Focus turns to the youths

THE Juvenile Doubles Championship took centre stage at Greenhills Bowling Club last week and the first round produced some top-class bowling.

In the opening match it took five ends for Megan Devin and Chloe Dykstra to open a gap on Sophie Thornberry and Tadg Reilly, but it was short-lived as Sophie and Tadg battled back to the level the contest with two ends remaining.

Megan and Chloe knew they had to produce something special on the home stretch and they did just that in the penultimate end, forging three shots clear.

To their credit Sophie and Tadg rallied again, but Megan and Chloe held out for a narrow and hard-fought victory.

It was nip-and-tuck the whole way through a fascinating second match as Ciara Floyd and Jane Whelan clashed with Oliver Clutterbuck and Caitlin Floyd.

The lead changed hands a couple of times before Oliver and Caitlin appeared to make the winning move in the penultimate end, moving two ahead. However, Ciara and Jane stayed calm and attacked the head at every opportunity to secure a draw.

In the third match of the round robin series Oliver and Ciara stormed into a five-shot lead against Chloe and Megan. It looked all over at that stage, but Megan and Chloe regained control over the next two ends to edge ahead by the minimum margin.

Oliver and Caitlin knew that they had a battle on their hands, but they rallied again to open a three-shot cushion going into the final end. Megan and Chloe still didn’t lie down, but this time the deficit the bowls ran out and Oliver and Caitlin took a one-shot win.

After some tight early ends Robert McCormack and Cain McKenna opened a three-shot lead on Sophie and Tadg in the final match of the night.

Having their second outing of the evening Sophie and Tadg rallied well, but their fresher opponents brushed off the comeback to secure a two-shot victory.

All members who wish to travel to the Louth Open from Wednesday to Friday of this week, please note that the pick-up at Patrick Street will be at 7.30pm, followed by Monasterboice at 7.40pm. The draw will take place at 9pm for the Charity Singles Tournament.

ARDEE

STABLEFORD played on Saturday February 10th: 1st George Reynolds 35pts, 2nd Derek Minogue 32pts back 7, 3rd Damien Kerley 32pts.