Straffan edge evenly contested battle with Balyna in KWWIBA

Kildare West Wicklow Indoor Bowling Association (KWWIBA)

Balyna played host to Straffan in this Division 3 match in Cadamstown Community Hall in what turned out to be a very entertaining game of bowls.

Balyna Come Up Short

On Mat 1: Except for the first end when the home team got off to a flying start by scoring three it was very much the Straffan side that dictated matters thereafter. Even though we were having a very good game of bowls it was the visitors that looked the more assured side, and when they moved ahead by five by the ninth end it seemed as if they would pull away to win rather comfortably.

It didn’t take long for the home team to respond and in a very short time they had fought back to bring the game level at ten scores each. But it was the Straffan side on the next two ends that increased their advantage by four. With time running out, the Balyna side could only muster two scores in the remainder of the game and came up short by two scores after a good game of bowls.

Finishing score: Straffan 15 Balyna 13.

Straffan: Linda Daly, Betty Brogan, Mairead Quinn and Joe Quinn.

Balyna: Seamus O’Connor, Kathleen O’Connor, Eileen Grifferty and Val Callanan.

Series of Mistakes

Mat 2: This mat took on a similar pattern as mat 1 with Straffan commanding the exchanges for most of the game. The home team were struggling to get any foothold particularly up to the half way stage, at which time they were trailing by six scores.

On the next end they had closed the gap to three, but Straffan on the tenth put four between the sides. The game was now really turning into a very competitive and lively affair. The home side again narrowed the margin to three scores, but it still looked as if Straffan had enough composure to see off the challenge.

On the twelfth end for whatever reason, a series of mistakes by the visitors gifted Balyna with a score of six, and put the boot on the other foot and gave the home team a lead of three and more importantly for Balyna, the lead for the first time in the game.

Straffan on the next end pulled it back to two, but Balyna with victory in sight were not going to concede much to their opponents and on the fourteenth and second last end stretched it to three once more. Try as they might Straffan could only record a score of one on the last end, to a much-relieved Balyna team. Finishing score: Balyna 14 Straffan 12.

As Straffan winning on one mat gives them two points and Balyna winning on one mat also gives them two points, but as the aggregate score of the two mats finishes at twenty seven scores each, the bonus point is shared. So with each team having 2.5 points in the bag I am sure they will be happy enough.

Balyna: Bernie Flanagan, Phil Holton, Tom Myles and John Mangan.

Straffan: Thomas Donovan, Jos Eversten, Denis Brogan and Brendan Murphy.

Walsh Island Bowling Club

At the monthly Executive Council Meeting of the Kildare West Wicklow Indoor Bowling Association held in the Harbour View Hotel (Naas) on 28th September the Walsh Island Bowling club (Offaly) applied to be affiliated to the KWWIBA. James McGrath represented the club and the Association’s Chairman Donal Burke warmly welcomed him to the meeting.

The Walsh Island Bowling Club was formed about six months ago. We wish the club every success in the future and look forward to the club taking part in the Associations competitions in 2017.

Rathangan Bowling Club

New members are always welcome, so why not come along and enjoy yourself in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. Practice takes place every Sunday night and every Thursday night in the Rathangan Community Hall starting at 7pm. Any age group, young or old, once over 18 years of age.

What better way to pass the long winter nights than to meet and make new friends and indeed partake in a very enjoyable hobby? Enjoy a cuppa afterwards and an ol’ chat and the bit of banter.

Are you interested? Then why not give it a try. For further information give Josie a call on 086 1624479 at any time.

League Results (home team first)

Div. 1: Brownstown 3 Ardclough 2, Baltinglass 5 Hollywood 0.

Div. 2: Castlemitchell 3 Blessington 2

Div. 3: Balyna 2.5 Straffan 2.5, Kilcullen 1 Rathmore 4, Rathcoffey 5 Caragh 0.

Ned Byrne Shield (Sec. 2): Donard/Glen (A) 5 Clane/Staplestown (B) 0