At the weekend CIBC bowlers met Falcon BC in the first County league matchup of the season. On the home rinks CIBC won twice and lost the other game. Despite a 13 shot win for CIBC on one of the rinks the overall shot count was pretty close at 56 – 45. On the away rinks CIBC managed two wins and a tie. The away shot count also favoured CIBC, (74 – 63). The overall match shot count went to CIBC by 130 – 108.
At home CIBC skip Andy Smith selected 17 year old Alfie Commerford to make his debut in the big leagues. He suffered a defeat on the day but there is no doubt Alfie will play in many winning teams in the future. Also in Andy’s team were Brian and Tom Smith. They got off to a flying start snatching 6 shots on the first two ends. After seven ends they were still leading, 7 – 6. After fourteen ends they had slipped behind and trailed 11 – 13. They managed to pull level 14 – 14 after eighteen ends only to be sunk by a cruel 5 shots on the twentieth end and lost 15 – 20.
Skip Darren Dellar had Robin Piggot, Ian Harris and Nigel Jenner in his team. In a game of three’s Darrel and team were only once behind, once level and ahead for 19 ends. However, it was always close. CIBC led by 3 after seven ends, 7 – 4. Despite scoring a 5 on the twelfth end Darrel and team were still only 3 ahead after fourteen ends 13 – 10. The final seven ends didn’t change anything as the CIBC guys kept Falcon at arm’s length to win by 3, 17 – 14.
Candel Lench lined up with Dave Fisher, Kevin Smith and Len Oakes, they managed the best win of the day but after seven ends it was 6 – 6. After fourteen ends, it was still close 14 – 10. However, from the ninth to the twenty first, CIBC only lost two of the ends and won the game 24 – 11.
Away from home skip Shaun Cook playing with Geoff King, Ian Reeves and Jamie Coleman had a good win. They got off to a fantastic start and led 14 – 1 after seven ends. It was 25 – 9 after fourteen ends. Falcon scored well over the final third of the ends including a 6 on the eighteenth but could not prevent CIBC winning 30 – 22.
Skip James Rippey and his team John Kavanagh, Tony Wilson and Mark Tokley were involved in the only tied game of the day. Falcon started well and CIBC were 2 -12 down after seven ends. After a 5 at the thirteenth Falcon were still well ahead, 11 – 20. Falcon skip G. Harrison had to be at his best on the final end to tie the game, 21 – 21. Between the fourteenth and twentieth ends James, John, Tony and Mark had taken 14 unanswered shots and grabbed the lead after twenty ends.
On the final away end Skip Dan Rodger, Ed Mercer, Martin Hogg and Paul Hills won a very close game that was in doubt until the final end. CIBC were in the lead after seven ends 8 – 6. However, after fourteen ends CIBC slipped behind and trailed 12- 15. Nothing much changed over the next four ends and going into the last three CIBC were behind 15 – 19. Four shots on the nineteenth end saw the scores tied. Falcon won the twentieth end but 4 more shots on the final end meant a 23 -20 win for CIBC.