TENBY 133 GLOUCESTER SPA 119

The sun was on our backs, for a change, and the home side revelled in the lovely conditions. There was high praise for the condition of the green, some expressed the opinion that it was the finest surface they had ever played on. Praise indeed for Chris Jenkins, and all the hard work he puts in - that deserves a pint Chris! Whether he is playing county, league or friendlies, Terry Howells, gives you 100 per cent plus - a great player to have on your side when the going gets tough, and tough the rink found it against the Gloucester visitors, finally going down by four shots. With the late withdrawal of inform skip Joan Dorling, it was a rejigged rink that performed miracles on the end rink. By the 18th end, they led by 34 shots to 9, and then they relaxed to let the visitors score 10 shots over the last three ends. It was a first friendly for newcomer, Peter Smith, and he acquitted himself well. At lead, they had the luxury of Tenby player Steve Taylor, who loves playing on rink one, and it certainly showed as he produced a fine performance, as also did Ted Brutnell and Pauline Barnikel. Lon Evans and her foursome were eight shots down after six ends, and with a English International at third for the visitors, they were always going to find it hard going, and eventually lost by nine shots. Alison Redman, who had the day off from building works going on in the household, and Vera Williams, again came up trumps by holding their nerve, picking up two on the last end, to squeeze home by a single shot. It was nice to see Ashley Hooper playing again, and the dependable Stuart Askew at lead. A count of six and two fours helped Mike and his crew to a seven-shot win over a great visiting foursome, who were tremendous fun all afternoon. Chris Morgan as usual was in commanding form, and with Denis Watkins and Margaret Skyrme, gelling well up front, the platform was laid for a well earned victory. Ten shots down without reply, was not the best of starts for Gwyn Beynon and his rink. But they rallied and all contributed to a five-shot win. These tourists were a pleasure to play against, again we were regaled by a singing captain, the beer and the wine flowed freely afterwards, and it was a very happy side that returned to their hotel that evening. Next up is a team from the USA - rumours abound that the team selected will be invited back for an all expenses paid weekend in Florida! Rink scores (Tenby first, Gloucester skips only) were: S. Askew, A. Hooper, A. Redman, V. Williams 20; T. Edwards 19. J. Taylor, H. Meades, R. Thake, L. Evans 11; R. George 20. M. Draper, C. Roberts, R. Wilkins, G. Beynon 25; D. Taylor 20. G. Brutnell, A. Owens, B. Barnikel, T. Howells 16; P. Fry 21. S. Taylor, P. Smith, T. Brutnell, P. Barnikel 34; H. Williams 19. M. Skyrme, D. Watkins, C. Morgan, M. Crockford 27; P. Best 20.

Whist

Results, Monday, May 23: top score - Gladys Cleaton; 1st lady - Gladys Irvine; 2nd lady -Muriel Griffiths; 1st gent - Ray Cullimore; 2nd gent - Jill Groom; 1st half winner - Vera Burrows; 2nd half - Robert Irvine; longest sitter - Pauline Barnikel; lowest score - Gwenieth James; raffles - Pauline Barnikel and Vera Burrows.         Thursday, May 26: top score -Robert Irvine; 1st lady - Muriel Griffiths; 2nd lady - Pearl Thomas; 1st gent - Vera Burrows; 2nd gent - Ray Cullimore; 1st half winner - Bert Barnikel; 2nd half - Gladys Cleaton; longest sitter - Gerry Meaney; raffles - Pearl Thomas and Vera Burrows.  NB. Tenby Bowling Club whist is played every Monday and Thursday evening at 7.30 pm sharp in the club's function room in Sutton Street. New members and visitors are warmly welcome. For further information, ring Tenby 843590 (after 7 pm).

FIVE ARCHES LADIES 26 PRIORY 42

The Five Arches ladies found it hard going against the Priory ladies and suffered defeat on both rinks. Rink scores (Five Arches first, Priory skips only) were: A. Owens, G. Beeken, H. Baggott, A. Redman 12; V. Absolom 22. M. Owens, G. Brutnell, V. James, V. Williams 14.

FIVE ARCHES LADIES 41 LADYBIRDs 22

The Five Arches ladies enjoyed a good win against the Ladybirds from Milford winning on both rinks and bagging a maximum six points. Despite playing one short, Alison Redman skipped Gerry Brutnell and Audrey Owens to a three-shot win over Margaret Carter, while Marnie Owens, Ginny Beeken, Helen Baggott and Vera Williams, chalked up a 23-17 victory against M. Coe.

St. Issell's LADies 27 FIVE ARCHES 44

The Five Arches ladies travelled to Saundersfoot recently to play the St. Issell's ladies and came away with a maximum six points. Rink scores (Five Arches first, St. Issell's skips only) were: M. Owens, A. Owens, C. Morgan, V. Williams 16; B. L. Lewis 12. G. Brutnell, G. Beeken, H. Baggott, A. Redman 29; G. Dugmore 15.

Carruthers Shield Saundersfoot 78 Tenby 86

After losing to Saundersfoot in the league a few weeks earlier, the Coastal Cottages sponsored Tenby team travelled to Saundersfoot for the 'winner takes all' Carruthers Shield qualifier on Saturday. It was always going to be tough to get a result at the 2004 Pembrokeshire league winners green, but Tenby knew that their record against Saundersfoot was in their favour. In quite windy conditions, things got underway on the slick Saundersfoot surface and the game certainly was a cracker! On rink two, Gerald Hewitt, Reg Thake, Peter Hooper and Peter Day, eventually went down 20-30 to the David Poole rink, but contributed greatly to the Tenby team win. After 10 ends, the boys were 16-4 adrift and things were looking ominous, but Peter rallied his men and stuck to the task to come back from 28-11 down after 16 ends, outscoring Saundersfoot 9-2 over the last five ends, which included a six on the 20th end and a brilliant bowl on the last end by Peter Day, who is performing really well at skip On rink three, Steve Taylor, Bert Barnikel, Craig Guymer and Pat Currie, played some excellent bowls, winning the rink with a superb three on the last end to win by one shot 23-22 against the strong Steven Poole four. On rink four, Luke Guymer, Terry Preston, Jonathan Webb and Terry Howells, had a 21-13 win against Paul Diment's rink. After 10 ends it was all square at 9-9, but a strong second-half saw the boys chalk up a superb win - well done to the front end combination (hope the marks are correct Terry!), Webby and TH for an excellent game. On rink five, David Spencer, Graham Hill, Mike Crockford and Andrew Muskett, had the biggest win of the day with a 22-13 victory against Phil Carpenter's rink. After a slow start, Dai and Graham found the big swinger and started to build good heads for Mike and Andrew. The rink scored nine shots without reply in the last five ends. So it was a brilliant victory for Tenby, considering the team score was level after 10 ends and they were eight shots down after 15 ends, they finished very strongly to win the match incidentally as they did against Haverfordwest the previous week. Many thanks also to the supporters at the end of the rinks and on the balcony who gave the boys a fantastic lift during the match. Tenby will now represent Pembrokeshire in the competition knock-out stages against a team from the Cardiff area. Finally, to sum up the win as Gerald would say... Hooooobeeeeee!