Tenby v Pendine

Summer Bowls in Pendine

On a bright sunny June afternoon, with the odd smattering of lashing down rain, drizzle, wind and cold, Tenby made the quick dash east to coastal Pendine. One should mention the fact that it was Pendine who secured promotion to Division 1 last year, not Fishguard as incorrectly reported last week by yours truly - £1 fine.  Again missing a few key players – this time Paul Diment and Pat Currie, who’s missed a few recent matches due to a nasty gash, to his thumb. Unfortunately there was a late drop out as well with Joe Richards putting work before bowls – a mature attitude, but nevertheless another quid in the offing! This left a late call up for Gerald Hewitt playing third to Peter Day.

Starting with that rink, the draw meant that they were playing Mal Evans. A difficult draw at the best of times and in fact as the match started out it looked like Peter would have his hands full, but again with a solid platform laid by Cameron White and good supporting play by Ben Simmons and Gerald, Peter built up a steady lead. This increased after half-time and in the end Peter and the boys won comfortably. Although this wasn’t without its talking points, all of them being attributed to Peter’s second. We all know that Ben’s a follower of fashion, with his fake tan, swanky clothes and Beiber hairstyle. What few people know (until now) is that Ben’s an aficionado of the old hair straighteners!! So when the rain came lashing down in the afternoon Peter looked around to find Ben huddled under an umbrella – why, to stop his hair going curly in the rain. Shocking! £1 please! As if matters weren’t bad enough he then turned up with no wets gear and when borrowing his captain’s he had the audacity to remark how big the clothes were on him. Now admittedly he could have fitted Cameron in the jacket with him, but would you really mention it to the one who gives out fines? No; another £2 please.

Thankfully on Wigan’s rink the lesson dished out from the Wednesday night was quickly forgotten. Dai Spencer playing on his favourite green put in his best performance of the season so far and set up a good platform. Sadly this wasn’t one of Cloaky’s better games, maybe the look father Nigel gave him for forgetting his playing shirt was weighing heavily on his mind, but this young star will quickly bounce back, as he did playing for the County the next day. Take it easy on him next time Nigel, at least he avoided the dreaded fine. Fortunately Jon Webb had one of his better games this year, maybe it’s coincidental that he and Dai play well in Pendine, or maybe they’re a pair of ‘slingers’. In any event the rink won by a solid 10 shots.

It wasn’t the same on rink 4 however. John Roberts this time had John Baggott moving up to third in the absence of Paul Diment and Luke Guymer coming back into the team playing with his left hand. We all know what a talented bowler Luke is, already a junior international for the last two years. But he’s been out with a broken knuckle for the last three weeks. Nevertheless in a County triples match earlier in the week Luke decided rather than giving the game away that he’d play left handed. Well, sadly for the rest of us mortals he’s almost as good with his left and he is with his right, not only giving Peter Day a decent game in the County match but he was good enough to play away to Pendine on the Saturday. Again he put in a fine performance, causing Luke Rees to comment, “He’s that good he could probably kick them up the green better than I can bowl them”. The Ronnie O’Sullivan of the bowls world – Luke Guymer. Still, before we cause his head to swell too much, let’s remind people that he and Ben Simmons have something in common with regard to their hair products.

On his rink all seemed to be going well against Mal Thomas, JR’s boys opening up a 20-9 lead. But it was at this mark that the wheels fell off the chariot a la the England rugby team of the late 90’s – choking at the final hurdle. With only 6 ends to go the rink managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, the coup de grace coming on the 20^th end when they dropped a 7. Still – that rink carried the team only three days previously, just showing how fickle sport can be. Craig Guymer instead found himself in a good old scrap with former Tenby player Dai King-Thomas. Dai showing how canny he can be and how he’s worthy of his multiple league winners medals with the Tenby side of the 90’s. The game could literally have gone either-way right up until the last end when the Tenby side managed to hold out for a two shot victory. Again Craig was well supported by Randy & Janet, Luke Rees and Aaron Lloyd. The younger lads in the team showing that they can play equally as well away as they do at home; also showing what strength in depth there is in the First Team Squad.

