Page 11 - Spring 2020 a

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The inter zone plate final featured Mid Ulster and Monaghan and it proved to be a 11
nail-biting game going down to the last bowl. Both zones have had a few lean years
with Mid Ulster in particular still the most successful ladies’ team with 9 inter zone titles
but recent years have been barren.
The first half saw little separating the side with the lead changing on a regular basis.
On mat 1, Mid Ulster's S Anderson narrowly lost to A Rutledge 9 - 7, M Lagan defeated I
Forde 11 - 8 while D McHugh and G Hamilton finished 12 - 12 to leave Mid Ulster leading
by 1 shot, 30 - 29. The game could have gone either way in the second half and it was on
the last end that Monaghan took the upper hand but only just.
Mid Ulster's B Davidson was lying 4 only to lose the shot on the last bowl delivered
by B Smith. K McKenna's rink could have sealed the game but they failed to close a gap
on the last end and let their opponents in to win 9 - 4. The final game saw L Bruce lead 7
- 6 against L Crleton in the last end. Her last bowl was inches away from picking up a 7
and win the game but the 2 gained left Monaghan 53 - 51 winners.
Junior Bowls

The IIBA made a number of
changes to the season's ju-
nior bowls. With the number
of juniors in the zones vary-
ing from year to year,
it was decided that the
usual 3 rink junior inter zone
would be reduced to 2 rinks
and in addition 2 additional
competition would be intro-
duced - an under 14 and an
over 14 rink competition.
The new format seemed
to be a success with over 100
juniors in both the inter zone
and rinks competitions. As
was expected it was North
West and Monaghan who were the dominant zones. North West had won the previous 5
inter zone titles, a testament to the
tremendous effort put into junior
bowls within the zone.
The competition was played
on a round robin basis with North
West, West Down, Monaghan A
and Donegal topping their groups.
North West defeated West Down
and Monaghan defeated Donegal
As expected, contested the
final which proved to be an excel-
lent advert for junior bowls with
the game decided on the last end
in North West's favour 13 - 10.
All involved are to be con-
gratulated for an excellent days
bowling and in particular those
who give up their time to coach ju-
nior bowls.