Dunbarton duo chase a fourth Northern Ireland Private Greens title

Bowls

Conor McCartan defends his NIPG crown with DJ Wilson this week

Alex Mills

Holders Conor McCartan and Dereck (DJ) Wilson are back on the trophy prowl in the NI Private Greens League Championships, that get under way at Old Bleach Bowling Club tonight.

The Dunbarton boys know a thing or two about lifting this particular piece of silverware because they’ve already been on the winners’ rostrum on three occasions — the first of those back in 2014.

They did it again three years later before going on to complete the hat-trick 12 months ago.

But McCartan and Wilson face a massive semi-final challenge tomorrow night against Belmont’s Mark McPeak and Stuart Bennett.

McPeak is also a previous double winner — he lifted the trophy back in 1998 with Robin Horner and three years earlier with Brian Daly.

“We will have our work cut out,” said McCartan.

“But we are holders, and we’ve worked hard to get this far again, so we don’t intend to give up our title without a fight.

“When it gets to this stage anything can happen. Whoever goes on to win the trophy it will be deserved because either Michael Nutt and Stephen Kirkwood (Old Bleach) or Paul Daly and Simon Martin (Belmont), will be in the final.”

The NIBA Championships are also due to get under way tonight — they will also run over three nights — at Ward Park.

Meanwhile, Portrush closed the gap on leaders Limavady in the Provincial Bowling Association’s Premiers League on Saturday, but the current holders still hold a four-and-a-half point lead, going into the final phase of games.

Having lifted the title for the first time in the club’s 110 history last season, Limavady, with only three fixtures remaining, are again striding towards the finish line.

It’s basically a two-horse race and Portrush maintained their challenge with a hard-fought 13-shots win over Cookstown at Ramore Head.

It was Gary McCloy who did most of the damage, skipping his rink to a whopping 34-17 win against Billy Johnston.

Eddie Curran also chipped in with a significant 21-14 win against Stephen Jeffers.

But Cookstown were for throwing in the towel and they hit back through Mark Wilson, who will represent Ireland in the Hong Kong Classic Pairs tournament later in the year, and Damien McElroy, who defeated Ian McClure (22-17) and Robert Allen (17-11).

Results, Northern Ireland Bowling Association Stairlift Solutions Division One: Banbridge 80 (6) Curran 68 (1), Carrickfergus 65 (1) Bangor 104 (6), Dundonald 77 (4) Donaghadee 76 (3), Sydenham 92 (6) Whitehead 73 (1), Lurgan 71 (1) Lisnagarvey 83 (6).

Northern Ireland Private Greens League Haffey Sports Grounds Division One: Larne 71 (1) Ballymena 75 (6), Salisbury 78 (2) Dunbarton 82 (5).

Northern Ireland Provincial Bowling Association Premier League: Coleraine 95 (7) Letterkenny 25 (0), Portrush 83 (5) Cookstown 70 (2).