Tenby 87 Pembroke Dock 63
23rd May 2015
The Giltar Hotel sponsored Tenby Carruthers side, entertained Pembroke Dock on a hot Sunday May afternoon. Tenby and Pembroke Dock were both undefeated leading to this game – both having easily dispatched the challenges of both Whitland and Fishguard & Goodwick. Therefore the victors would secure their place in the knock out stages of the Welsh Club Championship – the Carruthers Shield which Tenby won in 2009 and reached the semi finals on further 3 occasions (2010, 2012 and 2013). Rink 1 saw the undefeated four Paul of Ryan Thomas, Joseph Richards and Cameron White face the challenge of the experienced Richard Jones, Ken Edwards, Dave Finn (all current county senior players) and club chairman, Alan Yea. Diment’s four, always good starters had a deficit to face, falling behind 0-3 after two ends. A run of six consecutive winning ends saw a healthy lead of 11-3 and the next end, with one bowl to play, Richard Jones made shot, when six shots down. This did not deter the Tenby four and another sequence of winning ends saw a fine win against arguably the ‘Docks strongest rink by 25-12.
Rink 2: Craig Guymer faced Pembrokeshire’ Junior Vice President, Richard Hissey together with Huw Nicholas, David Spencer and Chris Court. Behind at five ends (5-6), but winning 6 out of the next 8 ends saw a lead develop 15-11. However, Richard’s four came back with a three on the very next end to only trail by a single shot. Sharing counts of three’s and two’s meant that Tenby led by one shot (18-17) at 18 ends. A single shot and then a three seemed to have secured the win, but on the very last end, Pembroke Dock failed narrowly to make a draw by picking up four shots to lose by one (21-20). Rink 3: The Woody Woodpecker rink of Keiran Peregrine, John Roberts, Jon Webb and Mike Jackson got off to a flier against Brian Dowling and Pembroke Dock captain Mathew John – leading 8-3 after six ends and 13-5 after nine [ends]. A scoring run on ends 12 to 16 for Pembroke Dock (2, 1, 2 and 4) saw the visitors take the lead (14-18). However, the Woodpecker rink are made of stern stuff (liquid mostly) and they won all but one of the last six ends to close out a one shot win (20-19).
Rink 4: Finally, the winning sequence of top rink came to an end and they will have to settle to share the 1954 record as described last week. Andrew’s four of the movie star or movie gatecrasher, Gerald Hewitt, the agriculturist, Aaron Lloyd, the movie extra, Peter Day and longshanks himself still performed to a very high level against Pembroke Dock’s Brian Cale. Aaron seemed to have some difficulty filling in the score cards between seven and ten and therefore I will have to start my report on end 11. I will bring a pencil and a rubber for him next game so I can work out what went on! A four and a two on ends 11 and 12 followed by a three on end 14 saw a lead of 15-6. A share of shots of the remaining ends saw them close out the game 21-12. Another professional display and upon the arrival of Williamson (being delayed due to work permit issues at present) this rink does look formidable. Team Manager, Dave Spencer, was naturally delighted in qualifying for the later stages of a competition we would love to win again. The team looks very strong and competition for places is the best I have ever seen. With the added boost of having Simon Evans returning to the club and the availability of Under 25 international, Luke Rees, II firmly believe that success is very much within the clubs reach. Our thanks to the Giltar Hotel for having sponsored all our Carruthers Shield games this year. The next will be in a few weeks time against Bargoed who have successfully navigated through their group.