Donovan,Callanan take the honours at Grange

JAMES O’DONOVAN and Ian Callanan gelled into a perfect team in their bowl of odds win over Christy Mullins and Jerry Gibbons in the annual St. Stephen’s Day challenge at Grange.

The first three shots essentially decided the score. O’Donovan got the better of the opening tips with a good bowl to the speed limit sign — Mullins’ first bowl hit a stone in the jagged wall on the left. Callanan increased the lead with a skilfully played second to Whelton’s gate. O’Donovan then delivered a perfect third bowl which went to clear light past the stud farm and put them almost a bowl in front.

Mullins edged Callanan’s bowl to Holland’s wall and Gibbons cut the lead with a fine effort to de Barra’s. After Mullins’ good bowl down the school hill, it looked more competitive. O’Donovan killed that comeback though with a perfectly lined bowl to the school cross which put them a full bowl in front. They increased that lead by 30m in the next exchange and held that sort of lead in each of the tips to Hodnett’s farm.