SAUNDERSFOOT 81 (12pts) TENBY 73 (2) - The first of the always eagerly anticipated local derby games between Saundersfoot and Tenby took place in a mid-week clash at the King George V village green.
On rink two, Alan Brain, Selwyn Price, Louis Price and skip Joe Dennis were up against Dai Spencer, Peter Hooper, Chris Court and John Roberts and after just five ends led by eight shots.
Back came the visitors to reduce the deficit to just three after 15 ends, but Joe’s boys held out in a tense overall finish to win by 23 shots to 17.
Myrddin Dennis skipped Graham Hughes, John Amos and Brian Desmond on rink three against Cameron White, Evan Day, father Peter and Ryan Thomas and in a game where the lead fluctuated several times, held their nerve to gain a victory by 17 shots to 15.
Rink four saw the only losing Saundersfoot rink, but in an amazing comeback, they helped to ensure a home victory.
Captain Berwyn Dennis aided by Dai Davies, Neil Hensman and Richard Whittaker were really under the cosh at the beginning against Ben Cloake, Aaron Lloyd, Jon Webb and Andrew Muskett, who had built up a 13-shot lead after just eight ends.
Inspired by some great shots by Berwyn, the home boys set about the task of retrieving the deficit and afterwards won nine of the last 13 ends, including a count of five along the way, to only just lose out by 22 shots to 20.
On rink five, Brian Dooley, Mackie Brace, Paul Blayney and skip Steve Dick played against Ken Lloyd, Fred Broomhead, Mike Jackson and skip Joe Richards.
Taking an early lead of six shots, the villagers would have led by considerably more if it were not for some brilliant saving shots by the Tenby skip.
Scores were level after 12 ends, with the Tenby four taking a one-shot lead with three ends remaining.
The one shot lead had reverted to the villagers by the 20th, but on the last end, with the visitors holding four shots, skip Steve Dick drew to the jack with his last wood to win the home rink by 21 shots to 19.
The Saundersfoot team were elated at the result as Tenby have tended to get the better of them recently, but with the visitors in somewhat of a transitional period but still fielding a strong side, Berwyn and the boys took full advantage, dug deep and gained a home league victory over the Sutton Street team for the second successive year.
Another pleasing factor saw all four home rinks win their last ends to close out the match.
The teams meet again in the reverse fixture on Saturday, August 4.
PEMBROKE DOCK 55 SAUNDERSFOOT 81
Last Sunday, three days after the Tenby game, Saundersfoot travelled to play Pembroke Dock, with both teams sporting undefeated league records so far this season.
It turned out to be another excellent performance from the villagers who fought all the way to gain a win by 26 shots, picking up all 14 points.
Although early days, Saundersfoot sit undefeated, proudly at the top of the Pembrokeshire Division One table and have a busy weekend in prospect, playing Milford Haven at home tonight (Friday) and the first knockout round of the Carruthers Shield Welsh Cup competition tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, again at home, against Ammanford Park, with the match commencing at 3 pm.
They then have another league match next Wednesday evening away to Five Arches of Tenby.
Rink scores with Saundersfoot first and Pembroke Dock skips only were:
Alan Brain, Selwyn Price, Steve Williams, Louis Price 26; Richard Hissey 11.
Graham Hughes, Neil Hensman, Brian Desmond, Myrddin Dennis 18; Matthew John 13.
Dai Davies, Donny Poole, Richard Whittaker, Berwyn Dennis 17; Dave Halward 12.
Brian Dooley, Mackie Brace, Paul Blayney, Steve Dick 20; Richard Jones 19.
Footnote: Well done Louis Price for skipping instead of Joe Dennis who was on county duty and for picking up a count of seven on the 19th end, but he won’t tell me whose wood didn’t count!
In addition, the team give a big welcome to Steve Williams who joined the club in April and made his debut on Sunday.
ST. ISSELLS 84 (9pts)
ST. THOMAS 82 (5)
The St. Issells men’s team also played last Sunday, hosting St. Thomas of Haverfordwest.
In a close encounter, just two shots separated the sides at the end, but it was St. Issells who edged the match and gained nine points to the visitors’ five.
After 10 ends their lead was 14 shots, but with one end remaining, the villagers led by just one shot, but here too they held their nerve to gain the victory.
