TENBY 126 (14 pts)  FIVE ARCHES 61 (0)
27th August 2016

The Tenby team kept on course for a ninth successive Pembrokeshire League title with a comprehensive victory over the Five Arches in last Saturday’s ‘local derby’ clash. But they did not have things all their own way on the immaculate Sutton Street, specially cut for the occasion only minutes before the eagerly-awaited action began. In fact, at the halfway stage, the Arches were holding on to a narrow three-shot lead, with two rinks up and two down. 

Their captain Ashley Hooper was leading by example as he played some impressive bowls against the Ryan Thomas skipped rink, while alongside, Jonathan Webb had his nose in front against Keiron Peregrine in a keenly contested tussle.Simon Evans and his men were also giving as good as they got against Paul Diment’s crew and at one stage were locked together at 7-7, while Neil Dickinson and his rink were not far behind against the talented Guymer twins, who were aided and abetted up front by stalwart Dai Rees and current county singles champion Mike Jackson, who was in excellent form. 

After tea, though, the wheels began to come off the Arches’ gallant challenge. As so often has happened in the past, the Tenby side seemed to find another gear and moved into overdrive in the second half to completely run away with the game, winning on all four rinks and by over 60 shots - quite a turnaround! Jonathan Webb eventually went down by eight, to be the Arches’ top rink, while Neil Dickinson and his lads were not far behind as they went down by 10. As for the other two Arches rinks, well perhaps the least said the better, but suffice to say the remainder of the 65-shot deficit was sort of shared between them, although we are not sure of the exact scores. Although Tenby remain in second place in the league after their victory, they are only five points behind with a game in hand on current leaders Haverfordwest, who have finished their matches. Tenby’s final game, a rearranged fixture, is at home to Pendine on September 24, when they will need six points to again clinch the title.  

Roger Thomas, Tony Powling, Steve Davies, Simon Evans 12 Paul Diment 43
John Rees, Mike Day, David Lloyd, Neil Dickinson 17 Craig Guymer 27
Bill Benham, Kevin Lewis, Huw Nicholas, Jon Webb 18 Keiran Peregrine 26
Viv John, Jon Hubbard, Dai Spencer, Ashley Hooper 14 Ryan Thomas 33