Billy’s bubble bursts and Whitehead title hopes fade

On top of that, they were campaigning successfully in two cup competitions

Then came an inexplicable slump which saw them lose the NIBA final and dumped out of the big one, the IBA Cup, by top Provincial side Ballymoney.

Despite some tinkering and juggling by the selectors, the late summer rot spread to the league and a shock defeat at home to Lisnagarvey saw deadly rivals Bangor head the league race. Defeat against belligerent Balmoral at Belvoir was not an option. Unfortunately, the Belfast boys hadn’t read the Whitehead script.

James Caldwell’s four made a real fight of it. Though they lost 13 of the 21 ends, they dropped nothing worse than a two all through the game. They led for three ends and were all-square as late as the sixteenth. Sadly, a very disappointing finish meant that they surrendered five of the last six ends and lost the point 17-14.

Marty McHugh’s point went west in similar fashion. JR Wilson was introduced at third to add power and presence to a rink which has strangely faltered in recent weeks. The ploy nearly worked for they only conceded defeat 19-16 on a tense last end.

Though Whitehead’s Moran four went down by nine shots, the card doesn’t tell the whole tale. Playing the last end, they were still in with a chance, but chasing glory cost them dear as they were hit with a Balmoral five and a more damning 29-20 scoreline.

The remaining game should have been a Whitehead banker. After all, Barry Browne was defending the longest unbeaten league record in Irish bowls. However, wee Barry’s bubble burst with a vengeance on Saturday. He was as powerless as King Canute to hold back the blue Belvoir tide. His father Billy, at second, had proved his fitness with the ‘B’ team at Curran the previous week, but nothing could have prepared him for this onslaught. They conceded everything from a single to a six and slumped to a 30-12 defeat.