Tenby 85 (8 pts)
Haverfordwest 79 (6)
Haverfordwest were the visitors to the home of the Layton & Co Solicitors sponsored Tenby team last Saturday. This was the start of a very important weekend for captain Dai Spencer and his team in terms of the league, two wins over the weekend would definitely put Tenby in pole position for the title.
Rink one consisted of Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Jon Webb and Andrew Muskett. Top performances from all four players resulted in a brilliant 19-shot victory for skip Andrew.
Neil Dickinson, Joe Richards, John Baggott and Pat Currie were involved in a tight contest. Level for most of the match until the 19th end, the Haverfordwest rink then managed to pick up a crucial three, which turned out to be the winning difference at the end.
Mike Jackson, Doug Silcox, Craig Guymer and Peter Day were also edged out right at the death. One shot up after 19 ends, Peter and his men had a disappointing last two ends, dropping counts of two and three to eventually lose by a total of four shots.
Cameron White, Bert Barnikel, John Roberts and Simon Evans had the same outcome in their contest. Level after 18 ends, the opposing rink scored on the remaining three ends to win by five shots.
Although Tenby lost on three rinks, they somehow still managed to win the match by six shots, all thanks to Andrew Muskett and his rink's high scoring win.
Rink scores (Tenby first, Haverfordwest skips only):
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Jon Webb, Andrew Muskett 30; P. John 11.
Neil Dickinson, Joe Richards, John Baggott, Pat Currie 17; PDS Jenkins 20.
Mike Jackson, Doug Silcox, Craig Guymer, Peter Day 19; R. O'Leary 23.
Cameron White, Bert Barnikel, John Roberts, Simon Evans 19; D. Pollock 25
Pembroke Dock 73 (4 pts)
Tenby 77 (10)
The Layton & Co Solicitors sponsored Tenby team travelled to play Pembroke Dock on what was their second league match in consecutive days. After the previous day's near run contest, the Sutton Street side knew they would be in for another close, intense battle.
Cameron White, Mike Jackson, Luke Guymer and John Roberts got off to the worst possible start. Nine-one down after six ends, the unflappable John Roberts showed signs of a comeback at half-time reducing the arrears to six shots. The second half saw John and his men pick up two consecutive fives; this put them in the box seat. The Pembroke Dock rink, though, had other plans, and came back to pip John by just the one shot.
Neil Dickinson, Bert Barnikel, John Baggott and Pat Currie were also on the receiving end. Some 23-3 in arrears after 12 ends, Pat and his men were on the ropes, and in danger of losing the overall match for Tenby. Pat, though, pulled on all his experience and rallied his troops to come back to within eight shots of the opposition at the end.
Joe Richards, Doug Silcox, Craig Guymer and Peter Day started the day really well. Racing away into an 11-shot lead, they then committed bowls suicide by dropping a five just before tea. This gave the Dock rink hope and with grit and determination they managed to pull themselves level with the Tenby four. Cool heads all round were required and Peter Day was just the man for the job, pinching the shot on the last end to give the Tenby rink a two-shot victory.
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Jon Webb and Andrew Muskett maintained their good form from the previous day. The Tenby rink edged out in front early on and never let go, resulting in another big win for Andrew and his men.
Another close one for the current league leaders, winning by just four shots and collecting 10 points.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Tenby will be at home in Carruthers Shield action. Visitors are a Swansea-based team called Victoria, commencing at 2 pm.
Rink scores (Tenby first, Pembroke Dock skips only):
Cameron White, Mike Jackson, Luke Guymer, John Roberts 19; B. Dowling 20.
Neil Dickinson, Bert Barnikel, John Baggott, Pat Currie 15; L. Davies 23.
Joe Richards, Doug Silcox, Craig Guymer, Peter Day 22; R. Jones 20.
Luke Rees, Dai Spencer, Jon Webb, Andrew Muskett 21; R. Hissey 10.
ST. ISSELL'S 83 (10 pts) FIVE ARCHES 77 (4)
The Five Arches team made the short journey to Saundersfoot on Saturday to play a St. Issell's side with a similar record of losing two games each this season. At the end of what was an evenly contested afternoon of bowls, it was the home side that triumphed, winning by six shots.
