Milford Haven v Five Arches
Milford Haven 82 (12pts) v Five Arches 79 (3pts)
3rd June 2017
A fine spring afternoon saw the Five Arches travel to Milford Haven to play their latest Pembrokeshire League game. Neil and his rink of Tony, Roger and John were drawn on tricky rink one. After a slow start, trailing by 7 shots after 9 ends, they fought back to be level at 14 ends. The remaining 7 ends were closely fought with the Milford rink edging the game by 17 shots to 14. Hoping to maintain his unbeaten run, Simon and his rink were involved in another close game, ably supported by Viv, Dave and Dai, they sprang into an early lead but were reeled in and were level at tea. The second half was equally close with the Milford rink sneaking a one-shot victory. Yet another tight game on rink 3, Jon and his rink of Ken, Bill and Beano up against a strong Milford rink. They held a slender 1 shot lead at tea, all square at 17 ends but the Milford rink again just edged ahead in the last few ends to win by 22 shots to 19. Finally, on rink 4, Ashley and his rink of Mike, TP and Steve had a successful day on rink 4. Trailing by 4 shots at tea, they fought back to win the next 6 ends to carve out a lead and finally ran out winners by 4 shots. Another fine team performance with the final result in doubt until the last bowl. A couple of tricky mid-week games now follow, home to league leaders Saundersfoot and then away to Whitland
John Rees, Roger Thomas, Tony Rose, Neil Dickinson 14 Tony Ellyatt 17
Viv John, Dave Lloyd, Dai Spencer, Simon Evans 23 Roy Thomas 24
Ken Lloyd, Bill Benham, Huw Nicholas, Jon Webb 19 Lee Power 22
Mike Day, Tony Powling, Steve Davies, Ashley Hooper 23 Dave Buchanan 19
Five Arches v St Thomas
Five Arches 92 (12pts) St Thomas 58 (2pts)
27th May 2017
After a spirited game against Saundersfoot the last time out, we welcomed St Thomas from Haverfordwest to our green on a cool spring bank holiday afternoon. St Thomas were promoted last season and were expected to provide stern opposition. Drawn again on rink 1, Ashley with James, Jonno and Mike had an evenly balanced first half of the game, leading by 9 shots to 8 after 11 ends. However, picking up 6 shots on the next end, ignited a shot scoring spree which ultimately led to a comfortable 25 shots to 15 win. Webby with Ken, Bill and Beano also had a steady start, 11 shots to 8 ahead after 11 ends. 9 shots in the next 5 ends created a healthy lead which allowed the rink to cruise to a 24 shots to 14 victory.
After their superb win in Saundersfoot, Neil and his rink of John, Tony and Steve also had a close first half. One shot behind after 11 ends, they led by 1 shot after 17 ends, however a fine finish by the St Thomas four, gave them a 17 shots to 14 victory. Finally, Simon and his rink of Viv, Dave and first time Five Arches player Tony had a storming win on rink 4. All square after 9 ends and 13 ends, the remining 8 ends belonged to Simon and his team, picking up 2 counts of five and numerous other scores to run out winners by 29 shots to 12. Another good win for the Five Arches, next up, away to Milford on Saturday 3rd June.
Mike Day, Jon Hubbard, James Criddle, Ashley Hooper 25 Neil Crawford 15
Ken Lloyd, Bill Benham, Huw Nicholas, Jon Webb 24 Mike Codd 14
John Rees, Tony Powling, Steve Davies, Neil Dickinson 14 Tony Wilks 17
Viv John, Tony Rose, Dave Lloyd, Simon Evans 29 Phil John 12
Five Arches v Haverforwest
Haverfordwest 87 (12 pts) Five Arches 67 (2pts)
23rd April 2017
Another season begins, first up home to Haverfordwest, last year’s runners up in the league. On a sunny afternoon we welcomed two debutants to the Five Arches ranks. Peter (Inch) Thomas and Ritchie Hyland. After the usual problems with parking , Neil and his rink of John, Bill and Steve kicked off the new season on rink 1 in front of the adoring crowd. An impressive start gave them a 9 shots to 2 lead after 8 ends, unfortunately the wheels came off, dropping 11 shots in the next 3 ends saw them fall behind. After a fightback to get within 2 shots, Gareth and his Haverfordwest rink finished strongly to win by 7 shots, 22 to 15. Webbie once gain teamed up with Beano on rink 2, assisted by new boy Ritchie and veteran Five Arches player Tony , they struggled initially , trailing by 14 shots to 4 after 11 ends. Picking up 5 shots in the next 3 ends brought them right back into the game, unfortunately this was the highpoint , the Haverfordwest rink then pulled away to win by 25 shots to 14. Captain Ashley and his rink of James, Inch and Mike had a ding dong battle against ex Tenby player Alan Whitehouse. Level at 10 ends , 15 ends and 20 ends. It all came down to a last end shoot out with Alan, no doubt still angry about his parking ticket, playing a brilliant bowl to secure a 19 shots to 16 win. Finally our dream rink out on rink 4 were involved in another exceptionally close game. Simon aided and abetted by Viv, Dave and Dai started strongly and led by 7 shots to 1 after 4 ends. They were reeled in to be level after 8 ends and then pulled away strongly to lead by 17 shots to 9 after 14. Two moments of madness led them to drop 10 shots in 2 ends which saw them fall behind but a very strong finish including a superb drawing bowl from Simon with the last wood of the game let them snatch a one shot win by 22 shots to 21. Not a bad performance against a strong Haverfordwest team. Hopefully we can improve from this and go on and win the next game. Next up , home to Pembroke Dock on Saturday 29th April.
