Ports progress in Cup

Portrush made it through to round three with a 15-shot home win over Banbridge. Experienced campaigner Jackie Smyth recorded an 11-shot win over Dan Buchanan and Ian McClure edged out Dessie Hamilton by three to give them a good advantage at the break.

Gary McCloy held on to beat Brendan Davis by two shots before Kevin O'Neill squeezed past G Moore by a single shot in another nail-biting finish.

Ballymoney's impressive season continued at Lurgan as they beat the hosts by 28-shots to progress.

Willie McCaw got the ball rolling with an eight shot win over A Roberts. Nicky McCaw added another 14 to the total as he beat T McGrill and Gary Kelly recorded a ten shot win over Eddie McCourt. R Ruddle pulled four shots back with victory over Alastair Steele.

Last Year's beaten finalists, Cookstown, edged out Ballywalter in a battle royal.Tom McAleavey beat H Massey by two and Liam McHugh grabbed an eight shot win over F Hedley for the Sizzlers winning rinks.

The hosts won the remaining two rinks but it wasn't enough to deny Cookstown the win.

Dunluce exited the competition after going down by two shots at home to Old Bleach.

Rodney Kane was the home side's only victor as he picked up a seven shot win over Nigel Booth.

The other games were close affairs but it was the visitors who took the overall win.

Bangor may be still looking for their first league win of the season – but they got their act together in the Senior Cup.

The Seasiders put a disastrous sequence of results behind them to claim a place in round three of the sport’s top knockout tournament by defeating City of Derry (96-59) at sun splashed Ward Park on Saturday.

It’s the second successive season Bangor have beaten the Provincial boys – but last time out it required fortuitous a last bowl winner at City of Derry’s headquarters at Lisnagelvin.

Simon Denley led the Bangor charge against City of Derry, skipping his rink to a massive 36-13 victory over Lorenzo Graham.

Shannon was a 21-13 winner against Jim Louden, while Robert Hastings and Gary Scott made it a ‘full house’ by beating Jim Campbell (21-16) and Malcolm Thompson (19-17).

In the Junior Cup Portrush won the battle of the NIPBA clubs as they beat Lisnagelvin by 44 shots.

Ken Shannon topped scored for the Port with a 14-shot win over F Wilson.

Cookstown also saw off NIPBA opponents as they beat Magherafelt by 24 shots.

There was joy for Castlerock as they beat Carrickfergus by nine shots.

The Rock went into the game as underdogs as they were missing four regular players. But in glorious conditions the hosts pulled out a terrific performance to set up a third round tie against BETS.

With three rinks down the Rock lead by four. In the 19th end Jackie Hutchinson had one shot against his opponent before picking up another four to move eight clear with two to play.

In the 20th end Jackie picked up another shot to seal a nine shot win.

IBA Senior Cup round two: Ballymena 126 NICS 50, Bangor 96 City of Derry 59, Castle 33 Dunbarton 118, Castleton 79 Ulster Transport 60, Divis 73 Belmont 90, Newcastle 99 Newtownabbey 58, Finaghy 70 Curran 116, Hilden 68 Larne 90, Lagan Valley 49 Ewarts 109, Portadown 98 Ulster Maple Leaf 66, Cavehill 83 Blackrock 88, Sydenham 68 Ards 90, Forth River 52 Whitehead 82, Portrush 78 Banbridge 63, Lurgan 53 Ballymoney 91, Dunluce 72 Old Bleach 74, Ballywalter 76 Cookswtown 81, Musgrave 63 Portglenone 76.

Junior Cup: 58th Old Boys 81 Ballywalter 69, Curran 73 Willowfield 66, Donaghadee B 79 Whitehead B 74, Old Bleach 108 Ards 40, Knock 77 North Belfast 70, Downpatrick 113 Dromore 69, Magherafelt 60 Cookstown 84, Lisnagelvin 58 Portrush B 102.

IBA Senior Cup round three fixtures

Bangor v Ballymoney, Portglenone v Castleton, Ards v Larne, Londonderry Park v Whitehead, Willowfield v Belmont Park, Salisbury v Ballymena, Glengormley v Portadown, Cookstown v Ormeau, Limavady v Curan, Saintfield v Portrush, Dunbarton v Dundonald, Falls v Belmont, Mossley v Blackrock, Lisnagarvey v Aer Lingus, Newcastle v Old Bleach, Ewarts v CYM.

Junior Cup round three: Salisbury v Falls, Owenbeg v Ballycastle, City of Derry v Belmont, Curran v Cookstown, Pickie v Ballymena Park, Ballymena v Balmoral, 58th Old Boys v Ballynafeigh, Dunbarton v ICICYMA, Castlerock v BETS, Knock v Donaghadee, Ballymoney v Downpatrick, Old Bleach v Kenilworth, Brookgreen v Castleton, Portrush v Ewarts, Dun Laogharie v Brooke Park, Shankill v Portadown.