Jon Hubbard's rink of Stuart Askew, Neil Hensman and Mike Gouldingay had a difficult afternoon, finding themselves 20 shots down after 14 ends. They fought back well in the last third to finish up 13 down, but it was too little too late.
Skip Lee Richards and his team of Ken Lloyd, Ben Cloake and Graham Hill got off to a great start, but as the match progressed, so did the confidence of the St. Issell's quartet, who fought their way back into the game. At the penultimate end, the game was tied at 15-all. On the last end, the 'Wizard', Ben Cloake, put up a wood that was to prove decisive as try as they might, the St. Issell's team could not move Ben's winning shot.
Roy Powling, along with Ron Hurlow, Tony Powling and Gwyn Beynon were all in excellent form and never looked like losing this game. Four counts of three and a four saw them win comfortably by 11 shots.
Skip Tony Brown's squad of Jim Taylor, Clive Webb and Ashley Hooper found themselves nine shots down after seven ends, but fought back, picking up three counts of three and a couple of twos to go two shots ahead, only to then lose a count of five on the 15th end.
Tony and his team now had the green to themselves and with the other rinks back in the clubhouse, the overall match was delicately poised. Tony's squad fought hard to salvage the shots needed to win the game, but in the end it was the St. Issell's side that triumphed, winning by five shots.
The overall six-shot defeat by the Stena Line sponsored Five Arches side was disappointing, but credit should go to the St. Issell's team for this worthy win.
Rink scores (Five Arches first, St. Issell's skips only) were as follows:
S. Askew, N. Hensman, M. Gouldingay, J. Hubbard 15; S. Howe 28.
K. Lloyd, B. Cloake, G. Hill, L. Richards 16; K. Rowlands 15.
R. Hurlow, T. Powling, G. Beynon, R. Powling 25; F. Rogers 14.
J. Taylor, C. Webb, A. Hooper, T. Brown 21; M. Carr 26.
Whist
Thursday, June 11: top score - Margaret Hill 174; 1st lady - Mair Marquiss 172; 2nd lady - Muriel Griffiths 168; 1st. gent - Mary Draper 172; 2nd gent - Mabel Whitaker 165; first half winner - Vera Burrows 91; second half winner - Mary Renowden 84; longest sitter - Ginnie Beeken (six times); lowest score - Pauline Barnike; raffle winners - Vera Burrows and Muriel Griffiths.
Monday, June 15: top score - Mary Draper 177 (after cutting cards); 1st lady - Jean Salisbury 177; 2nd lady - Margaret Harries 171; 1st gent - Ginnie Beeken 169; 2nd gent - Margaret Hill 165; first half winner - Muriel Griffiths 94; second half winner - Olive Frost 84; longest sitter - Mary Renowden (eight times); lowest score - Pauline Barnikel; raffle winners - Jean Salisbury and Muriel Griffiths.
Bowling Club whist is played twice weekly, Thursday and Monday at 7 pm sharp. New members and visitors are always welcome.
Bonus ball
winners
Wednesday, June 10 - Mary Renowden; Saturday, June 13 - Lee Richards.
Coffee morning
Tenby bowlers are holding a coffee morning in aid of the 'Help for Heroes' charity, from 10 am until noon, on Saturday, June 27, in the bar/lounge in Sutton Street - please support the event.
Paul Diment - bowler
extraordinaire
Paul Diment, one of our most talented bowling members, has just emerged from the popular Pembroke Dock Open Week, modestly clutching The Alfred Phillips Bowl and the Sudbury Bowl. A rare feat by all accounts, winning both trophies.
Imagine Paul, already on cloud nine, being told that he has been selected to play in the Welsh international series in Belfast on June 27/28.
Paul and his mentor John Baggott felt that his excellent showing in the trials recently, more than justified selection.
Paul is no stranger to playing for Wales. He was an under 25s international for seven years in the 1990s, he then progressed to full international in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
This could well be the relaunch of his international career. We all wish him good luck in this great game of ours.
Carruthers Shield
Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the club launch their journey proper to win the elusive and much-coveted Welsh inter-club shield, which commenced in 1919. It should be the usual 21 ends of exciting bowls. If you can spare the time, come and support them.