Tenby 94 (13 pts.)
Whitland 57 (1)
The Layton and Co Solicitors sponsored Tenby team played their first league game of the 2009 season a week last Saturday, May 2.
The current champions were at home against last season's runners-up Whitland, who were aiming to go one better this year.
With perfect playing conditions, both teams commenced battle.
On rink one were Gerald Hewitt, Jon Webb, John Roberts and Simon Evans. With Simon at the helm for the first time this year, his rink raced into an early lead, going 11 shots up. The Tenby men always had control of this one, and eventually emerged 12 shots to the good at the end.
Luke Guymer, Doug Silcox, Peter Day and Paul Diment were drawn on rink two.
Very close early on, but then the Tenby boys stepped up a gear. With Luke and Doug on top form, followed by the quality of Peter and Paul, they blasted their way to a 22-shot victory and the accolade of top rink of the day.
Rink three consisted of Neil Dickinson, John Baggott, Craig Guymer and Lance Armstrong!
The Tenby four did not open their account until the fifth end, but Pat then drove his men on all the way to the finishing line with a very creditable draw.
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Andrew Muskett, and skip Phil Carpenter had to fight all the way in their contest.
All-square at the halfway stage, it was still the same after end 20, but Phil and his men held their nerve to pick up three on the final end and another two points for Tenby.
A fine start for the Tenby side, winning the match by 37 shots, but more importantly 13 valuable league points to kick-off the new campaign.
Captain Dai Spencer was more than happy with his team's early season form.
Rink scores (Tenby first, Whitland skips only):
Gerald Hewitt, Jon Webb, John Roberts, Simon Evans 23; S. Reese 11.
Luke Guymer, Doug Silcox, Peter Day, Paul Diment 29; M. James 7.
Neil Dickinson, John Baggott, Craig Guymer, Pat Currie 18; A. Whitehouse 18.
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Andrew Muskett, Phil Carpenter 24; G. Thomas 21.
Carruthers Shield
Whitland 72
Tenby 77
The Layton and Co Solicitors sponsored Tenby team were in Carruthers action last Tuesday, May 5, straight after their opening league encounter with Whitland only a few days previously.
To play Whitland twice in one week this early on, was certainly a tough start to the 2009 campaign, and also this encounter was to be in the Borderers very own backyard.
Pat Currie and his four of Neil Dickinson, John Baggott and Craig Guymer were drawn on rink one.
Pat and his men flew off to an early lead, but were soon pegged back by a dogged Whitland four. This culminated in a close finish, with the Tenby rink just losing out by two shots.
On rink two were Luke Guymer, Doug Silcox, Peter Day and Paul Diment.
The first half was dominated by the Whitland rink, but Paul and his men rallied with a spirited comeback that just fell short by two shots.
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Jon Webb and Andrew Muskett were in a close tussle in their contest. Nip and tuck all the way, the Tenby rink battled all the way, but still came out three shots the loser.
Gerald Hewitt, Cameron White, John Roberts and skip Simon Evans were the shining lights of the evening.
Simon and his men were always up in their match, but due to the overall score, the match came down to Simon's last bowl.
A count of four down and Whitland holding the win, Simon drove into the head, taking the jack through to three awaiting Tenby bowls - game set and match to Tenby.
A very hard-fought close match this one, with Tenby just pinching it at the death. Commiserations to Whitland who played their part in a classic encounter, where a draw would have been a fair result.
Rink scores (Tenby first, Whitland skips only):
Neil Dickinson, John Baggott, Craig Guymer, Pat Currie 16; A. Whitehouse 18.
Luke Guymer, Doug Silcox, Peter Day, Paul Diment 16; G. Thomas 18.
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Jon Webb, Andrew Muskett 17; S. Reese 20.
Gerald Hewitt, Cameron White, John Roberts, Simon Evans 25; C. Wynn 18.
Fishguard 59 (0 pts.)
Tenby 96 (14)
The Layton and Co Solicitors sponsored Tenby team were back on the road in league action last Saturday, travelling the long distance to Fishguard.
With four key players missing, Tenby took to the green in determined mood to keep the winning start going.
