In a game which went down to the last bowl, it was the visitors who emerged winners by the narrow margin of 3 shots. Mat 1 saw the host rink of Molly Turtle, Kathleen McKelvey, Sheila Smith and Wilma Adair drawn against the rink skipped by H Arbuthnot. The visitors made the better start to lead 7-3 at the half way point and with 2 ends to play had extended their advantage to 11-3. The hosts closing 2 and single shot ends meant that the visitors secured an 11-6 win. Pearl Peacock, Joyce Lithco, Madeline Graham and Ann Bacon found themselves in opposition to E McClement’s rink on mat 2. The hosts made a strong start registering a count of 3 on the opening end followed by a 4 on the 3rd end. Their consistent play saw them forge a 12-3 lead at 7 ends. The visitors produced a late rally over the closing ends but could not prevent the host rink winning 12-7. Helen Lynn’s rink of Maria Millar, Barbara Burnett and Eva Ferguson took on Donna McCloy’s rink on mat 3. This was the proverbial game of two halves with the visitors dominating the opening ends to establish an 8-0 lead at 5 ends. However, the locals hit back to reduce the deficit, eventually going down 6-9. At the interval, Northern held 3 shot lead with the score line 27-24. Mat 4 saw the Mid Antrim rink of Yvonne Rock, Ashleigh Rainey, Helen Maybin and Jennifer Wilson in opposition to B O’Neill’s four. This was a close game throughout with never more than 2 shots separating either rink. The lead changed hands over the opening 7 ends which saw the locals ahead at 7-6. Counts of 2, 1 and 1 over the closing ends saw Mid Antrim emerge as winners by 11-6. Mat 6 saw Linda Turtle, Eilish McNeill, Ann Agnew and skip Megan Wilson drawn to play the rink skipped by the vastly experienced Margaret Johnston. It was the local ladies who made the better start forging 4-0 ahead at 5 ends. The close nature of the contest was evidenced by two “no heads” on ends 3 and 5. Thereafter, the visitors recovered to outscore the hosts over the closing ends to win 8-5. The drama of the game unfolded on mat 5 between Joyce Green’s rink of Helen Rainey, Yvonne Hall and Roberta Morrison who played B Murray’s rink. The hosts made the stronger start moving into an early 5-1 lead after 3 ends. Counts of 2 and 1 to the visitors saw the Mid Antrim four holding a slender 1 shot lead at 5 ends. By 9 ends it was the Northern rink who held the one shot advantage at 7-6. Both rinks entered the last end with the outcome of the match still in the balance and when Joyce ditched the jack to lay 4 shots and with it the game, it looked as though the hosts had just done enough for victory. However, B Murray won the game for Northern by drawing superbly to “the line” to secure an 8-6 game win and overall victory to Northern by 49-46.