TENBY (12 pts) SAUNDERSFOOT 54 (2)
25th April 2015
The Molson Coors sponsored Tenby team entertained their local rivals last Saturday in the first league match of the season in the Pembrokeshire League Division One. Tenby have won seven league championships in a row and are looking to make history this year by being the first team to win eight successive titles. Rink one: The Tenby team had to field a 'triple' and play one short due to a late withdrawal. Mike Jackson, Jon Webb and Kieran Peregrine started well and led 7-2 after five ends. The lead was maintained at 10 ends (10-4) and steadily increased over the remaining 11 ends by taking 5, 3 and a late 4 to record a winning margin of 29-10. After the compulsory 25 per cent penalty was deducted (for playing with a player short), the recorded win was 21.75 against 10.
Rink two: Tenby welcomed new recruit Chris Court, who played for Haverfordwest last season. Chris teamed up with another former Haverfordwest and Whitland player, Ryan Thomas, with Dai Rees and Chris Thomas making up the rink. The Saundersfoot rink skipped by the experience Merv Dennis started badly and Tenby built up a very nice buffer when leading by 8-2 after seven ends. Credit, however, to the Villagers' rink as they took control between ends 11 and 14 when taking eight shots without reply to lead 15-10. A Tenby rally of four consecutive singles kept the home rink in touch, but some experienced play by the Saundersfoot quartet saw them close out the game and record an 18-14
Rink three: Last year, the most successful 'back end' combination for the Pembrokeshire county team was that of Day and Muskett, The Tenby selectors went with this combination and they were not disappointed. Ben Sheldon and Aaron Lloyd had solid games to ensure the Tenhy rink always had a stranglehold on this match. At five ends, Tenby held a slender one shot lead (4-3). After winning all but one between ends eight to 15, the Tenby rink led 23-5, which included 'counts' of a 5 and a 4. Sharing the remaining ends 4-4, the impressive Tenby four recorded a 27-9 victory.
Rink four: The Tenby rink of Cameron White, How Nicholas, captain Joe Richards and Paul Diment were a team certainly in a rush and soared into a 11-0 lead after only three ends. However, great credit to the experienced Berywn Dennis who changed the length and saw the Diment lead recede faster than his hairline. At 12 ends, the score was 12-12. The two teams shared a count of three to level up 15-15, but then the veteran Tenby skip played some telling bowls to take a 3, 1 and 4, to take control of the game. A dropped count of two singles followed by a further 4 and 2 saw the Tenby rink win by a margin of 29-17, concluding, a very good start for the defending champions.
The team looks strong with the likes of Luke Rees, Gerald Hewitt, Luke and Craig Guymer returning in the next few weeks (health and safety courses permitting!). With John Roberts and Lee Williamson also featuring, the competition for places is extremely hot. Finally, happy birthday to Chris Thomas and well done to Tenby Five Arches and their captain Ben Cloake for winning their first league game away to Haverfordwest Castle. Tomorrow (Saturday), Tenby visit Haverfordwest and it is hoped that another strong performance will continue the momentum leading into the Carruthers Shield matches.