HAVERFORDWEST 65 SAUNDERSFOOT 86
Saundersfoot travelled to play Haverfordwest last week for their last match at the group stage of this year's Carruthers Shield Welsh Cup competition.
With both teams having defeated Neyland and Milford, who were the other teams in their section, this was a 'winner takes all' game, with the victors progressing to the knockout stage of this year's tournament, something that Saundersfoot have failed to do for several years.
Fielding a strong team, the villagers showed they meant business from the off and had established an 11-shot lead after just five ends.
Using this as a platform, a 23-shot advantage resulted at the halfway point and calm nerves and plenty of intelligent bowling thereafter, ensured that the home team could find no way back and a thoroughly deserved victory by 21 shots went to the 'Foot.
On rink one, normally a home banker with the watching crowd of Haverfordwest supporters cheering their side on from the clubhouse alongside, Nev Ruff, Ken Davis, Paul Blayney and skip Steve Dick for Saundersfoot, found themselves five shots down after two ends to Dai John, Keith Thorpe, Chris Wills and Alan Whitehouse, but with all four playing well, it wasn't long before they had taken a deserved lead. Indeed, they proceeded to win 11 of the next 12 ends and with counts of a five, a four and two threes along the way, led by 22 shots to six after 14 played. Afterwards, the contest was fairly even, but Steve and his boys ran out winners and top rink by 29 shots to 16.
Rink two saw Adam Hensman lead for skip Berwyn Dennis with Uncle Macky second and nephew Joe at number three in a close contest against Dave Summers, Martin Dawes, Marley Hughes and Richard O'Leary. Taking the lead after four ends, the Saundersfoot four edged ahead to lead by eight shots at one stage, but then back came the home four to reduce the deficit to just two. Picking up a four then extended their lead, but although losing four of the last five ends by only one shot on each occasion, the Saundersfoot rink narrowly won by 19 shots to 16.
On rink three, Steve Poole skipped Roy Kennion, Alan Brace and Brian McKehon against arguably the home team's strongest four in Gerald O'Leary, Billy Jones, Peter Jenkins and Craig Jones. A superb performance, however, by the villagers restricted the Haverfordwest boys to winning just six of the 21 ends and earned them a handsome 26 shots to 14 win.
The only loss on the night came on rink four where Graham Hughes, David Davies, Brian Desmond and Myrddin Dennis went down to Darren Latham, Alan Wills, Andrew John and Gareth Barrett by 19 shots to 12. Up until this point of the season, Myrddin and his boys have been the most successful, but said after the match that 'they played it tight as it was a team game!'
Saundersfoot therefore join near neighbours Tenby in representing Pembrokeshire in the last 64 first knockout stage, which takes place on Saturday, June 20, and both teams are wished successful campaigns.
The villagers will play at home to Cwmbran Town, with the league match coincidently, also away at Haverfordwest, scheduled for that day now being played on Thursday, June 18.
Saundersfoot Ladies
Saundersfoot Ladies continue to make a bold bid to retain their league champion status.
It is currently a close fight at the top of the league table, but a further 16 points from three games in four days keeps them most certainly in the mix this early in the season.
On Saturday, they travelled to Pembroke Dock to play the high-flying Park ladies. The match was nip-and-tuck, but a maximum six points were achieved by the visitors, with Gemma Amos, Alwen Hughes, Steph Amos and Ceris Hewlings and her rink beating Penny Brickle by three and Naomi Fleming, Di Disney, Viv Edwards and Marion Evans pipping Margaret Lewis on the last end to win by four, with Di playing an excellent captain's shot to set up the win on the last end for the rink.
On Sunday, Saundersfoot travelled to Milford Haven, with Lorna Bissell and her rink running out 21-12 winners against Sheila Scoble and Marion Evans and co finishing 25-13 clear of Lyn Grant.
The ladies' third game in four days was on Tuesday night when they entertained near neighbours Tenby. On a chilly evening, the hosts picked up four points, with Anne Evans, Kath Williams, Steph Amos and Ceris Hewlings top scoring, 33-10, against Carol Lloyd's rink and Joyce Howe, Alwen Hughes, Viv Edwards and Lorna Bissell narrowly losing 15-18 to Alison Redman and her girls.
ST. ISSELL'S LADIES
The St. Issell's ladies played two matches last week and gained eight of the 12 points that were being played for.
