Milford Haven 62 (0 Points) Tenby 85 (14 Points)
After the shock defeat to Whitland last week, the defending Pembrokeshire League Champions, Tenby, travelled to Milford Haven. The Tenby sponsored Layton and Company Solicitors and Chandler Rogers Estate Agents won by 23 shots and took the maximum 14 points.
At five ends, Tenby took control of the game and led by 5 shots. At 10 ends, the lead had increased to 21 shots further increased to 43 at 15 ends. Tenby finished with a 100 shots to 62 shots win but as two of the Tenby ‘rinks’ were one player short, a deduction of 25% was incurred and therefore the final result was a 23 shot win.
Rink 1 saw Pat Currie take on Tony Ellyatt and what a game it turned out to be. Down by a solitary shot at 5 ends and by two shots at 10 ends the Tenby rink dug deep into their reserves to lead by 1 at the 15th end. The scores drew level at 18 ends (18-18) and then the former British Isles Champion; Pat Currie saved his rink by reducing a 5 count on the 20th end and again played a winning shot on the final end to secure the two points. Over the years there have been many times that Pat has turned in match winning performances and although overall the match was won, it was important to secure maximum points and thanks to the skilful play of Pat, it was.
Rink 2 saw a late change of formation. Luke Rees was impressive as ever as was former Club Champion Steve Williams. Craig Guymer has matured extremely well in his new skipping position when deputising for Phil Carpenter and this talented trio took control of the rink to lead 10-6 at 10 ends after drawing 3-3 after 5 (ends). A further surge saw the lead extend to 11 shots at 15 ends and an unassailable lead was built up at the 18th end (19-7). A final winning margin of 25-9 was reduced due to the 25% deduction for the rink playing one player short.
Andrew Muskett’s rink were pitted against Roy Thomas and like Pat Currie’s game, it proved to be a close encounter. Behind at 5 ends by one shot, they drew level at 10 ends but a dropped 2 and 3 in consecutive ends saw them fall behind at 15 ends by 11-15. Unlike last week against Whitland, the rink rallied and a superb scoring sequence of 2, 4, 2 and 3 saw an advantage of 22-15 by the 19th end. The Tenby team could now breathe a sigh of relief now that a further 2 points were secured for the rink win. However, just to make matters interesting they dropped a 5 shot count on the 20th end and a single on the 21st to scrape home by one. Joe Richards was by far the most impressive on the rink and his performance was by far his best of the season. As I have said before, the future is very bright for Joe and in this new position which I know isn’t his preferred choice, he will gain international honours far quicker and I know that the penny may have dropped with this likeable young man to this fact.
Former Welsh Champion Peter Day took over skipping duties from Paul Diment who moved to ‘second’ and with Cameron White as lead, this ‘rink’ also played as a triple against Brian Davies. A dropped single on the first end was followed by the trio winning 14 out of the next 16 ends. At 5 ends a lead had been built up of 7 shots (8-1) and a run of 5, 3, 3, and 2 shots saw them move out of distance of their opponents, 21-2. The score had increased to 29-4 and 32-5 by the 15th and 18th ends respectively but a lapse in concentration saw them lose the last four ends to finally secure a 32-12 win. With the 25% deduction in place, the final rink win was 24-12. Cameron White once again proved was a valuable member of the team he is by having another wonderful match and was backed up by the cool and assure Peter Day at skip.
In conclusion, this was a tough encounter and with issues about player availability leading up to the match and more disruption five minutes before the match was going to start, resulting in Tenby playing two ‘ rinks’ one player short, this was a performance which will be looked back onto as the key result which helped win the league again. A loss would not have been disastrous but would have heaped pressure on the team, when in all fairness would not have been merited. Over the years, Tenby have had their backs to the wall and the tremendous team spirit does come shinning through time and time again and this match was another example.
Next weekend the team take on Haverfordwest Castle who almost beat Saundersfoot a few weeks ago. Therefore the Welsh Champions will take nothing for granted as they bid for a further 14 points to further increase the pressure on the Whitland team.
Rink Scores:
Rink 1: N. Dickinson, J Baggott, J Webb and P Currie 21 – 20 Tony Ellyatt.
Rink 2: Luke Rees, Steve Williams and Craig Guymer 18 – 9 Peter Collins
Rink 3: J Richards, D Spencer, J Roberts and Andrew Muskett 22 – 21 Roy Thomas
Rink 4. C White, Paul Diment and Peter Day 24 – 12 Brian Davies.