Tenby put 50 past Harfat

On an absolute scorcher of an afternoon Tenby entertained Haverfordwest at Sutton Street last Saturday. As is befitting such a game between two of the counties oldest rivals, the green was in top notch condition and was like bowling on glass. Many thanks to green-keeper Chris Jenkins for preparing such a fine surface. A true measure of the speed of the green could be seen on rink two where it was possible to send the bowl out towards the bank side of rink one, only to see the bowl come back round until it was literally going back up the green under the weight of the bias.  It’s fair to say that the speed of the green was not to everyone’s liking but looking across the rinks the true quality players’ skill levels still shone out.

The game itself was a more comfortable affair than would have originally have been anticipated. On rink one Peter Day’s rink had a difficult prospect on their hands against the former bad-boy of Pembrokeshire bowls, Chris Court. Thankfully a new Chris has decided to come back to the game and the Pembrokeshire County side will only be the better for it – like or dislike Chris one thing that cannot be ignored is the fact that the boy can certainly bowl, even with those lime green things he played with on Saturday he was never far away. That said Peter’s rink were always in control and by taking a five on the last end meant that they ended up top rink. Joe Richards beaming as he came off the rink having taken John Roberts for another fiver! Sadly £1 will be lost now that yours truly has remembered to fine them both for betting!! The combination of Pat Currie at three and Peter skipping is paying dividends at the moment as their unbeaten run continues, a rink of youth and experience – or as Peter likes to say “me and the three kids”.

Rink two followed a similar pattern where Andrew took on PDS Jenkins. For once the rink started well, building up an early 12-4 lead with Ben Cloake playing superbly. Dai Spencer took a while to warm up in the sweltering heat but having finally calmed down about the rinks not being set up before the start “wouldn’t have happened in my day” he had a more than a useful second half. Wigan had another great game and in the end the rink ran out comfortable winners by 11 shots.Craig Guymer found himself with a new third this week in the guise of Mike Jackson, Luke Guymer not being able to play and left joining the WAG’s whilst doing his Onslow impression on the balcony following a tumble on Saturday night leaving his right hand in plaster. Still, if we all looked like that in a vest then we’d all be wearing them. Back to the game and Craig played well in the fast conditions with good support from Jacko and a returning Gerald Hewitt. Luke Rees struggled a little and perhaps the shorter hairstyle may be having an affect on his abilities akin to Samson and Delilah, the campaign to “grown the ‘fro” increases.

Finally on rink 4 the new Diment/Roberts formation won again against a strong Harfat rink skipped by former Welsh under 18’s champion Ryan Thomas. With Mr Consistent and John ‘the Slipper’ Baggott continuing their successful partnership of the last three years the rink was successful by 16 shots. A word must be mentioned of our County President. We all know that JB’s worked harder since his retirement from farming than he ever did before. Assisting his son’s in their business interests together with running his homestead and playing bowls for 12 months a year. Well to try and make matters more interesting on Friday JB decided to drop some tree-topping equipment on his foot, thus slicing the end off his toe and nail. But a quick trip to A&E and a few painkillers later John had adapted his slipper and played a blinder – what commitment from the old man of the team. That’s four games down for the Tenby boys now and 54 from 56 points. With the Carruthers first round match approaching on 25^th June, Whitland at home on Wednesday 15^th June and Pembroke Dock now re-arranged for Thursday 23^rd June at home this really is getting to the business end of the season. Can the good run in the Carruthers continue and can this new crop of youngsters help in the quest to go unbeaten through-out this league campaign for the first time ever.