MILFORD HAVEN 71 shots (0) TENBY 94 (14 pts)
31 May 2014
The games come thick and fast this time of year which leaves the N. D. Toy & Partners Ltd sponsored Tenby team little chance for recovery between games. This can cause injuries and a few have recently been picked up. However, Tenby have a strong squad this year after some good transfer deals completed by Peter Day in the Tenby bar during the Valero Tournament last season. This season, thus far, has seen very high performance levels from individuals due to competition for places and players becoming worried about their places as the new manager (Joe Richards) was keen to emphasise that past loyalties and past accomplishments meant nothing (shrewd move by Paul Diment to volunteer to be assistant manager then!). Some more changes by the management team for the game against Milford Haven - both the manager and the assistant manager were in fact missing for the game. Paul was scouting potential Champions League opponents, while Joe was attending a Champions League meeting in Brussels. However, Andrew Muskett came out of management retirement to help out - another shrewd move me thinks! Anyway, back to the action.
Rink one: The Guymers played their first third/skip partnership and along with Alan Whitehouse and the returning Ben Sheldon (knee injury) saw off the challenge of Jim Thomas 23-13. Rink two: Pegs came back to winning ways, beating Lee Power 26-19 (scoring 1 1 shots to nil over the last five ends). However, disaster has struck as a very poor challenge has left Pegs injured (leg). Joe Richards has been contacted by Pegs who will miss the league match against Pembroke Dock and have a late fitness test or the game against Whitland. ln the meantime, Pegs has obtained permission to return to Ammanford to his own team of physios.
Rink three: John Roberts restored as skip after some tinkering by the management saw him also return to winning ways - bit of a cert these days when you play with Webby — still 100 per cent record for the one club man! Luke Rues also returned from a spell in the reserves and he was joined by Fred Broomhead for a 27-22 shot victory. The only negative side was that there were no substitutes for this game as the lack of match practice for Fred and Luke was telling as they lost all the last six ends. Good job John Baggott was on international duties with the national team, otherwise more prawn sandwiches could have been thrown around the directors' box! Rink four: Andrew Muskett's four, with Dai Rees also making a long-awaited return from the first game of the season, had a very tight fought victory over Gareth Jones. This game was always close and a dropped count of four, not the first either ( !), saw the usual, calm calculated Tenby skip descend into panic - in fact, Joe could feel the tension all the way back in Brussels. Still a very good win 18-17 and another winning rink. Tomorrow sees a further challenge, with Tenby playing away at Whitland. The management have promised to field their Champions League team, but with a number of injuries. they may not be able to - Pegs (leg); Cameron White (non-bowling arm); Whitehouse (bowling arm) and Muskett (hookitus).