Tenby v Saundersfoot

Tenby v Saundersfoot

3 May 2014

The N.D. Toy and Partners Ltd, sponsored, Tenby team began their defence of the Division One Championship last week at Saundersfoot and were up in three out of the four rinks before the rain intervened and left the match unfinished – to be completed later in the season. Last Saturday (May 3) saw the return fixture in which the Tenby side won by 12 points to two and by 90 shots to 68.

The Saundersfoot side kept up with their local rivals in the first half of the match, being down by 10 shots at 5 ends and five (down) at 10 (ends). The game seemed to change dramatically in Tenby’s favour between the 11th and 15th ends – Tenby scoring 33 shots to Saundersfoot’s 10. At 18 ends, Tenby had maintained their advantage, leading by 27 shots and at the close , Tenby won by 22 (shots).

Rink one - There were home debuts for Under 25 international Ryan Thomas and Welsh indoor international Alan Whitehouse. They played with the club chairman Fred Broomhead and Cameron White back fresh from national indoor honours. The home rink was always in control against the returning Stephen Poole and closed out the game 28-20 although losing five out of the last six ends (1-12)

Rink two - Andrew Muskett matched up against one of Saundersfoot's most consistent skips, Steve Dick. The Saundersfoot four seemed to be in control of the rink after receiving a boost on the first end when Steve Dick saved a count of five shots. This was a very low scoring game , with the highest counts being a three (Tenby) and four (Saundersfoot). Rink three: Captain of the Tenby team, Joe Richards teamed up with the ever impressive front end combination of Ben Sheldon and James Criddle, together with Paul Diment. This was a very good game, between two very good and experienced rinks. Alan Brace and Doug Silcox had excellent games for Saundersfoot and were well supported by the Joe and Berwyn Dennis combination. Diment's four was 8-11 down after 12,but a run of three consecutive winning ends of four, two and two put them in control to finally win 21-15

Rink four: More home debuts for with the appearance of former Welsh international Keran Peregrine and established Pembrokeshire county player Huw Nicholas. Luke Rees and the experienced Jon Webb completed this rink make-up. In a similar game to rink one, the Tenby rink came racing out of the blocks and took three counts of three shots as well as two counts of four shots to close out the game in comfortable style against Saundersfoot skip Merv Dennis, 30 shots to 11. So a good start for Tenby winning by 22 shots and 12 points to two. What was pleasing for the Tenby selectors was the ease with which the four new acquisitions have settled into the club.  One should not be too surprised, however as the four are all experienced players, three of whom have international experience and the other an experienced county player.

Keran Peregrine brings years of experience of international bowls and national honours as well as being familiar to the Tenby green, having been a former winner of the Tenby Gold Cup as well as four-time Silver Bowl winner. Alan Whitehouse has represented Wales , indoors for the past two seasons and is also a former national winner outdoors. Ryan Thomas, an under 25 international, has won a national singles title and Huw Nicholas has been an ever-present member of the Pembrokeshire outdoor team for many years. When you combine these players with the players already in the Tenby team, the season looks more than promising. Having won the league six times in a row, this team has the opportunity to match the record of seven consecutive league titles set in the 1990s by the likes of Haydn Guy, Sam McNeilly, Terry Preston, Ben Owens, Terry Thomas, Jimmy Oliver, Pat Currie and Dave King-Thomas. Over the next three weeks , the two Tenby teams have a league rest and the club focuses on the Welsh Carruthers Shield starting with Pembroke Dock (away). All league results and current league tables can be found at http://pembsbowls.leaguerepublic.com/l/league/629857448.html

Milford Ladies v Tenby Ladies

Milford Ladies 2pts Tenby Ladies 4pts
3 May 2014

Tenby Arches Ladies travelled to Milford last Saturday hoping to gain points to keep them in the top half of the division. Both rinks were evenly matched, with the game ending in a win for Tenby by 40 shots to 30, gaining four of the six points available. After a wobbly start, Gerry’s rink managed to get their form together, with Liz, playing at lead, getting the better of her counterpart. Lon and Carol ably assisted skip Gerry and at 10 and 19 ends the scores were even, but it was the Milford ladies who triumphed, winning the remaining two ends to secure a three-shot win.

