Coppinger turns on the power at Grange

All-Ireland champion Martin Coppinger was awesome in the opening score of his title defence at Grange on Friday beating Brian Wilmot by three bowls of odds.

Wilmot made sight at the stud farm in three good shots. Coppinger was not out fully in three, but shaved the right with his next and made Holland’s wall. That cut Wilmot’s lead to a metre. Coppinger’s next was poor, but Wilmot drove his reply into the right and missed it by 50m.

Wilmot got a nice bowl past de Barra’s, but Coppinger beat it well with a great reply. Wilmot beat that tip by just 30m with his next shot. Coppinger then went well down towards the school cross. Wilmot’s reply went right and missed the tip. He just made the cross with his next and Coppinger lofted brilliantly to reach straight road and take his lead well over a bowl. Wilmot beat that tip by just 15m to leave almost two bowls between them.