victory whereas Ewarts would be lifted with the return of PG Pairs champions Eynon & Trueick.

Rink 2 John Mooney, Derek Brown, Artie Rice and Davy Hunter vs A Baillie, W Ewing, S Cunningham and R McLean

Rink 3 Norman Shields, Albert Preston, JJ Leonard and Stanley Hegan vs D Cunningham, J Templeton, D Pithey and A Trueick

Rink 4 Geoff McKinney, Derek Forsythe, Mansel Montgomery and Alan Montgomery vs D Linton, D Bell, T Mathers and H Magee

Rink 5 Mark De Conink, Michael Bell, Ian Hutton and Freddie Murdock vs S Meneely, W Fox, R Eynon and C Magee

The game started well across the green for NICS with Davy's rink lifting a five in the 3rd end to be all square at 6 each at 5 ends. Meanwhile Stanley lifted 2 fours and a five in the first 5 ends to lead 13-2. Not to be outdone Al won the first 5 ends to lead 12-0. Freddies rink remained tight and trailed 3-2 after 5. Overall NICS lead of 22.

Davy's rink stuggled over the next 5 ends only lifting 1 shot to the opponents 8 to trail 14-7. Stanley's rink slowed from their initial flying start still outscored the Ewarts rink by 4-2 to lead 17-4. Al's rink finally dropped a shot on the 7th end, but bounced back by lifting a four on the 8th end and at 10 ends lead 20-1. Freddies game remained very tight and the boys got their noses in front to lead 7-6. Overall NICS lead of 26.

Around this time the Ewarts ladies arrived to provide a very vocal support that seemed to inspire their male counterparts. Davy's rink were outscored 12-1 over the next 5 ends to trail 26-8, but Foxy managed to cover part of that by winning the 5 ends 6-2 to lead 23-6. Al's rink dropped a four in the 12th end, but lifted a five in the 13th, in total they lost these 5 ends 7-6, but still led 26-8. Freddies rink was unable to score in this period and trailled 15-7 after 15. Overall NICS lead of 9 shots.

Now in the crucial last 6 ends the team as a whole fought for every shot to deny a Ewarts comeback. Davy's rink outscored their opponents 9-2 over the run in to lose 28-17. Stanley's rink lifted four in the 16th but lost the remaining 5 ends by 10 shots to win 27-16. Al's rink lifted 5 in the 16th and a two in the 20th while Ewarts scored 6 in the other 4 ends. Al's rink won by 33-14. Freddies rink saw good fight and a bit of luck helped outscore their opponents 8-5 to lose their match 20-15.

Overall a NICS win by 92-78. A good start set the tone and the experience and fight across the green ensured that the Ewarts comeback never got sufficient momentum. A final against Ballymena awaits.