First up were Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, John Baggott and Phil Carpenter.
On what one might say was a tricky rink, the Tenby four went quickly 11-0 down, but a gritty second half performance saw Phil and his men come out four-shot victors.
Cameron White, Doug Silcox, Luke Guymer and Paul Diment were drawn on rink two. Paul and his men were in majestic form, running out an impressive 19 shots to the good.
Special mention must go to young Cameron White who has stepped up into the first squad for the last two matches and acquitted himself admirably; no fear these youngsters!
Neil Dickinson, Bert Barnikel, John Roberts and skip Peter Day were on rink four. The Tenby men got off to a slow start, but managed to pull themselves back into it after half-time. Seventeen-all with one end to go, Peter managed to get the one shot needed for the win and two points for the team.
Ben Simmons, Joe Richards, Craig Guymer and Andrew Muskett got off to a similar slow start. But once again, the experience of Andrew and his rink ensured they pulled away in the latter stages to win by 13 shots.
After the first five ends, Tenby were 22 shots down overall, but they soon picked up the pace and tricks of the green to eventually secure victory by 37 shots and the maximum 14 league points.
There is no league game this weekend, but on Wednesday there's more Carruthers action at home to Fishguard.
Rink scores (Tenby first, Fishguard skips only):
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, John Baggott, Phil Carpenter 22; T. Jones 18.
Cameron White, Doug Silcox, Luke Guymer, Paul Diment 29; D. Hughes 10.
Neil Dickinson, Bert Barnikel, John Roberts, Peter Day 18; R. Thomas 17.
Ben Simmons, Joe Richards, Craig Guymer, Andrew Muskett 27; T. Evans 14.
Whist results
Thursday, May 7: top score - Jill Groom (175); 1st lady -Margaret Hill (174); 2nd lady - Mary Renowden (171); 1st gent - Ginnie Beeken (171); 2nd gent - Mary Draper (170); first half winner - Mair Marquiss (93); second half - Olive Frost (89); longest sitter - Pauline Barnikel (nine times); lowest score - Phyllis Jones; raffles - Gladys Irvine and Mair Marquiss.
Monday, May 11: top score - Margaret Harries (177); 1st lady - Olive Frost (173); 2nd lady - Mary Renowden (169); 1st gent - Bert Barnikel (175); 2nd gent - Gladys Irvine (168); first half winner - Jean Salisbury (93); second half - Pauline Barnikel (88); longest sitter - Phyllis Jones (eight times); lowest score - Mabel Whitaker; raffles - Phyllis Jones and Gladys Irvine.
Whist is played twice weekly at the Tenby Bowling Club, Monday and Thursday at 7 pm sharp. New members and visitors are always welcome.
Bonus Ball winners
Wednesday, May 6 - Joan Dorling; Saturday, May 9 -Meryl Cooke.
Tenby 95
West Midland Police Tourists 85
A combination of chilly windy weather and a fast green was to prove a severe test for the visiting and Tenby bowlers alike.
Being regular visitors to the county of Pembroke, our green held no surprises for these mostly ex-policemen and women - a very sporting lot out to enjoy life to the full.
Rink scores (Tenby first, visiting skips only):
J. Taylor, H. Meades, S. Taylor, L. Evans 10; B. Cotterill 22.
A. Hooper, B. Winstone, T. Powling, T. Brown 18; A. Bales 15.
E. Maher, S. Askew, M. Draper, M. Gouldingay 18; R. Smith 16.
D. Rees, G. Beeken, K. Lloyd, B. Barnikel 22; K. Benjamin 14.
H. Ebdon, M. Skyrme, J. Hubbard, D. Brown 27; I. Bine 19.
Welsh Trialists
Some bowling members from the Pembroke county clubs have caught the eye of the Welsh selectors in 2009. They are being sent off to Llandrindod Wells with sincere good wishes from all of the Pembrokeshire bowlers.
This coming Sunday, the blue team will contain that very talented but modest, John Roberts, of the Tenby club, while in the red team, there will be Craig Jones, of the Haverfordwest club. Craig is one of the nicest characters, with immense natural skills. Paul Diment, of the Tenby club, who continues to expand his repertoire on the bowling surface, will be looking, with confidence, for a place in the Welsh team this season, having turned out many times for his country as an Under 25 for seven years, then for Wales' senior team in 1999 2000 and 2001 - an impressive CV.
