NEW SEASON
UNDER WAY
Tenby Bowls Club got its new season underway last weekend with its traditional opener against Ammanford Park.
Sadly this year the Tenby side was lacking its usual firepower due to so many of the big boys having other commitments, including vice-captain Peter Day having a pre-season weekend away with his young family and captain Dai Spencer following his childhood heroes, Swansea City FC, at the Liberty Stadium. This, however, gave Tenby the opportunity to pick from the club and particularly from the younger members who were given a chance to shine.
Captain for the day was selector Jonathan Webb, who welcomed so many old faces from Ammanford for a sunny afternoon's play. The weather held out and the green was rolling true for the opening encounter.
Bolstered by many members of the Tenby Five Arches, the Tenby boys got off to a strong start. Action continued in a similar vein for the rest of the afternoon, with Tenby dominant on most rinks.
Indeed, Graham Hill, on rink one, was always ahead in a tight tussle with former junior international, Ross Davies.
On rink two, John Baggott's boys raced into a 5-1 lead after five ends, before continuing the drubbing against former Welsh fours winner Wayne Owen, running out convincing winners by 29 shots to 12. Special mention must go to the youngsters Joe Richards and especially Ben Cloake making a fine debut, ably assisted by the returning Neil Dickinson and 'Jack' happy John Baggott.
Rink three saw John Roberts's rink win easily over stand-in captain Peter Henton's boys; John, carrying on the fine form which has led to him being one of the few bowlers in Wales who have been capped for his country in both the indoor and outdoor aspects of the game. Not, however, without some assistance from his front end, with Luke Rees making an excellent start to his season, where much will be expected of this up-and-coming young bowler.
Rink four saw Alex Watt in a fine battle with Martin Roberts. The Ammanford boys were backed up by Vi Roberts, who stepped into the vacant lead role. Indeed, the Tenby boys had to dig deep and came from one down with three ends to go to win by three. There was, however, much made of the fact that the Tenby boys put up a full length jack at the end to try and catch Vi out - all for a win boys?!
Rink five saw a 'battle-royal between Mike Goldingay and Eric Evans. Mike's boys seemed down and out at the 16th end, but a great fightback led to them being one up on the last end, only to drop a two and lose by one. This gave Ammanford their only win of the day.
Finally, on rink six there was another battle between the mighty Johnny Hubbard against Harry Phillips. Again the Tenby boys appeared out of it, only to put on a late surge, picking up seven shots in the last three ends to win by two. A great effort by Jonathan and his boys, including the returning Steve Taylor, the evergreen Maxi and the bean-counter, treasurer Ashley Hooper.
Following suitable refreshment supplied by Simo and Jude, the Ammanford Park team departed having taken the raffle two-nil, being light by a few members, but nevertheless bolstered by France's finest spirit.
TENBY RUN CLOSE
BY ARCHES
For a second consecutive day the Tenby team had another early season friendly against the Five Arches.
Again, a mixture of youth and experience was employed by the Tenby selectors, with Ben Simmons, Aaron Lloyd, Ben Cloake, Joe Richards, Luke Rees and Cameron White turning out for the Tenby team. All youngsters gave a good account of themselves and have given the selectors of both teams plenty to think about for the coming season.
Rink two saw a very tight match unfold between the hugely experienced Roy Powling, being taken on by Rob Wilkins's boys. With the likes of Gwyn Beynon and Ron Hurlow in front of him, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Five Arches rink would be too strong, but the Tenby boys hung in there, winning six of the last eight ends, including two on the last to tie the game.
Rink three saw Dai Spencer back at the helm. Again John Roberts at skip was in good form and this rink ran out convincing winners over Alex Watt's boys. Mention must go to the returning Clive Webb, who after a 21-year lay-off promptly stepped up to the mat and planted his first wood straight on the jack! No-one commented that as he was using son Jonathan's woods, they already knew their way to the jack, but plenty thought that a 21-year gap between touchers was still quicker than Jonathan's current record!
On rink four, John Baggott's men carried on their winning ways from the day previous. Although involved in a tighter struggle than 24 hours earlier, they bettered Graham Hill's rink by five shots.
The final tussle on rink five saw Mike Goldingay, playing for the Five Arches, reverse his fortunes from the previous day, running out a five-shot victor over Simon Evans. Indeed at one stage Simon was so miffed, he called a meeting of his rink halfway up the green to read them the riot act, only to see the smiling face of John Hubbard in the huddle trying to listen in on his plans. That must have worked, as Mike's rink, including Five Arches captain Ken Lloyd, notched up a solid win against Simon.
So a very tight match between the two sides, with Tenby victorious by 10 shots. Sadly this will be the only encounter between the two teams this year, one that has Tenby the bragging rights - but only just.
FIVE ARCHES 69
TENBY 79
Five Arches' plans to upset Tenby in a friendly fixture last Sunday were dashed by some excellent bowling from the Tenby skips, supported admirably by a selection of ever-impressive junior bowlers.
On a beautiful afternoon for bowling and with the green in excellent condition, the Five Arches team began the game in a confident mood, hoping to upset an under-strength Tenby side.
This was a new-look Arches team from last season, with two new skips and a new captain and vice-captain, but still retained the spine of the side that finished runners-up in Division Two last year.
The pattern of the game changed very little from the first end to the final wood.
Five Arches bowlers built-up numerous winning ends, only for the experienced Tenby skips or thirds to come in with some perfectly controlled bowls to snatch the ends away from the Arches.
It was this experienced bowling, coupled with the support role played by the junior bowlers, that was the difference between the two sides and the 10-shot defeat was a creditable performace by the Five Arches side.
The Five Arches bowlers are looking forward, with confidence, to the season ahead and desperately hope to gain promotion this year to the first division, having got so close in the last two years.
The result of the game was that Five Arches won on one rink, drew on a second and lost on two.
Rink scores were as follows:
R. Hurlow, E. Maher, G. Beynon, R. Powling 21; H. Ebdon, B. Simmons, R. Hine, R. Wilkins 21.
K. Williams, N. Hensman, A. Hooper, A. Watt 14; A. Lloyd, C. Webb, D. Spencer, J. Roberts 24.
D. Rees, J. Taylor, T. Powling, G. Hill 14; N. Dickinson, B. Cloake, J. Richards, J. Baggott 19.
K. Lloyd, L. Richards, J. Hubbard, M. Gouldingay 20; L. Rees, C. White, B. Barnikel, S. Evans 15.
Whist results
Thursday, April 9: top score - Jill Groom (178); 1st lady - Mary Renowden (176); 2nd lady - Mair Marquiss (170); 1st gent - Elsie Breadnam (167); 2nd gent - Pauline Barnikel (164); first half winner - Vera Burrows (93); second half winner - Olive Frost (86); longest sitter - Bill Whitaker (nine times); lowest score - Mabel Whitaker; raffles - Jill Groom and Elsie Breadnam.
Monday, April 13: top score - Ginnie Beeken (185); 1st lady - Olive Frost (181); 2nd lady - Mabel Whitaker (175); 1st gent - Elsie Breadnam (175); 2nd gent - Joyce Waters (172); first half winner - Jill Groom (98); second half - Bill Whitaker (87); longest sitter - Jean Salisbury (10 times); lowest score - Mary Draper; raffles - Olive Frost and Mabel Whitaker.
Bowling Club whist is played twice weekly, Monday and Thursday at 7 pm sharp. New members and visitors are always welcome.
Bonus ball winners
Wednesday, April 8 - Mabel Whitaker; Saturday, April 10 - Molly Spencer.