Jayden helps Larne to their greatest day
IT’S a day that will live long in the memory of Jayden Kyle, who at 14 years of age became one of the youngest ever winners of an IBA Senior Cup medal.
He was part of a Larne team that wrote themselves into the history books with an impressive 23-shots win over favourites Whitehead at Belmont.
They may have had to wait 59 years since their last win in this tournament but, if anything, it made this success even sweeter.
Jayden’s dad, Ireland international Andy, has been on the winning podium on many occasions, both for club and country, but insists his team’s achievement is up there with the best of his memories.
“What a fantastic day it has been for the club . . . we’ve waited a long time for this,” he said. “It couldn’t have gone any better.
“We’ve had a tough ride to get the final. We had to go in against teams like Old Bleach, Cookstown, Belmont and Coleraine . . . and were probably underdogs in every one of those.
“But we managed to defy the odds. And, we did it again against Whitehead. They were favourites and rightly so. However, we know on our day we are a match for any team. Every one of the boys played a part. And, it’s something Jayden can look back on in later years with a great deal of pride.”
David McRandal’s rink of Gavin Johnston, Leslie King and Jason Kerr stole the show by chalking up a 24-10 win over the Whitehead rink skipped by Ireland international Martin McHugh.
Graham McKee’s combination of Chris Snoddy, Mark Pettigrew and Darren Witherspoon also made a significant contribution by racking up a 21-9 victory against Stephen McKinley’s combination.
Just to add a little bit of icing to the celebratory cake, George Woods, Alan McCord, Michael Murphy and Alan McLean bat- tled out a 20-18 win against Barry Browne. Larne failed to make it a full house, but by the time James Caldwell registered a 25-12 success against the Kyle boys, Bell and Paul Robinson, the Larne celebrations were already under way.
Whitehead must now shake off the disappointment as they face Banbridge under lights at Whitehead tomorrow night in a winner-takes-all affair for the NIBA Division One title.
Top team: Senior Cup winners Larne WEEKEND RESULTS ROUND-UP: Irish Bowling Association Senior Cup Final: Whitehead 62 Larne 85: Stephen McKinley 9 Graham McKee 21, Barry Browne 18 Alan McLean 20, Martin McHugh 10 David McRandal 24, James Caldwell 25 Andy Kyle 12.
Irish Bowling Association Intermediate Cup Final: Ballycastle 68 Ballywalter 78: J McCarry 16 G Robson 14, M McNeill 21 D Palmer 22, J McMullan 10 K Massey 19, F Morrow 21 A Davidson 23.
Irish Bowling Association Junior Cup Final: Banbridge B 74 Whitehead B 80: J Major 20 C Todd 15, W Steenson 15 A Thom 24, N Hamilton 23 M Crooks 13, E McCourt 16 P Gilmartin 28.
NI Private Greens League Division One: Ewarts 60 (0) Dunbarton 94 (7), Ballymena 101 (7) Old Bleach 50 (0), Ulster Transport 78 (5) Falls 71 (2).
Northern Ireland Bowling Association Division One: Dundonald 79 (2) Lurgan 80 (5), Donaghadee 63 (1) Bangor 102 (6), Divis 63 (3) Portadown 65 (4).
NI Provincial Bowling Association Senior League: Portglenone 71 (1) Coleraine 76 (6), Letterkenny 64 (6) Portrush 49 (1).