Rocker roars to King of the Roads final

RALF ROCKER made history at Ballincurrig yesterday when he beat Gary Daly and Christy Mullins to become the first German bowler to qualify for the final of the Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads.

Mullins won the opening tip with a great bowl to light and he increased his odds with an excellent second bowl past Moore’s gate. Rocker got a huge third bowl to Geary’s to take a lead he never conceded. Daly and Mullins got poor shots there, though they followed with great bowls to the creamery. Rocker kept control though with a good bowl past the creamery and another to just short of the no-play line.

He had a bowl there on Mullins and kept clear of Daly with a good bowl to Heaphy’s. Mullins got a sensational bowl off the line to O’Riordan’s, but Rocker held his bowl of odds by beating the tip. Daly stormed back with a brilliant bowl up the long straight to push a bowl clear of Mullins and cut Rocker’s lead. Rocker kept his composure and his odds by reaching Leahy’s in nine.