The Tenby First Team entertained Henleys of Monmouthshire in the first round of the knock-out stage of the Carruthers Shield last Saturday. Sadly the weather Gods decided that we weren’t going to have it all our own way and the monsoon on Friday and into Saturday morning only served to slow up the green and play into the away team’s hands. In fairness, bearing in mind the rain that we’ve had in May and June, the fact that the green is playing as well as it is is tantamount to the hard work and dedication put in by Green-keeper and Life Member Chris Jenkins.

So out we trotted on a grime and gloomy Saturday afternoon in June hoping to see if the accolades of the previous two seasons could be repeated. Well the short answer is yes, so far so good. However it may be easier to start with rink two this week. Due to Paul Diment pulling out of the side once again Luke ‘South-paw’ Guymer was again drafted into the side at second with John Baggott stepping up to third. After two successive defeats this rink probably felt as if they needed to produce the goods, such being the nature of the sport and the old saying “only as good as your last game”. However all four put in a fine display. Dicko back to his usual boring best, Luke getting to grips with his wrong hand (!) and JB in inspired form. John Roberts marshalled his troops well and played to his usual fine standard, just easing himself into touch for his Welsh Series in Edinburgh this weekend. All the best JR.

Rink three saw another of our budding players of the season, Cameron White, get off to a flyer. He continued his good form throughout the game as was, as always backed up by Joe Richards. Joe may have looked like he’d had a night on the tiles, but luckily for him he didn’t play like he’d had one, well in parts as least. Behind were the ‘experienced’ (which is always a euphemism for old) Pat Currie and his former pupil Peter Day. This were a bit nervy in the first few ends trailing 5-0 but then two 5’s in succession and a count a few ends later set the tone of the afternoon. Mention must be made of the Henleys skip against Peter who drew shot or second bowl when shots down on many ends that afternoon, thus saving his side a heavy defeat.

It was a similar story on Wigan’s rink, who were again stuck out on the graveyard of rink four for the third game in succession. Must get that draw rigged next home game. Again we went behind early doors, only to come back into the game and then strongly surge ahead. Ben Cloake adapting well to his repositioning on lead, and Gerald Hewitt providing steadiness at second. Both boys played well all afternoon and set up the back end boys time and time again. As with the match against Pembroke Dock two nights earlier the back end of Webbie and Wigan combined well drawing shots and turning over heads. As with the rink next door however the Tenby boys could only watch in vain as time and again the Henleys skip produced some wonder bowls to cut down shots or to draw shot himself, again helping his team avoid a heavy defeat. Thankfully though we still managed to retain our top rink status from Thursday (I think).

Sadly this brings us back to the ‘show rink’, rink one. Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Elizabeth Taylor’s stalker and Craig Guymer. This was a close game with never more than a few shots in it. Sadly dropping a one on the 20^th end left the boys needing three on the last to win, sadly a shot too far. Now, the jury’s out about how this defeat came to pass. The boys on the rink came off absolutely despondent moaning about luck, wicks and all sorts. To be fair from rink 4 it seemed like all the boys were playing well, so maybe luck did choose not to smile on them that afternoon. However there does seem to be a common denominator in Dai Spencer. Since leaving Muskey’s rink we’ve been top rink in the last two games.  Maybe Dai’s not only inherited the D&G mantle but also he’s a bit of a Jonah too! Time will tell, but one things for certain, the boys fought hard to the end and did their very best, not letting things get to them too much and as a Captain you can ask for nothing more. That said it didn’t stop me for fining them for losing.

Having heard the results filter through on Saturday evening, the next match will again be at home against Skewen who beat former winners Old Llandorians. Tenby will be hoping that Fortress Sutton Street remains unbowed or beaten come 9^th July as looking back through the WBA web-site Tenby have not been beaten at home in the Carruthers since at least 2004, maybe longer. When the results came through on Saturday there was a muffled cheers to find that multiple winners Pontrhydyfen lost away to Havelock Park, as the likelihood was an away trip to their village in the Neath Valley. Before that happens though lads, let’s make sure we get past the next round first – one game at a time. 

Finally, huge thanks to Christine White and Lynn Deli for putting on the food and tea, Dave and Dewi McGee and as always to our gorgeous WAG’s.