Tenby 98 Saundersfoot 56 (Tenby 2 Points)

After two league matches the Tenby side started the campaign of retaining the Welsh Club Championship (Carruthers Shield).  The Tenby sponsored Layton and Company Solicitors and Chandler Rogers Estate Agents won by 42 shots and took 2 points.

Saundersfoot were missing a number of players but took the game to the Welsh champions and it appeared they were after revenge for their league defeat to Tenby only two weeks before.  At five ends the scores were level but then the Champions held a 9 shot lead after ten ends and increased their lead at 15 ends to 34 shots. Tenby maintained the 34 shot lead at 18 ends finishing with a comprehensive 42 shot win.

Rink 1 saw the rink of Pat Currie take on the Saundersfoot Captain Steve Dick and the Tenby quartet went into an early 4-1 lead.  At 10 ends Pat’s rink still led by 1 shot (10-9) but then fell behind at 15 ends, 11-13.  The Saundersfoot foursome surged ahead at 18 ends to extend their lead to 11-18 and completed the first win against a Tenby rink for three games winning 16-19.   Although disappointing to lose a rink for the first time this season, credit to the Tenby rink who albeit 11-18 down outscored their opponents 5-1 over the last 3 ends to close the gap.

The rink of Andrew Muskett played Stephen Poole again after beating the Saundersfoot rink two weeks ago by 1 shot.  This usual reliable rink were slow out of the blocks and were behind by 2, 8, 5 and 1 after five, ten, fifteen and eighteen ends respectively but played extremely well towards the second half of the game to earn a draw. The second half saw a much better performance and they were unlucky not to snatch a win but no doubt will settle for a draw.  The sign of a quality ‘rink’ is even when things do not go their way, they still avoid defeat and this is very much a quality ‘four’.

Phil Carpenter’s rink was against Berwyn Dennis and went behind at 5 ends 2-4 and a dropped count of 3 shots saw a deficit of 2-7.  Then the Tenby four went into overdrive to lead by 6 at 10 ends and 16 at 15 (ends).  A run of 11 shots without reply on the last 3 ends saw them run out comprehensive winners by 28 shots.  Looking at scoring consistency, from 6 to 21 ends they defeated their opponents 35-2 which is an incredible performance.  This young rink with the ever impressive Luke Rees being backed up by former club champions Luke and Craig Guymer and Welsh International Phil Carpenter are playing so well that they just blow their opponents away scoring three shots or more for 16 out of the 63 ends they have played so far this season with the highest score against them being a 3 – which has happened only 3 times.  This rink has now won their first 3 games by 15, 20 and 28 shots.

Paul Diment’s rink played once again against Simon Evans’ rink; with the Saundersfoot four trying to revenge a two shot defeat in their recent game.  The Tenby foursome took a narrow 5-4 lead after 5 ends but then took control emphatically to win the next 8 ends to extend their lead 21-4.  The Saundersfoot four did their best to stick in and limit the scoring damage for the next 9 ends and at the finish went down by 17 shots.

Gerald Hewitt was superb and was so good, decided to try out the Robert Weale ‘stance’ half way through the game.  Gerald is the most naturally gifted player I have ever seen and when in full flow is outstanding.  His attitude and desire is second to none and together with the ever impressive Mike Jackson at ‘second’ totally outplayed the Saundersfoot ‘front end’.  Former Welsh and British Isles Champion, Peter Day was absolutely brilliant and left Paul with the job of consolidating what these players had set up to leave Simon Evans very much on the back foot.  Peter Day does not get the recognition he deserves from national selectors and this talented player always performs at a very high level.  I cannot praise the Tenby front three enough for the way they mastered a very difficult ‘rink’ and set up great positions end after end.

To conclude, credit must be given to Saundersfoot who gave Tenby their sternest challenge of the season so far.  Although they must be disappointed with two defeats in close succession, they can take a lot of credit for their performances against the Welsh Champions and in my opinion will have a great season and my best wishes to them for the remainder of the season.

It seems only like yesterday Tenby were crowned as Welsh Champions on that glorious day in Llandridod Wells and how quickly the campaign to retain the title starts.  After two great league wins against two top Pembrokeshire teams (Saundersfoot and Haverfordwest) Tenby had not lost a rink.  .  This trend would never continue but the impressive nature of this team is that when ‘rinks’ struggle they do dig in and let the other ‘rinks’ ensure victory and having only lost one out of 12 rink matches this season is a very impressive statistic.  The Tenby team play as one and they are relentless in always asking the questions of their opponents.  A Saundersfoot player told me after the game that the Tenby team are a blue wave coming again and again until we can’t keep it back anymore.  I cannot be more proud of all the players in the way they have applied themselves in three tough opening games not only in their application during matches but their dedication in putting in hours of practice to ensure that we are in the best possible position to win these games.

The next two weeks see Tenby complete their group matches and face a potential banana skin against Neyland (Away) next week.  This is followed by Milford Haven (Home) the week after.  The Saundersfoot match was the key game and Tenby will be firm favourites to enter the knock out stages of the Welsh Championship.

Rink Scores:

Rink 1: G Hewitt, M Jackson, P Day and Paul Diment 26.  S Evans 9

Rink 2:  J. Richards, D Spencer, J Roberts and A. Muskett 19.  S Poole 19.

Rink 3:  L. Rees, L Guymer, C. Guymer and P Carpenter 37.  B Dennis 9

Rink 4.  N Dickinson, J Baggott, J Webb and P Currie 16.  S. Dick 19

Score Breakdown

5 ends, Tenby 16-16 Saundersfoot

10 ends, Tenby 44-35 Saundersfoot

15 ends, Tenby 67-43 Saundersfoot

18 ends, Tenby 76-52 Saundersfoot

21 ends, Tenby 98-56 Saundersfoot