Bowlers and guests from throughout West Wales joined this year's county president, Julia King Thomas, for her President's Day held at Tenby Bowling Club last Thursday. A friendly game of bowls took place during the afternoon, before the day was rounded off with a sumptuous buffet.

Pic. Ceris Hewlings

WHIST

Five tables were in play at the weekly whist drive last week. Winners were:

Top score - M. Griffiths; 1st lady - G. James; 2nd lady - E. Jones, T. Rees (shared); 1st gent - L Hadman; 2nd gent - G. Groom; 1st half - J. Tester; 2nd half - M. Jones; longest-sitter - P. Thomas; raffles - P. Thomas, R. Irvine.

TENBY LADIES 41

NEYLAND LADIES 43

Tenby Ladies played a return match against Neyland Ladies last Sunday. Although Tenby won on one rink, they lost the match overall by two points.

Rink scores (Tenby first, visiting skips only):

M. Skyrme, P. Best, P. Barnikel, J. Dorling 26; J. Sutton 16.

T. Brace, P. Jones, L. Evans, M. Morris 15; V. Hubbard 27.

FIVE ARCHES LADIES 40

NEYLAND 35

The Five Arches ladies picked up four points when they beat league leaders Neyland by five shots last Wednesday.

The Arches rink skipped by Audrey Owens produced a fine display of bowling as they beat Val Hubbard's foursome by 12 shots.

Ceris Hewlings and her rink, however, found their opponents in devastating form and as a result were defeated by seven shots.

Rink scores (Arches first, Neyland skips only):

P. Stubbs, A. Redman, V. James, A. Owens 24; V. Hubbard 12.

R. Silcox, M. Cooke, H. Baggott, C. Hewlings 16; M. Sanders 23.

FRIDAY EVENING TRIPLES

Now in its sixth week, the Friday evening ladies triples is proving a keenly fought contest.

All the matches are played in a friendly, but competitive spirit, with all players keen to pick up the Bowls R'Us shield at the end of the season.

The league positions change nearly every week and as of last Friday, Ceris Hewlings and Sandra Williams were top of the table.

Organiser Alison Redman is in second place, Phyllis Jones is in third and Val James in fourth.

Hot on their heels is Audrey Owens, Pauline Barnikel, Mary Draper, Peggy Best, Chris Morgan, Margaret Skyrme, Kitty Bliss and Meryl Cooke.

TENBY 86

LLANDRINDOD WELLS 77

The Jones and Jones Tenby team made the long journey to Llandrindod Wells last Saturday hoping to secure a place in the last 16 of the Curruthers Shield.

Cheered on by their travelling and noisy supporters, the team made a steady start on the superb green.

The rink of Ian Badham, Jon Webb, Terry Preston and Pat Currie started well, but were soon pegged back. However, with Terry showing his full range of shots and a brilliant last bowl by Pat to make a four on the last end, the boys lost by only three, 17-20.

Peter Day, Bert Barnikel, Dave King Thomas and skip Simon Evans were also trailing 13-5 after 12 ends, despite not playing too badly, but a run of 13 shots without reply saw them take the lead and eventually win 23-18.

Next door, Dai Spencer, Ben Owens, Sparky and Dave Morgan were struggling early on, but a brilliant fightback saw them turn a 10-shot defecit into just two going into the last end, but a tremendous bowl by their opposing skip saw them drop four to lose 18-24.

Paul Diment's rink never looked in any trouble all afternoon. With the front two of Paul Mearns and in particular Peter Hooper playing well, they dominated their opponents. John Baggot and Paul both also had good games and eight shots scored in the last three ends were vital.

Overall, the Tenby team showed tremendous character to turn a 16-shot deficit into a nine-shot victory and earn another away tie, this time against St. Gabriels in Swansea.

Thanks must also go to the travelling support we had. Although outnumbered by home support, they could be heard all afternoon and helped lift the team.