Helen’s rink also had a shaky start, but managed to stay in touch with Milford up to the 14^th end. Tenby then stepped on the gas with Audrey, Meryl, Lynn and Helen all hitting form at just the right time to score 15 shots in the remaining seven ends to win by 25 shots to 12. Tenby Arches ladies have a very busy league programme in May, with five home games and one away. Captain Carol offers an open invitation to come along and see how the game is played.  Ladies find time to take up sport.

Tenby team with Milford skips only:

L Rees, L Evans, C Lloyd, G Brutnell 15 : S Scobie 18
A Owens, M Cooke, L Rafferty, H Baggott 25 : M Carter 12

Tenby Arches Ladies v Pembroke Dock

Tenby Arches Ladies 2 pts.  Pembroke Dock 4pts
30 April 2014

With the rain ever-threatening and the green bowling heavy, Tenby Arches Ladies entertained the ladies from Pembroke Dock last Wednesday. Unlike their first game, the Arches ladies were able to turn out a full side, but by the end of the game, and with the rain falling, it was the visitors who triumphed by 56 shots to 26.

On rink five, Tenby’s Lon Evans took on the responsibility of skip against the experienced and amiable Betty James. Tenby managed to stay in the game for the first seven ends, but after that it was all downhill, losing by 31 shots, including a hot shot from Betty James’s rink. On rink six, Helen and her team of Margaret, Mair and Gerry got off to a flying start and at 12 ends were cruising along with a 10-shot lead, but Pembroke Dock were not finished. The visitors won six of the last nine ends, but their change in form was not quite enough to win the game, with Helen’s rink finishing victorious by just one shot. This rink victory secured Tenby two valuable points against a strong Pembroke Dock side.

Tenby team with Pembroke Dock skips only:
L Rees, M Cooke, C Lloyd, L Evans 8 : B James 39
M Skyrme, M Marquiss, G Brutnell, H Baggott 18 : D Davies 17

Milford Haven v Five Arches

Five Arches 98 (14 pts.) Milford Haven 55 (0 pts.)

3rd May 2014

The T.P. Hughes, Welsh Gift Shop sponsored Five Arches, playing their first away game of the season, travelled to Milford Haven last Saturday, where they produced another powerful performance to win on all four rinks and bag the 14 points on offer. With the Milford green in excellent condition so early in the season, it suited the Arches team who found it a pleasure to bowl on;  it was also nice to bowl on a dry day.

Rink one saw Tiger and his cubs in action and they were involved in another tight game. Against Tony Ellyatt and his men, after 10 ends the cubs found themselves adrift by six shots. They then proceeded to win the next four ends, picking up seven shots to lead 11 shots to 10.. They then extended their lead to 18 shots to 11, before the Milford rink produced a strong finish picking up six shots over the last three ends to close the gap to one, but the cubs were home and dry 18 shots to 17. On rink two, the Captains rink were looking for a win after losing last week and were in a determined mood against S. Jones and his rink. With Johno in superb form at lead, backed up by Tony, Steve and Ashley, they won 13 ends to Milford’s eight. They were leading 13 shots to 8 at the tea break, and then proceeded to pick up a six on the 11^th end, a five on the 15^th and seven shots on the last two ends to win 37 shots to 13.

Rink three saw Gerald and his men in action against Jimmy Thomas and his rink. Gerald, John, Bill and Steve produced another fine performance, winning 12 ends to Milford’s eight, and with the whole rink putting in a powerful display of bowling, they eventually won by 10 shots, 23 to 13. Dai Spencer and his men found rink four very much to their liking, winning eight of the first 10 ends to lead 15-4. This laid the foundation for the win, as their opponents produced a strong second half, winning seven ends to the Arches four. However  Dai and his crew of Kevin, Thomas and Ben bagged the points, winning 20 shots to 12.

Rink Scores (Five Arches first, Milford skips only)

Ken Lloyd, Jim Taylor, Peter Hooper, Ray Taylor 18: T Ellyatt 17
John Hubbard, Tony Powling, Steve Williams, Ashley Hooper  37: S Jones 13
John Rees, Bill Benham, Steve Davies, Gerald Hewitt 23: J Thomas 13
Kevin Lewis, Thomas Lewis, Ben Cloake, Dai Spencer 20: L Power 12