FIVE ARCHES LADIES 44
PRIORY 26
The Five Arches ladies beat Haverfordwest Priory by 18 shots at home on Sunday afternoon.
Vera Williams and her rink picked up a five on the first end and never really looked back as they chalked up a 15-shot win.
Adding to the Arches' success was Chris Morgan and her foursome who beat Ann Thomas and company by three shots to ensure the Arches picked up the maximum six points.
Rink scores (Arches first, Priory skips only):
A. Hubbard, G. Gray, A. Owens, V. Williams 25; J. Sedgley 10.
B. Russell, H. Baggott, V. James, C. Morgan 19; A. Thomas 16.
TENBY 67
ST. GABRIELS 95
The Jones and Jones Tenby team travelled to Swansea last Saturday, looking for a place in the last eight of the Carruthers Shield.
Two nights earlier the side had slumped to a heavy defeat in the league against local rivals Saundersfoot, so they were looking to bounce back into form at St. Gabriels.
Although in a picturesque setting, the green was heavy, but the team made a good start and after seven ends only trailed by two. But this was soon to change.
Paul Mearns, Peter Hooper, John Baggott and Andrew Muskett found themselves 17-6 down after 14 ends. Despite only dropping ones and twos, the boys found it difficult to score, but then scored 12 shots in the last seven ends to lose 13-23.
There was no such problem next door. With Dai Spencer and Ben Owens bowling well, they were joined by Sparky and Dave Morgan, who led all through the match to win 21-15.
But this was to be the only winning rink. Ian Badham, John Webb, Terry Preston and skip Pat Currie held their own for 11 ends. Mention must be made of a brilliant Currie shot. Eight down with one wood left, Pat drove the jack into the ditch to make six shots for a 14-shot turnover.
Unfortunately, two ends later, Pat was again left with no woods in the head and he narrowly missed to drop seven shots, the rink losing 21-27.
Finally, Peter Day, Bert Barnikel, Dave King Thomas and Simon Evans competed for 11 ends, when only two shots separated them, but a change of gear by the home rink, which saw their front two all over the jack, put paid to our chances as the rink lost 12-30.
Much was made beforehand about the venue and green, but Tenby can really have no complaints about either; we were just beaten by the better side on the day.
WHIST
Winners of the weekly whist drive at Tenby Bowling Club last week were:
Top score - H. Jennings; 1st lady - V. Burrows; 2nd lady - Y. Tingle; 1st gent - D. Tingle; 2nd gent - F. Buckley; 1st half - B. Griffiths; 2nd half - E. Breadnam; longest sitter - R. Jones; raffles - H. Buckley, D. Jennings.
TENBY LADIES 43
PENDINE LADIES 28
A week last Saturday, Tenby Ladies were at home for their return match against Pendine Ladies.
Once Mair Marquiss's rink got underway, there was no stoping them, achieving a 17-shot win.
Joan Dorling's rink kept up a strong challenge, but was defeated by just two shots.
Rink scores (Tenby first, visiting skips only):
T. Brace, P. Best, P. Barnikel, J. Dorling 17; J. Simpson 19.
L. Evans, M. Draper, M. Morris, M. Marquiss 26; D. Howells 9.
TENBY LADIES 36
ST. ISSELL'S LADIES 34
Smiles all round for the Tenby Ladies last Wednesday as they gained maximum points for an overall win against St. Issell's.
Joan Dorling's rink was nip and tuck all the way against Gloria Dugmore and her ladies, but they came through to win by a narrow one shot.
With a heart-stopping four on thr last end by St. Issell's, Mair Marquiss's rink heaved a sigh of relief to also claim a one-shot win.
Rink scores (Tenby first, visiting skips only):
W. Lamb, L. Evans, M. Morris, M. Marquiss 18; B. Lawrence 17.
M. Draper, P. Best, P. Barnikel, J. Dorling 18; G. Dugmore 17.
TENBY LADIES 31
SAUNDERSFOOT
LADIES 47
Tenby Ladies only managed to pick up two points from the return fixture against Saundersfoot Ladies, which was played at home last Thursday evening.
Rink scores (Tenby first, visiting skips only):
M. Draper, P. Best, P. Barnikel, J. Dorling 12; M. Evans 29.
L. Evans, P. Jones, M. Morris, M. Marquiss 19; B. White 18.
WHITLAND 57 (3 pts)
STENA FIVE ARCHES
75 (11)
A belated report on this game due to the amount of games played in such a short space of time. As always, the welcome was warm and Welsh from the boys from Hendy Gwyn.
Maxi Donoghue certainly felt at home amongst the Welsh speakers from the home side, as he had a storming game. One of the unsung heroes of the Arches side, quiet, unassuming and a real nice gent.
It enabled Keith Hubbard and his rink to claw back three shots to level 18-all against genial Colin Wynn.
Simon Tucker battled hard in captain Glyndwr Thomas's quartet, and will be a force to be reckoned with as he gains more and more experience playing a game he has only recently taken up. Doug Silcox had John Tyler laid the foundation for a good win by Mike's crew.
The rink also played its part in encouraging the other Arches players around them, as well as giving 100 per cent support to each other.
A low scoring game saw Roy Powling and his men home by five shots over the redoubtable Steve Reese, Tony Powling having another solid game.
It was tight all the way between Sam McNeilly and Peter Wills, the difference being eight shots picked up late in the game by the home side, but the visitors cut this to a difference of just three at the end.
