Trips Tournament prize-winners confirmed

THERE was a full house and a great buzz around Greenhills Bowls Club ahead of the play-off match for second place in the Trips Round Robin Tournament, played over nine ends under IIBA rules last Thursday night.

Paddy Griffin’s team of Josephine Moran and Eddie Devin were pitted against Ciara Floyd’s team of Sadie Campbell and John O’Rourke, and after a free-flowing first three ends the two teams were on level terms.

It was in the fourth end where Josephine and Eddie made their intentions clear, getting their noses in front to go three up.

However, Ciara’s team were not playing badly and they got into their rhythm, playing a combination of backhand and forehand shots to the middle of the head and picking up one shot.

Paddy’s team responded immediately, attacking the head with real purpose, and two glorious backhand shots by Josephine and Eddie to jack high in the next two ends increased their lead once again to five up with just two ends to play.

Ciara’s team weren’t getting the rub of the green and they knew they had a fight on their hands, but they remained calm and thanks to some lovely draw shots in the eighth end, splitting the head wide open, they reduced the deficit by two shots going into that final end.

When it really mattered, though, Paddy’s team of Josephine and Eddie produced the goods, playing some superb shots to the head to clinch victory comfortably, therefore securing second place in the table.

Club chairperson John Hurley presented the prizes to the tournament, namely John Sheridan, Michelle Dykstra and Brian Reilly, while the runners-up were Paddy Griffin, Josephine Moran and Eddie Devin.

The chairperson said in his address that the play-off match was very entertaining to watch, with plenty of exciting draw shots. He also thanked all the members who took part over the last eight weeks, the umpires who officiated in the games and the people who looked after the refreshments throughout the tournament.

On the local scene the Oriel Zone will hold their Mixed Trips Tournament in Corduff Bowls Club this Friday at 7.30pm.

Entry costs €18 per team and any member wishing to put a team in the tournament is asked to please put their names on the noticeboard.