Rink scores were as follows:

P. Mearns, P. Hooper, J. Baggott, P. Diment won 28-15.

D. Spencer, B. Owens, M. Williams, D. Morgan lost 18-24.

P. Day, B. Barnikel, D. King-Thomas, S. Evans won 23-18.

I. Badham, J. Webb, T. Preston, P. Currie lost 17-20.

TENBY 98 (11 pts)

NEYLAND 80 (3)

It was back to league duty last Sunday for the Tenby team as they entertained Neyland.

Tenby had gained a maximum 14-point win the previous week down at Pendine and were looking for another good win to keep the pressure on their rivals, but with Paul Diment away on international duty and a few players nursing bad heads after the previous night's celebrations, the team were slow out of the blocks.

On rink one, P. Day, B. Barnikel, D. King Thomas and Simon Evans were involved in a tight tussle with Bill Barrett, who played into the head at every opportunity. The Tenby boys unluckily dropped five near the end, and just couldn't quite catch up, losing 21-22.

Ian Badham and John Webb both had good games as they laid a good platform for Terry Preston and Pat Currie to defeat Dick Evans by seven, 25-18.

P. Mearns, P. Hooper, Sparky and skip John Baggott also gained another two points for the team. Despite not showing their best form, a two on the last end got them home 24-21.

D. Spencer, A. Redman, B. Owens and Dave Morgan led by two going into the last end and a great bowl by opposing skip Dave Sutton denied them victory, but they drew 19-all to give us a valuable point.

Credit must be given to Neyland who played very well, but Tenby will be satisfied despite not playing well to gain another win and 11 points.

Rink scores were as follows:

P. Mearns, P. Hooper, M. Williams, J. Baggott won 24-21.

I. Badham, J. Webb, T. Preston, P. Currie won 25-18.

P. Day, B. Barnikel, D. King-Thomas, S. Evans lost 21-22.

D. Spencer, A. Redman, B. Owens, D. Morgan drew 19-19.

SAUNDERSFOOT 100 (10 pts) STENA FIVE ARCHES 80 (4 )

I love playing against the village side, if only for their sheer enthusiasm and exuberance, matched only by Tenby on the county bowls circuit.

Talking to John Evans before the match, I enquired why he wasn't playing? "I've had two bad games and deserved to be dropped," he said. And what was 'Evs' doing? Over to support his team and do the scoreboard. That's loyalty for you.

With players of the stature of Tony Cummins, Arthur White John Dugmore and 'Evs' on the bank, it showed the depth of the Saundersfoot side.

The Arches had certainly not turned up just to make up the numbers, and they gave as good as they got on the green.

Sam McNeilly and Dave Rice, a fiesty pair, who do not yield an inch in the 'heat of battle' have certainly gelled well together, whilst up front the improbable pairing of Phil Watkins and Ron Hurlow, both drawing players, has certainly brought results for 'Mac the Knife'.

Captain against Captain, with jovial Don Poole proving the victor this time, although Ray Holly pulled out all the stops to narrow the gap. The home side 'front men' proved a handful for Maxie and Arthur.

Doug Silcox continued his fine run with another brilliant display, and John Tyler had his best game in an Arches shirt -and was doubly pleased it was against his old club. Lee Richards was up against the experienced John Smalley and battled hard throughout the game. It was an honourable draw between Dave Poole, a gentleman on and off the green, and Mike. Dave had the misfortune when twice playing with weight to skit the jack and woods the wrong way to drop counts of four and five. The game was a lot closer than the 11-shot win for the Seasiders.

Steve Poole was in majestic form, and kept taking shots out of the head or converting them to his rink's advantage. Roy and his men didn't play badly, it was just that the home side turned the screw when it was needed.

It was a fantastic game, played in great spirit, no quarter asked or given, and the Stena Five Arches can gain some comfort from taking four points from a good Saundersfoot side.

Rink scores (Five Arches first, Saundersfoot skips only):

M. Donoghue, A. Grimbaldeston, J. Best, R. Holly 14; Don Poole 29.

D. Silcox, J. Tyler, L. Richards, M. Crockford 30; Dave Poole 19.

N. Dickinson, T. Powling, G. Beynon, R. Powling 10; S. Poole 35.

P. Watkins, R. Hurlow, D. Rice, S. McNeilly 26; B. Dennis 17.