Rink scores with St. Issells first and St. Thomas skips only were:
Peter Williams, Ken James, Mike Carr, Paul Sneyd 21; Mike Codd 21.
George Cavell, Dennis Reed, Mike Oliver, Dave Walters 30; M Davies 22.
Nev Ruff, Barrie Lee, John Amos, Alan Rich 15; Dave Summers 20.
Billy Glynn, Roy Harris, Dennis Ball, John Haig 18; Ken Simpson 19.
Their next match is on June 24 away at Fishguard and Goodwick.
BARRY BOWL
In the first round of this year’s Barry Bowl two-rink competition, it was the Saundersfoot mixed team who progressed in some style, defeating Parc y Dre of Llanelli at home by 39 shots to 13.
Graham Hughes, Gemma Amos, Myrddin Dennis and son Joe gained a win by 16 shots to seven over the visiting four skipped by Robert Chisholm, while Dai Davies, Steph Amos, Steve Dick and Berwyn Dennis defeated the rink skipped by Matthew Partridge by 22 shots to six.
Their next opponents are as yet unknown as the second round draw is still to take place.
ST. ISSELLS LADIES
What a week for the St. Issells ladies, winning three matches and gaining maximum points to propel them to the top, temporarily at least, of the West Wales Ladies Bowling Association league.
First up was an away trip to Tenby where they won by 55 shots to 20.75.
Kath Blayney, Christine Ball, Sue Roden and Ann Lewis defeated Helen Baggot by 24 shots to 11, while Lynne Reyed, Sue Dooley, Christine Harris and Shirley Cox gained victory over the triples skipped by Alison Redman by 31 shots to 9.75.
Three days later, they defeated Pembroke Dock Park at home by 46 shots to 33.5.
Here, Kath Blayney, Jacqui Ford, Christine Ball and Sue Roden beat the triples of Moira Chadd, Margaret Lewis and Penny Brickle 18 shots to 13.5 and Lynne Reyed, Sue Dooley, Christine Harris and Shirley Cox defeated the Barbara Rapley rink 28 shots to 20.
The following day (they must be bowled out!) they travelled to play Picton of Haverfordwest, winning by 39 shots to 21.
Rink scores here were (St. Issells first):
Christine Ball, Jacqui Ford, Sue Roden, Ann Lewis 17; Margaret Lewis, Sandi Bevan, Lynne Jenkins, Julie Thorpe 13.
Lynne Reyed, Sue Dooley, Chris Harris, Shirley Cox 22; Sandra Harris, Sandra Curlskey, Pam Langdon, Ann Thomas 8.
The ladies have two tough away games this week against Pendine and Whitland and then play Milford home on Monday afternoon.
SAUNDERSFOOT 133 PENTYRCH 64
The club played an enjoyable five rinks mixed friendly last Saturday against weekend tourists from Pentyrch, near Cardiff, and gained a comfortable victory.
Rink scores, with Saundersfoot first and Pentyrch skips only, were:
Kath Williams, Billy Glynn, Dennis Ball, Viv Edwards 36; Ian Broxton 11.
Lynne Reyed, Derek Bibby, Ken James, Neil Hensman 16; Ian Barry 17.
Dennis Reed, Wynne Evans, John Amos, Christine Harris 20; Brian Ilgery 18.
Peter Williams, Rene Silcox, Mike Carr, Richard Whittaker 32; Mark Krawiecki 10.
George Cavell, Roy Harris, Christine Ball, Paul Sneyd 29; Tim Morgan 12.
The next friendly is a seven-rink mixed game against Yeovil tourists, commencing at 10 am tomorrow (Saturday) morning due to the green being used in the afternoon for the Carruthers fixture.
Also, on Sunday at two o’clock, there is a ladies’ friendly at home to Rhiwbina of Cardiff.
PRESIDENT
ANN LEWIS
A little birdie has told me that our president is celebrating a special birthday.
I won’t tell you which one, as I’ve said before, a lady never divulges her age, but congratulations from all the members.
PRO AM EVENING
This rearranged event will now take place on Friday, July 6, and not the 7th as stated last week.
WELSH INTERNATIONALS
Last but certainly not least, best wishes to Saundersfoot members Stephanie and Gemma Amos who are travelling to Ireland this weekend to represent Wales in the home international series.
Good luck to you both and of course all the team.