Western Men’s Inter-zone team have made a cracking start to their campaign for the Boomer Cup after they overcame neighbours, Mid Tyrone in a very tense and exciting 61 - 46 win to progress to the second round.

On mat one Karol Bradshaw’s rink played outstanding bowls to only allow their opponents to pick up three single shots while the western rink took 13 shots over the other seven ends.

Jude Morris and his rink got off to a good start on mat two, they were five shots up after four ends only to lose 12 shots over the next four ends but the Western men kept plugging away to pick up three shots in the remaining two ends.

In the remaining game on mat three, Gary McNabb’s rink lost four shots in the first end but the rink fought their way back over the next two ends to go five up with mid-Tyrone picking up three shots in the next two ends to take over the lead again. In the remaining five ends Western gained three single shots to mid-Tyrone’s two single shots with Gary’s rink losing this very close game by a single shot.

All this meant that at the half way stage the scoreline was Western 29 mid-Tyrone 24.

After the interval Alan Graham’s Western rink completely dominated to race into a seven shots to one lead after five ends and over the course of the remaining five ends mid-Tyrone were only able to gain three single shots to Western’s five shots.

Over on mat two a much closer game was taking place with Davy Graham’s rink four shots down after three ends but in the next two ends, Western picked up four shots to level the game. Over the course of the next two ends the game was level at five shots apiece and in the remaining three ends, Mid Tyrone secured three shots in two ends with Davy’s rink picking up four shots in one end to leave them winners of this game.

Gary Burke’s rink was playing on mat one in another close fought game. After four ends had been played the home side was 5-4 ahead and during the next three ends, Gary’s rink had nudged in front nine to six only to lose four shots in the next end to leave Mid Tyrone’s rink in front but Western came back with two single shots over the remaining two ends to win their game.

The final scoreline was Western 61 Mid Tyrone 46. The Men are away in their next game to South East Belfast on Janaury 10.

Results K Bradshaw 13 R Cunningham 3 J Morris 8 W Boggs 12 G McNabb 8 N Rutledge 9 G Burke 11 C Shortt 10 D Graham 9 G Conroy 8 A Graham 12 D Spratt 4 Ladies Interzone Competition The Ladies Interzone team start off their campaign for the “McIlroy Cup” this Saturday, December 6 in the Ulster Unionist Hall, Enniskillen at 2pm against mid-Antrim Zone. #The ladies last won this cup in the 2007/08 season. Western wish the Ladies all the best.

The team representing Western is:- S MaVitty, R Cranston, R Donnelly, skip C Scott L Lunny, G Dunlop, W Graydon, skip E Brogan C Brogan, Lisa MaVitty, N Hassard, skip J Parkinson H Ferguson, P Moohan, C McGovern, skip J Carson F Cartwright, H Ternan, T Armstrong, skip E Forster M Nelson, E Maguire, P Bradshaw, skip J Brown