CARRUTHERS SHIELD

SAUNDERSFOOT 97 FISHGUARD AND GOODWICK 49

Saundersfoot travelled to Fishguard on Saturday for their first Carruthers match of the season. The team left Saundersfoot in glorious sunshine, only to find Fishguard under large rain clouds. The weather did not dampen the spirits of the Saundersfoot team, who eventually won the match by 48 shots. This was a good start for the Saundersfoot team. The next Carruthers match is now in two weeks time, on May 21, against Pembroke Dock. On rink one, Geoff Spiller, Gareth Hughes, Macky Brace and David Poole beat Mike Power by 21 shots, winning 14 of the 21 ends played. David also had the extra duty of keeping the team informed of the afternoon's football scores, but for carrying out this duty, he was very unfairly fined by the captain! Captain Stephen Poole's four played against Fishguard's Tom Jones on the 'green, green grass' of rink two. The rink scores were close for the first five ends, until the visiting rink took control of the match, taking two successive counts of two on the sixth and seventh ends. The Saundersfoot four eventually won by 15 shots. The closest match of the afternoon was on rink three where the Saundersfoot foursome skipped by Mal Bishop played against the Fishguard four skipped by the experienced Ken Grace. The Saundersfoot rink started well, building up a 7-0 lead after five ends, but they could not shake off the home rink, with Ken Grace playing some great bowls. The Saundersfoot boys were four shots behind after 18 ends, but this inspired them to win the last three ends to level the match. On rink four, Brian Jones, John Dugmore, John Roberts and Phil Carpenter won their rink match against Fishguard's D. Hughes. The Saundersfoot rink played some steady bowls throughout the afternoon and won by 12 shots. Saundersfoot would also like to give a special thank you to Merv Brace for sponsoring last week's game against Tenby. Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Fishguard skips only) were: Geoff Spiller, Gareth Hughes, Macky Brace, David Poole 30; M. Power 9. Denvor Williams, Paul Blayney, John Baggott, Stephen Poole 29; T. Jones 14. George Cavell, John Jenkins, Don Poole, Mal Bishop 15; K. Grace 15. Brian Jones, John Dugmore, John Roberts, Phil Carpenter 23; D. Hughes 11.

DIVISION ONE

St. Issell's 71 (2 pts.) Whitland 87 (12)   On an ideal afternoon for a game of bowls, St. Issell's entertained a strong Whitland side on Sunday, and despite playing some good bowls, went down 12 points to two. On rink two, Alan Brace and his team kept up with their opponents until end 14, then lost the next six ends to go down 23-13. Rink three saw the team of John Bingham, Peter Bissell newly-promoted third Don Stokes and skip Steve Dick all playing consistently well and winning 12 of the 21 ends, running out worthy winners 24 -20. Les Davies's rink, with new lead Dave Williams, kept level with their opposite numbers and looked like taking the points, until they dropped a five on the 20th end to go down by two shots - still a very good effort. Skip Bryn Llewellyn on rink five came up against a strong team skipped by an on-form Steve Reese and fell behind 12 shots to nil after six ends. Despite pulling up to within four shots, they could not close the gap and went down 24-16. All the St. Issell's players showed determination and never gave up trying right up to the last bowl. Rink scores (St. Issell's first, Whitland skips only) were: G. Cavell, D. Greaves, B. Lee, A. Brace 13; C. Court 23. J. Bingham, P. Bissell, D. Stokes, S. Dick 24; C. Wynn 20. D. Williams, G. Davies, B. Deeley, L. Davies 18; G. Thomas 20. N. Ruff, J. Austin, D. Newton, B. Llewellyn 16; S. Reese 24.

Ladies' LEague

The ladies of the St. Issell's team from Saundersfoot Bowling Club played three games last week and, led by captain Kath Blayney, enjoyed success in all of them (writes Spectator).

Ladybirds 30.75 St. Issell's 34

This was a very close encounter and the result was in doubt until the last end. Rink scores (St. Issell's first, Ladybirds skips only): K. Blayney, B. Davies, A. J. Lewis, G. Dugmore 21; M. Anthony 15.75. P. Thomas, C. Hayley, B. Lawrence, B. L. Lewis 13; M. Coe 15. With one rink winning, plus victory overall, St. Issell's picked up four of the six points at stake.

St. Issell's 46 Fishguard 25

Gloria Dugmore's rink were always on top against the Fishguard rink skipped by Gwen McFarlane, and aided by counts of five and six, ran out victors by 19 shots. Beryl Lewis's rink had a harder tussle against Ann Gray, and were seven shots down on 16 ends, but nine shots without reply over the last five ends saw them home by two shots. Rink scores (St. Issell's first, Fishguard skips only) were: K. Blayney, V. Austin, B. Lawrence, G. Dugmore 28; G. McFarlane 9. Lyn Statters, B. Davies, D. Rigden, B. L. Lewis 18; A. Gray 16. St. Issell's gained all six points.

St. Issell's 45 Ladybirds 40

In the reverse of the fixture played earlier in the week, the ladies of the Saundersfoot team were again run close by the opposition from Milford, but although again winning on one rink and losing on the other, gained victory overall and four points. Gloria Dugmore, with the ever-present Kath Blayney as lead, made it a hat-trick of wins over the week, while a strong rink led by Welsh international Ann Lewis went down by just one shot, losing a 15-shot lead on 16 ends, by dropping 16 shots in the last five ends. Ann took some good natured 'stick' afterwards, but despite her cries of "I don't believe it," mimicking Victor Meldrew, the result stood! Rink scores (St. Issell's first, Ladybirds skips only) were: K. Blayney, V. Ruff, S. Spiller, G. Dugmore 20; M. Coe 14. L. Statters, D. Rigden, B. L. Lewis, A. Lewis 25; M. Carter 26. With five games played, the ladies from St. Issell's have gained 20 points, and following this week's game against the other team from Milford, i.e. Milford Haven (a report of which will appear next week), have to wait until Friday, May 26, for their next fixture when they entertain Pembroke Dock Park, with a 6 pm start.

Saundersfoot 37 Pendine 33

Saundersfoot Ladies continued their winning form when they played their second league game of the season on Monday, entertaining Pendine at home. Welcoming two new members, Angela Roberts and Pat Gulliver, to their ranks, both bowled well and helped Saundersfoot to win by four, adding four points to their tally. Skip Marion Evans led her rink of Angela Roberts, Joyce Waters and Viv Edwards to a nine-shot win, while Elsie Pendlebury, Pat Gulliver, Ann Davies and Lorna Bissell were narrowly beaten by five shots. Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Pendine skips only) were: A. Roberts, J. Waters, Viv Edwards, M. Evans 23; A. Stewart 14. E. Pendlebury, P. Gulliver, A. Davies, L. Bissell 14; B. Pickersgill 19. Saundersfoot were due to play Priory, Haverfordwest, yesterday (Thursday), before taking a short break from league action until Tuesday, May 30, when they play Pembroke Dock, again at home.