Bangor and Whitehead are primed for their big League showdown

Something must give when the NIBA's top two teams collide at Islandmagee Road tomorrow!
Bangors Robert HastingsBangors Robert Hastings
Bangors Robert Hastings

Bangor make the trek to east Antrim to face current title holders, Whitehead, with both sides bang on form.

After six starts, the Seasiders - the only unbeaten team in the division - hold a slender half-a-point advantage. And, both warmed up for the fixture in the best possible way with Whitehead pocketing seven points from their midweek visit to Dundonald, while Bangor also picked up a full haul when they hosted Banbridge.

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But the pendulum has tilted slightly in favour of the visitors due to the fact that their opponents will be missing two key players -- the Beggs brothers Nigel and Stephen. Both lads are off to the European soccer Championships in France.

Nigel usually features at lead for Barry Browne, while Stephen turns out at third to Stephen McKinley.

In contrast, Bangor go into the game, not only with a full quota of players, but boosted by the return of the influential Keith Taylor, who returns after undergoing minor surgery.

"It's probably our biggest game of the season to date," said Bangor's Robert Hastings. "The league table doesn't lie. . . . we are the two form teams in the league.

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"Thankfully, we'll be at full strength and boosted by the return of big Keith, so we are looking forward to it."

* Private GreensLeague selectors have arranged a trial game for this season's Under-25 Inter-association Series at Ulster Transport Bowls Club on Wednesday June 15 (6pm).The Championship be hosted by the NIBA at Whitehead and Carrickfergus on Friday-Saturday, July 15-16.

NI Private Greens League Junior trial teams: Reds: Rink 1: D Mills (Pickie), S McCartney (Ulster Transport), C Burns (Salisbury), J Moffett (Dunbarton). Rink 2: S Barkley (Old Bleach), C Beck (Mossley), R Dorman (Pickie), R Bell (Mossley). Rink 3: R McElroy (Dunbarton), S Breen (Dunbarton), E McKenna (Cliftonville), M Wilson (Ballymena). Rink 4: P McCarney (Falls), J Millar (Old bleach), M Hedley (Willowfield), R Kirkwood (Old Bleach).

Blues: Rink 1: J Angus (Pickie), A Aitken (Comber), G Caughey (Pickie), J McBride (Comber). Rink 2: S Vance (Willowfield), A Chesney (Old Bleach), R Millar (Willowfield), S Kirkwood (Old Bleach). Rink 3: M Pettigrew (Larne), O Breen (Dunbarton), A McKeown (Mossley), J Watson (Pickie). Rink 4: S Shields (Ballymena), W Orr (Comber), JL Watson (Belmont), D Cunningham (Ewarts).

Reserves: M Blair (Mossley), J Hedley (Willowfield), W Ross (Belmont), J Sewell (Belmont).

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