This was a good result for the Stena Line sponsored side, who fought hard against a good Whitland outfit. As was pointed out after, there will not be many sides that come away from Whitland this year with the points that the Arches secured.
Rink scores (Stena Five Arches first, Whitland skips only):
W. Russell, T. Powling, G. Beynon, R. Powling 18; S. Reese 13.
R. Hurlow, P. Watkins, A. Grimbaldeston, S. McNeilly 15; P. Wills 18.
D. Silcox, J. Tyler, L. Richards, M. Crockford 24; G. Thomas 8.
M. Donoghue, G. Crawford, J. Best, K. Hubbard 18; C. Wynne 18.
STENA FIVE ARCHES
64 (2 pts)
SAUNDERSFOOT 101 (12)
It was the only evening kick-off for the Stena Line sponsored Five Arches. After half-time it started to drizzle and over the last eight ends was coming down heavy, but this did not deter the visitors as they won on three rinks.
Donny Poole had a run of 16 shots without reply against Sam McNeilly and his rink to notch up an impressive 23-shot victory.
By the ninth end, David Poole and his men were 17 shots to the good over Roy Powling and his men. When the visitors won the end, it was with counts of two and three, plus a seven, while the home rink, battling bravely, could only pick up counts of one.
Finishing strongly, Keith Hubbard and his quartet piled up 11 shots to consolidate a strong finish and run out winners by 13 shots.
It was very tight between Steve Poole and Mike Crockford and their rinks up to the 10th end, with the visitors one shot to the good, and then a lack of concentration saw the home side drop 10 shots in three ends, but not allowing heads to drop, they staged a great comeback to bring the scores level with their last wood, only for Steve to draw a great last wood and rest the home side's one out, to see them home by three shots.
Fantastic home support again from the Tenby and Goscar lads. It is appreciated and does wonders for the players, helping to lift them when they are down and encourages when they are leading.
The village side are hard to beat and they play with such enthusiasm it rubs off on their own players. In fact, on three occasions, Steve Poole was about to bowl, when he stopped, shouted to encourage a team mate, and then proceeded to bowl, more than likely a telling wood to boot!
With their first season back in the first division now past the halfway stage, the Arches have certainly not been overawed by the opposition. We always knew Tenby and Saundersfoot would be hard, and we thought Haverfordwest would be, but they have been beaten twice by the Arches. The aim now is to reach 100 points, which leaves 30 to go with four games to play.
Rink scores (Stena Five Arches first, Saundersfoot skips only):
D. Silcox, J. Tyler, I. Richards, M. Crockford 18; S. Poole 21.
P. Watkins, R. Hurlow, D. Rice, S. McNeilly 11; D. Poole 34.
M. Donoghue, G. Crawford, J. Best, K. Hubbard 26; B. Dennis 13.
B. Russell, T. Powling, G. Beynon R. Powling 9; Dave Poole 33.
GOSCAR 103
BORDERERS 73
Wednesday of last week saw Goscar playing against a mixed team of youth and oldies!
Although it was good win for us, the young lads really played well, in fact, in some rinks, as good as the men.
Rink scores (Goscar first, Borderers skips only):
R. Hine, A. Fursse, R. Thake, B. Bailey 23; R. Croft 18.
T. Kelly, H. Meades, G. Stubbs, J. Taylor 25; D. Ford 16.
A. Ormond, S. Hinton, K. Delabertouche, L. Hilling 34; T. Williams 18.
L. Hadman, E. Dorling, J. Hubbard, G. Hill 21; E. George 21.
GOSCAR 72 CASTLE 78
At home to Castle on Sunday, the weather was very good, but the result didn't wuite match it.
Jim Taylor's rink won by a clear nine shots and with a fine fightback by Graham Hill's rink, they snatched a draw.
On Keith Deli's rink they lost by four shots and Bill Bailey's rink came up against an in form John Lewis, with all his rink playing well.
Rink scores (Goscar first, Castle skips only):
R. Hine, J. King, R. Thake, B. Bailey 16; J. A. Lewis 27.
T. Kelly, D. Watkins, T. Preston, J. Taylor 22; T. Chalmers 13.
A. Rootes, E. Dorling, J. Hubbard, G. Hill 19; J. Jones 19.
L. Hadman, A. Fursse, S. Diment, K. Delabertouche 15; W. Hall 19.
COUNTY FINALS
This year's finals were played on the Milford Haven bowling green last weekend, and by all accounts it was in excellent condition.
Tenby bowlers were vying for two of the trophies this year, first being young Sion Smith, who was playing in the Under 18s Singles for the last time. His opponent was 13-year-old Mark Jones, of the Whitland club, who did very well to reach the final. Sion's experience certainly shone through, ensuring a handsome victory, 21-3.
Sion has a long association with the Tenby club, starting when he was six-years-old with him climbing the entrance gate on Saturday mornings to help around the green. It was not long before he was bowling and he has enjoyed every moment since.
The senior Tenby club duo Ben Owens and David King Thomas were contesting the Over 60s Pairs final against two Milford Haven experts, Ken Banner and Frank Navas. This match was played on the Sunday morning in brilliant sunshine. David and Ben certainly enjoyed the experience as they won comprehensively by 30 shots to 10.
They now look forward to the excitement of the Welsh Finals at Landrindod Wells in mid August.
Of course, none of the Pembroke County competitions could take place without the diligence of the PCBA competition secretary, Morlais Powell, of the Whitland club, who works hard year round doing what must seem a thankless task. Generally, all runs smoothly enough, apart from the printing errors, and I am sure we all appreciate his dedication.