Five Arches 71 (11pts) Milford Haven 62 (3)

7 June 2014

The T. P. Hughes – Welsh Gift Shop sponsored Five Arches team returned to winning form on Saturday, defeating visitors Milford Haven and picking up ll points to three.  This was a welcome win for the Arches. who have been on a losing run of form in recent weeks, and with big games this Saturday and Sunday. against Tenby and Haverfordwest, the Arches players are in for a busy weekend.

On rink one. Neil Dickinson and his rink were involved in a very tight game against the Tony Ellyatt rink. At the tea break, the Arches were trailing by five shots. But they then proceeded to wn eight of the remaining ends, reducing the deficit to one shot after 20 ends. The final end saw Neil produce a superb drawing bowl to gain a front toucher to bring the scores level at l7 each  and bag a vital point for the team.  This was a fine performance from the rink. with Roger and Bill bowling well up front, backed up by Peter and Neil -well done.

Rink two saw Gerald and his men defending their unbeaten league record and playing  for six wins in a row. Up against Lee Power and his rink, the G-men were trailing by one shot at the seventh end. but disaster struck on the eighth when they dropped a count of seven to go 13 shots to five down. The G Men, however, are made of stern stuff and by the20th end the deficit was down to three with the score at 20-17 to Milford. The home four played a great final end, picking up two shots, with a measure for a third. which would have produced another drawn game. Unfortunately. the meaure went against them and the Arches rink had to settle for the two shots to see them go down by one, 20-I9. Well done John. Harold. Steve and Gerald.

On rink four. Dai Spencer and his men were drawn against Jim Thomas and his rink. and made their usual slow start, finding themselves adrift by seven shots at the fifth end. They then won the next four ends to reduce the deficit to one, with the frontend of Kevin and Thomas going wel, backed up by Ken at third. who was bowling some telling woods. After that. the rink produced a powerful final surge to pick up another l3 shots to Milford’s three. running out winners by 20 shots to 12.  Ashley and his rink were drawn on rink five against Gareth Jones and his men, and this tuned out to be a very close encounter. At the 10 end tea break, the scores were all-square at seven shots each, by end 15, the game was still level at 11 shots each. The Arches four kept it all under control over the remaining ends, however, running out winners by 15 shots to 13.

Rink scores (Five Arches first. Milford Haven skips only) were:
Roger Thomas, Bill Benham, Peter Hooper, Neil Dickinson 17; T. Ellyatt I7.
John Rees, Harold Ebdon, Steve Davies, Gerald Hewitt I9; L. Power 20.
Kevin Lewis, Thomas Lewis, Ken Lloyd. Dai Spencer 20: I. Thomas 12.
Jon Hubbard, Tony Powling,  Steve Williams, Ashley Hooper 15; G.Jones 13.

Please note: The Tenby and Five Arches captains have arranged a joint team photograph with their shirt sponsors at 1.30 pm approx. before their First Division league encounter tomorrow (Saturday). Both teams swept the board last season. Tenby winning the County Shield (again), and the Five Arches winning the Second Division and Brains Cup.