SAUNDERSFOOT 110 KIDWELLY 141
Saundersfoot entertained Kidwelly last Sunday in the first friendly of the season.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon, the seasiders put up a spirited performance, but eventually went down by 31 shots.
On rink one, the club welcomed back John Moffett after a few seasons away and with Dave Williams as lead, Colin Roden as second and Mike Carr third were holding their own after nine ends, with the scores 10 apiece, but against a strong visiting four skipped by Colin Jones, a regular competitor in the club's open tournament, eventually went down by 10 shots.
Rink two saw Saundersfoot's only winning rink, with Bill Glyn, Mike Oliver, Stew Howe and skip Steve Dick racing into a 16-shot to nil lead after just six ends and eventually winning by 12 shots.
On rink three, Peter Lewis, new member Derek Rowan, Joe Dennis and skip Nev Ruff had a ding dong battle against the visitors' four skipped by Keith Evans, but with the scores tied at 15-all on 19 ends, the home team dropped seven shots on the last two ends.
Barrie Lee, skipping Lionel Allen, John Austin and Roy Kennion on rink four, was neck and neck at 18-all on 16 ends against Robin Burden, but also dropped shots on the run-in to lose by five.
On rink five, John Bingham, Gwynfor Davies, Don Stokes and skip Roy Pring were always behind and eventually went down by 12 shots.
On rink six, skip Myrddin Dennis, with Pat Patel as lead, Geoff Vigus as second and George Cavell as third were also the nearly men as the scores were level at 13-all on 15 ends, but counts of four and six to the visitors on the run-in helped towards a nine-shot deficit for the home team.
After the game, all the players retired to the clubhouse for a very enjoyable 22nd end and thanks must go to Brian Deeley for all his hard work behind the bar both before, during and after the game, to ensure that everyone was kept suitably refreshed!
Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Kidwelly skips only):
D. Williams, C. Roden, M. Carr, J. Moffett 16; C. Jones 26.
B. Glynn, M. Oliver, S. Howe, S. Dick 30; G. Thornburn 18.
P. Lewis, D. Rowan, J. Dennis, N. Ruff 15; K. Evans 22.
L. Allen, J. Austin, R. Kennion, B. Lee 21; R. Burden 26.
J. Bingham, G. Davies, D. Stokes, R. Pring 12; M. Partridge 24.
P. Patel, G. Vigus, G. Cavell, M. Dennis 16; A. Evans 25.
The next in a busy season of friendlies is on Sunday, May 3, when Portishead British Legion, of Bristol, are the visitors for a men's fixture and this is followed on May 7 with the first mixed friendly against West Midland Police Bowls Club.
Availability sheets for these games can be found on the normal notice board.
Mixed fortunes for St. Issell's ladies
The ladies of St. Issell's commenced their league programme last Saturday, visiting Milford and winning by the narrowest of margins and picking up four of the six points at stake.
Gwenda Rees, Mary Cavell, Beryl Lawrence and Gloria Dugmore defeated Margaret Carter's rink by nine shots, while acting captain Kath Blayney, Audrey Williams, Ceris Hewlings and Beryl Lewis went down by eight shots to the rink skipped by Joan Collins.
In their second game in a week, St. Issell's ladies hosted last year's league champions, Tenby, on Tuesday.
And the visitors continued their winning form, defeating the Diane Rigden captained side on both rinks.
Kath Blayney, Audrey Williams, Beryl Lawrence and Ceris Hewlings went down 30-11 against the Alison Redman quartet, while Sue Roden, Di Rigden, Amanda Lewis and Gloria Dugmore were just pipped at the post 17-14 by immediate past Welsh president Julia King Thomas and co.
THANKS BERYL
The club would like to express their thanks to Beryl Lawrence for all her hard work in running the Monday evening whist drives throughout the winter.
This has resulted in much-needed funds for the club and the committee and members are very grateful for her continued dedication.
HANDBOOK
Once again, Saundersfoot has a club handbook that is second to none.
All the hard work done by fixture secretary Stew Howe and treasurer George Cavell (ably assisted as always by his wife Mary) can be seen in this professional publication and special thanks must be given to all the local companies and establishments who have placed advertisements in it to ensure that, yet again, members can receive their copy free of charge.
FIRST GAME
Tomorrow (Saturday), Saundersfoot begin their Division One campaign with a home game against Haverfordwest, the game getting underway at 2 pm.
CLUB
COMPETITIONS
Entry sheets for all the club's internal competitions are now on the noticeboard in the clubhouse. Entry is £1 and closing date is May 10.
Junior Bowls
Coaching will begin for any juniors from eight years to 17 years at Saundersfoot Bowls Club on Monday, April 27. Coaches will be on the green from 3.30 to 5.30 pm. Come along and try an enjoyable sport. Coaching is free and sessions are available for any person of any age, with special rates to join. Any questions, please contact N. Ruff on (01834) 812605.