TENBY TRIUMPH IN WINDY FISHGUARD

Following a 30-shot (12pts) win away at Saundersfoot and a 50-shot (14pts) success at home to a strong-looking Haverfordwest side, the high-riding Tenby team travelled to a bitter and windy Fishguard last Wednesday to take on the newly-promoted Fishguard ‘and Goodwick’ side. With a few first team players out, Luke Guymer with an injured hand, and Pat Currie and Paul Diment being unable to make the trip for the same reasons as have applied over the last three years, a number of enforced changes had to be made. Five Arches captain Ashley Hooper made a welcome return to the first team, as did Aaron Lloyd, meaning that Tenby fielded no fewer than seven under 23s that evening.

Fishguard have invested heavily over the last year on their green and it showed as the green was immaculate. To be fair, the Fishguard players aren’t too bad either. On rink two, John Roberts, recently buoyed by his return to the Welsh team, had his hands full against Tom Jones. Although they opened up a good lead, the Fishguard boys came back and with a couple of ends to go there was only one shot in it. But cometh the hour... With the last bowl of the 20th end, JR played a weighted shot (we have yet to call them drives!) and played the shot bowl away, cannoning the jack into the ditch for a five. Truly a class bowl by a class player. It was a more comfortable affair on the inside rinks of Andrew Muskett and Craig Guymer. Wigan’s rink stormed away to a 17-2 lead and the match was all but done from then, ultimately winning 30-10. Ben Cloake had another good game.

In Craig Guymer’s rink, there was a closer game at the halfway stage. But Craig, ably supported by Luke Rees, Aaron Lloyd and Fulham FC all turned the game around in the second half. There was a similar story on Peter Day’s rink. The early exchanges were close, with the Fishguard boys playing well and putting Peter under a lot of pressure. But again Peter played some class bowls to keep his side in the game. Again, though, the side picked up their game in the second half and were comfortable winners in the end. So another 14 points for Tenby, hard earned on this occasion, and the undefeated season is still on track.