All to play for in singles tournament

JUST three points separate the top four players with three weeks left in the Greenhills Junior Round Robin Singles.

In last week’s matches first to play were Tadg Reilly and Noel Mc Donnell in what turned out to be a ding-dong battle.

Noel had a four-shot advantage after only two ends but eventually found himself trailing by three by the sixth end as Tadg battled back impressively.

There was another change in fortunes then as Noel reduced the gap to one, but Tadg produced his best bowls in the last two ends and clinched victory in splendid fashion by four shots.

Thomas Devin Healy took a four-shot lead over Ciara Floyd after three ends, and after a brief rally by his opponent Thomas’s advantage was back to four.

Ciara stayed calm and a cracking backhand shot into the head in the seventh end cut the deficit to two shots with two ends to play. Thomas was feeling the pressure, putting too much weight on his bowls, and Ciara then edged two in front with just that last end to play.

Time was running out for Thomas, but he got stuck in all guns blazing to come up trumps in a hell of a game by one shot.

A battle ensued between Robert Mc Cormack and Lauren Dykstra - and this pair were still on level terms after four ends.

Robert played some brilliant bowls to go three up, but back came Lauren, winning two ends on the spin to take a two-shot lead into the last end. However, Robert responded with some lovely shots to secure victory in fine style by three shots.

There was another rollercoaster match between Megan Devin and Leo McDonnell, with Megan three up after two ends but then losing her way as Leo edged one in front after four.

Back came Megan to lead by one with two ends remaining, but Leo was back in the driving seat with a three-shot lead as his opponent missed several chances in the penultimate end.

However, Megan showed nerves of steel when it really mattered to prevail by four shots.

In the last match Caitlin Floyd and Chloe Dykstra remained level after four ends, before Caitlin found another gear to lead by four after six ends. Chloe pulled three of those back in the seventh, but Caitlin eventually completed a three-shot victory.

Times of play: Tuesday - Juniors 7 to 8.15pm, Seniors 8.15 to 10.30pm; Thursday - Seniors 8 to 10.30pm.

Greenhills junior trio Chloe Dykstra (left), Megan Devin (second right) and Ciara Floyd made their home debut for Oriel Zone in the Senior Ladies Rinks Tournament against South Tyrone in Corduff recently and Oriel triuumphed 62-45. They are pictured with team selector Mary O’Hare.