Visiting Pendine, always a difficult fixture, the St. Issell's captain Beryl Lewis was forced, due to non availability, to have county lead Kath Blayney at skip, but helped by Lyn Reyed, Sandra Ingerson and Chris Harris, they earned a commendable 20 shots to 11 win over Gill Cobb.
Beryl skipped the other rink with Anne Bradley leading, Christine Ball second and Rene Silcox third and they gained a 31 shots to 16 victory over Gwen Hale.
An overall 51 shots to 27 win then, plus all six points from the match.
Two days later, they hosted Whitland and in a close encounter were just beaten by two shots.
Sue Roden skipped against Cally Jones, with Kath back in her normal position at lead, Sandra second and Chris Harris third and gained a narrow win by 15 shots to 13.
Captain Beryl had the same rink as against Pendine, but this time just lost out by 18 shots to 14.
Overall score then was 29 shots to St. Issell's (two points) and 31 shots to Whitland (four points).
At this early stage of the season, the two ladies teams at the club are performing very well in the league and are vying for top position.
There is a long way to go yet, though, but let's hope the wins keep on coming!
ST. ISSELL'S MEN
The St. Issell's men's team played two games last week, one league and one cup match.
Hosting Borderers, of Whitland, in their first Brains Cup group game, the side repeated their success of the previous week's league encounter with a resounding 87 shots to 59 win.
All rinks won on the night and captain Billy Glynn will be hoping for two more group wins to gain another place in the competition final to be held at Haverfordwest later in the season.
Rink scores, with St. Issell's first and Borderers skips only, were:
George Cavell, Peter Williams, John Arman, Barrie Lee 22; Timmy Thomas 16.
David Davies, Doug Silcox, Billy Glynn, Mike Carr 24; Dave Jenner 13.
Brian Deeley, Dennis Ball, John Haig, Mackie Brace 20; Dave Lewis 13.
Mike Gouldingay, Dennis Reed, Mike Oliver, Brian McKehon 21; John Addison 17.
Last Sunday, the team played host to Mariners, of Pembroke Dock, and gained a draw, 67 shots each, with both sides taking seven points from the match.
Rink scores for St. Issell's were:
Doug Silcox, Dennis Ball, Billy Glynn and Mike Carr 16-17.
Dennis Reed, Alan Rich, David Davies and Mackie Brace 22-10.
Bob Storey, Edward Smith, Mike Oliver and Brian McKehon 17-13.
George Cavell, Peter Williams, John Arman and Barrie Lee 12-27.
FRIENDLY
The second mixed friendly of the season took place last Saturday against the St. Dunstan's club from the West Midlands.
I cannot report the actual result as someone forgot to leave me the scorecards!
I have, however, heard that the tourists won by quite a margin and so I'm presuming that the cards were lost deliberately or ripped up in temper!
Anyway, it was only a friendly and I'm told that everyone had an enjoyable afternoon.
The next friendly is against a visiting team from Florida, USA, on Thursday, June 18.
The tourists are travelling around Wales, playing bowls and also combining this with sightseeing.
Let's hope the weather improves by then as at the time of me writing this week's report, it is more like January than June!
FIXTURES
Tomorrow (Saturday), the Saundersfoot First Division team return to league duty with a visit to Tenby to play Five Arches.
The same day, St. Issell's ladies also play at the same venue and also play Neyland at home on Sunday.
In a busy week, there is also a home game for them next Tuesday against the Fishguard and Goodwick ladies. Please note that this match is now at home and not away as printed in the handbook.
Also on Tuesday, the Saundersfoot girls travel to play Pendine.
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY MEN'S TEAMS
The senior county team, managed by Saundersfoot's John Dugmore, got off to a winning start by defeating Montgomeryshire by 29 shots at Haverfordwest.
Saundersfoot were represented by Paul Blayney, John Dugmore, Graham Hughes and Brian McKehon, who have also, with the addition of George Cavell, been selected to play in the next match next Tuesday at Llanbradach, near Caerphilly, against South Glamorgan.
The county team, managed by Peter Jenkins, begin their campaign next Sunday, playing the Vale of Glamorgan at Haverfordwest.
DENNIS AND
CHRISTINE BALL
Chatting to Dennis and Christine at the recent Rossiters Pairs Competition in Tenby, I discovered that the couple recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a holiday in the Far East.
They kept that quiet and so belatedly, but nonetheless sincerely, congratulations are sent to them both from all the members and their friends at the Saundersfoot club.