Competitors through to North West finals

Last year's winners, Minnie Elder and Agnus Humphries (New Row) went out in the first round when they met the in-form pair of Marie Campbell and Jennifer Huston (Castlerock). This pair went on to win Section A when they overcame Marion Workman and Elizabeth McCafferty (Garvagh & District).

In Section B, after narrowly beating W Millar and S Davis (Killowen), Margaret Paul and Carol Paul (2nd Kilrea) met Iris Knight and Mary Graham (Boveedy) in the semi-final. The local pair were fancied to take this game but showing great skill and tenacity Boveedy ran out easy winners.

In Section A of the Open Singles Nicky McCaw (2nd Kilrea) easily overcame Martin Marks (Drumreagh) in the first round. Jim Campbell (1st Coleraine), Gary Meron (Marian) and Victor Millen (Ballinrees) also won their first round games. Millen played Alastair Kilpatrict (Dunluce) and this game produced some great bowling with Victor picking up his win with his very last bowl.

There were wins for Gary Meron and Nicky McCaw in the second round which left these two to battle it out for a finals place. McCaw (2nd Kilrea) raced away to a commanding lead, but Meron (Marian) stuck to his game plan and when McCaw unexplainably left an opening for him, Gary took his chance and secured a final spot.

David Workman (Garvagh & District) deserves mention for his creditable performance against Nigel Gamble (Boveedy). Nigel had to draw on all of his reserves to beat him.

In Section B, arguably the hardest section, some excellent bowling was witnessed by the large crowd. Having won their first round games, last year's finalists, Edwin Irwin (Loughanreagh) met Nigel Gamble (Boveedy) met. This game kept the spectators on the edge of their seat when both players demonstrated how the game of bowls should be played with both players drawing to within millimetres of the jack to win an end.

However Irwin got his revenge for last year's defeat reaching the magic figure of 12 shots first. Edwin now met Trevor Workman (Moneydig) in the semi-final. If the last match was good, this one was even better. It was nip and tuck throughout the whole game with never more than two shots separating the players.

It took sixteen ends to determine the winner, but with Irwin unable to turn out Workman's lying bowl, Trevor scraped through 12 shots to 10 shots.

Finals night will be held in Drumreagh on April 8 at 7.15pm. Dress code greys and whites.

Ladies Pairs - J. Huston M. Campbell/ (Castlerock) v I. knight/M.Graham (Boveedy)

Singles - T. Workman (Moneydig) v G. Meron (Marian)

Open Pairs - A. Cassley /D. McCann (St. Mary's) v D. Taggar/A. McIntyre (Dunluce).

Triples - Campbell/Campbell/Steele (Castlerock) v Blair/McLean/Taggart (Dunluce).

Rinks - Cassley/Doherty/Cassley/McCann (St. Mary's) v McCahon/McMullan/Catherwood/Gamble (Boveedy).