Another of the potential Welsh players is travelling reserve Simon Evans, also of the Tenby club, who as an individual and team player can conjure up many astounding shots under pressure, severely denting the confidence of his opponents.
They all travel with our good wishes. What a contrast with Welsh bowling matters 30 years ago, when the minor counties were generally ignored as a source of talent.
FIVE ARCHES 91 (11 pts.)
PEMBROKE DOCK PATER 56 (3)
The Five Arches team took to the green last Saturday expecting to score maximum points against a Pembroke Dock Pater side they had beaten comfortably in a friendly game a few weeks previously.
This was an improved Pater team who were initially slow to get the run of the green, but raised their game in the second half to halt the ambitions of the home team.
This was a game that completely changed around following the tea interval.
The Five Arches were ahead on all four rinks and coasting to what looked like an easy victory and achieving their starting objective of all 14 points.
This was certainly a 'game of two halves' and whatever Lon and Margaret put in the tea certainly rejuvenated the Pater boys to come back to win on one rink and draw on another.
With Roy Powling away on holidays and Mike Gouldingay on a bowling tour of the South West, the Arches went into the game minus two recognised skips.
Jonathan Hubbard stepped up from third to fill the skip position vacated by Mike and did a marvellous job. Gwyn Beynon slotted into Roy's position and narrowly lost out on the last few ends.
On rink one, Graham Hill's quartet were in the lead up to the last end and the game looked won when Ben Cloake delivered a perfect second wood to rest on the jack. Celebrations, however, were short-lived as the next Pater wood knocked the jack back to give them the two shots needed to gain a draw.
Tony Brown skipped rink two and won by a comfortable margin of 12 shots. The rink was always in front thanks to some good support play by Aaron, Jimmy and Ashley.
With Jonathan Hubbard stepping up to skip on rink three, he must have been wondering what he had let himself in for after dropping a three on the first end. This early drop of shots was quickly put aside and Pater only managed to score another five shots during the game. This was an excellent performance of controlled bowling from the 'new skip' supported by Stuart, Neil and Rob, who went on to win by 24 shots.
Rink four was skipped by Gwyn Beynon and like the other rinks was well ahead at tea, but during a period of five ends immediately after the interval dropped 11 shots. This was a deficit that they failed to overhaul, going down on the last end by the solitary shot.
Despite an overall winning margin of 35 shots and securing 11 league points, this was a disappointing performance from a team that has the ability to play much better.
The Stena Line sponsored Five Arches team's next league fixture is against Pembroke Dock Mariners tomorrow (Saturday).
Rink scores (Five Arches first, Pater skips only) were as follows:
K. Lloyd, B. Cloake, L. Richards, G. Hill 18; B. Duncombe 18.
A. Lloyd, J. Taylor, A. Hooper, T. Brown 21; M. Ronald 9.
S. Askew, N. Hensman, R. Wilkins, J. Hubbard 32; J. Russell 8.
H. Ebdon, T. Powling, R. Hurlow, G. Beynon 20, S. Davies 21.
Five Arches Team
The Stena Line sponsored Five Arches Team play Pembroke Dock Mariners in a second division league game tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 2 pm. The team selected is: R. Hurlow, T. Powling, G. Beynon, R. Powling; S. Askew, N. Hensman, R. Wilkins, J. Hubbard; A. Lloyd, J. Taylor, A. Hooper, T. Brown; K. Lloyd, B. Cloake, L. Richards, G. Hill.
Mike Crockford Monday Evening League
Next Monday, May 18, at 6 pm, sees the start of the popular Monday evening league, generously sponsored this year by Mrs. Liz. Crockford, widow of our revered Mike Crockford.
This is the ideal vehicle to practice all those shots you would have liked to have brought off during your last serious match.
It promises to be a great season's bowling, with many cash awards on presentation night.
Any member who failed to enter can make themselves available as a sub - please contact Dai Spencer or Lynn Delabertouche.