On the fines front, there was a bumper afternoon had for the coffers, with £19 dished out in fines for various misdemeanours, including repeated lack of tie wearing, black socks, no blazers, lack of driving, unkempt appearances, telling-tales and the occasional inaccuracy in reporting – however the favourite of the day was definitely the wrong bias of our beloved County President. That coupled with dropping a 7 and losing over all meant that Helen Baggott had a sleepless night on ‘suicide-watch’ in deepest Llanteg last Saturday!!  So, 7 down 9 to play; only a handful of dropped points and a Carruthers run in the offing. If only the weather would break to give Sutton Street time to dry out and quicken up in time for the big matches next Thursday at home to Pembroke Dock and Henleys from Monmouthshire, when a full squad should be available.

Fishguard v Tenby

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.

Tenby Arches Ladies v Whitland

TENBY ARCHES 46 v WHITLAND 21

Wednesday 15th June

The Tenby Ladies (sponsored by The Fourcroft Hotel) played host to Whitland Ladies on Wednesday evening, their first evening game of the season. Rink 5 saw Julias side in control of the game.  Whitland only managing to score on 5 ends.  The Tenby ladies finished  32-8. Rink 6  was another matter.  The game was a very tight one.  It was 13 all going into the last end, but a wonderful shot by Audrey giving the home side a win.

Tenby team first Whitland skips only

Rink 5 M. Skyrne, M. Marquiss, I. White, J. King-Thomas   32  A. Thomas 8
Rink 6 L. Delabertouche, A. Owens, H. Baggott, A. Redman  14  C. Jones 13

County Seniors v Vale of Glamorgan

County Seniors  102   Vale of Glamorgan 144

writes Mike Gouldingay...

County President Mr J Baggott started the proceedings of by welcoming the Vale of Glamorgan President and all the players and officials which turned out to be a very hot afternoon.      Rink 1 Saw R Thomas & D Roberts up front supported by T Jones & D Poole At the half way stage Pembs were 10 shots behind and in the second half things did not get any better and went on to lose by 11 Shots  Rink 2 Saw A Newbury & M Richards up front supported by D Summers & P Collins at 10 ends they were 4 shots  in front  Unfortunately they just could not hold on to the lead and ended up losing by 4 shots  Rink 3 Saw T  Spicer & R Pring up front supported by J Dugmore & S K Thomas  This rink was more or less the same as the previous  rink being 6 shots down at the half way stage  things did not get any better in the second half and lost by 14 shots.

Rink 4 Saw M Gouldingay & D Richards up front supported by J Jenkins & J Baggott This was a very close fought game write through to the last end At 10 ends they were 2 shots behind but in the second half with a late come back went on to win by 6 shots  Rink 5 Saw D Finn & R Taylor up front supported my  D King Thomas & M Evans This was another close fought game with Pembs being 2 shots up at 10 ends. It was always going to be close in the second half and ended up as a draw Rink 6 Saw A Kilshaw & P Lewis up front with M Dix & B Dowling in support unfortunately this was a 1 sided race with Pembs being 7 shots down at 10 ends and things did not get any better in the second half with Pembs losing by19 shots after the game every one made there way up stairs to enjoy a lovely meal The President Mr J Baggott thanked all the officials and players for making it a pleasurable afternoon  and went on to thank the caterers for a lovely meal and the Bar staff Then went on to present his own rink M Gouldingay D Richards & J Jenkins with top rink and wished Vale of Glamorgan all the best for the future in reply The president of the vale of Glamorgan thanking everyone for a lovely afternoon and presented their top Rink -  Rink 6 skipped by Mr J Hoskins

Rink 1  R Thomas D Roberts T Jones D Poole  20 /C Stephens 31
Rink 2  A Newbury  M Richards  D Summers P Collins 17  /M Goss 21
Rink 3  T Spicer  R Pring J Dugmore  S King Thomas 12 / C Todd 26
Rink 4  M Gouldingay  D Richards  J Jenkins  J Baggott  24  D Bowden 18
Rink 5  D Finn  R Taylor  D King Thomas  M Evans 21 /  L Harries 21
Rink 6  A Kilshaw  P Lewis  M Dix  B Dowling  8 /  J Hoskins 27