IRELAND claimed both the men's singles and fours titles in the Home Countries bowls championships at Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, yesterday.

Noel Graham built up a 16-7 lead before finishing off English champion John Leeman 21-13, in the singles final.seemed to manage to pull one out," said Graham.

In the fours, the Carrickfergus rink, skippered by Steve Mora gave the home club plenty to cheer at by recovering from a 1-4 deficit to beat Gareth Jon Welsh squad 24-8.

Scotland's Martin Bain, from the Croftfoot Club in Glasgow, rallied from 13-16 down to beat Irish junior champion Mike Stewart 21-16 in the junior singles, to begin a hattrick of titles for his country.

Scotland also won the pairs, the Newbridge duo of Ian Robertson and Alex Allan coasting to a 25-12 win over England's Mel Biggsand Steve Warren. The Scots opened with a five on the first end and were always in command. The English duo conceded defeat with only 18 of the scheduled 21 ends completed.