John Rees, Bill Benham, Steve Davies, Neil Dickinson 15 Gareth Barrett 22
Ritchie Hyland, Tony Powling, Huw Nicholas, Jon Webb 14 Richard O’Leary 25
Mike Day, Peter Thomas, James Criddle, Ashley Hooper 16 Alan Whitehouse 19
Viv John, David Lloyd, Dai Spencer, Simon Evans 22 PDS Jenkins 21
Five Arches v Pembroke Dock
Five Arches 78 (10pts) Pembroke Dock 71 (4pts)
29th April 2017
After last week’s encouraging performance against Haverfordwest, we welcomed Pembroke Dock to Tenby on a cold April afternoon. With our new shirts dazzling the opposition , the Five Arches started brightly. On rink 1, Ashley, together with James and Mike and the Australia bound Jonno, hurried into an early lead, which they maintained through to half time to lead by 13 shots to 7. A storming second half including a count of 5 shots on the last end, granting a 30 shots to 13 victory. Webbie, Beano and the returning Turbo and Ken were up against it on rink 2. After a slow start , they trailed by 12 shots to 4 at tea. A tight second half ensured the Pembroke Dock quartet did not run away with the game. The end result a 20 shots to 9 victory for the Dock boys. Neil assisted by Steve, TP and John also had a slow start, 10 shots to nil down after 6 ends, however by tea they had pulled right back to be level. The Pembroke Dock rink pulled away slightly in the second half to gain a 23 shots to 15 victory.
Our dream team of Viv, Dave, Dai and Simon continued their serene progress on their favourite rink 4, starting like a train they led by 11 shots to 3 after 6 ends and by 17 shots to 7 after 12. After dropping a few shots in next couple of ends, they eased to a comfortable 23 shots to 15 win. A good win with a good finish over the last 2 or 3 ends across the board to gain the victory. We have a break for two weeks before the next game, in Saundersfoot on the 13th May.
Mike Day, Jon Hubbard, James Criddle, Ashley Hooper 30 Brian Dowling 13
Ken Lloyd, Tom Lewis, Huw Nicholas, Jon Webb 9 Richard Jones 20
John Rees, Tony Powling, Steve Davies, Neil Dickinson 16 Mathew John 23
Viv John, Dave Lloyd, Dai Spencer, Simon Evans 23 Reg Thomas 15
Five Arches v Fishguard
Five Arches 90 (11pts) Fishguard & Goodwick 74 (3pts)
13th August 2016
Buoyed by this success against Saundersfoot, the Arches were in confident mood when Fishguard and Goodwick were visitors to the Sutton Street green the following Saturday afternoon. Again a close contest ensued. In fact, midway through, the scores were level with the scoreboards looking like a mirror image of each other, two rinks being up 10-4 and the other two down 10-4.
The Arches again produced a strong second half, though, and eventually eased to a 16-shot victory (90-74), earning themselves 11 points, with two rinks successful, one going down narrowly and the other sneaking a draw. They finish their league campaign next Saturday when they play ‘away’ to Tenby and, as things stand, it looks as if much could rest on the outcome of the ‘derby’ clash.
John Rees, Mike Day, Dave Lloyd, Neil Dickinson 30 T Evans 13
Viv John, Jon Hubbard, Dai Spencer, Ashley Hooper 22 R Thomas 21
Ken Lloyd, Kevin Lewis, Huw Nicholas, Jon Webb 20 M Barringer 20
Roger Thomas, Tony Powling, Tom Lewis, Steve Davies 18 D Hughes 20