SAUNDERSFOOT 107 NEYLAND 73
Saundersfoot qualified for the knockout stage of the Carruthers Shield last week when they defeated Neyland in their last group game, but the victory was not without a fright.
Although the Seasiders started confidently enough, something went amiss in the middle stages of the game and suddenly the visitors had a 22-shot lead.
Galvanised into action, the home side produced a splendid team effort, turning this deficit into an eventual 34-shot victory.
On rink two, Roy Kennion, Terry Lamkin, John Dugmore and skip Steve Poole were neck and neck with Alan King's four, but three counts of four shots plus a three in the closing stages ensured a 13-shot win.
Rink three saw Geoff Spiller, Alan Brace, Mackie Brace and Berwyn Dennis 10 shots adrift on 13 ends, but the visitors failed to score on the last eight ends and picking up a six along the way, the home rink won by eight shots.
On rink four, Joe Dennis, Nev Ruff, Alan Brain and Steve Dick picked up a four on the first end, but by the ninth end, found themselves eight shots down. A similar story here, too, in the second half, saw the villagers storm home to win by seven shots.
On rink five, George Cavell, John Moffat, Paul Blayney and Myrddin Dennis picked up nine shots on the first two ends, but by end number six, the scores were level.
Honours were also even after 12 ends, before the Saundersfoot boys, aided by some excellent bowling from Popeye as skip, ran out winners by six shots.
Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Neyland skips only):
R. Kennion, T. Lamkin, J. Dugmore, S. Poole 27; A. King 14.
G. Spiller, A. Brace, M. Brace, B. Dennis 29; G. Robson 21.
J. Dennis, N. Ruff, A. Brain, S. Dick 28; G. Nutall 21.
G. Cavell, J. Moffat, P. Blayney, M. Dennis 23; R. Evans 17.
Saundersfoot now join near neighbours Tenby in representing Pembrokeshire in the last 64 in Wales. Both teams have been drawn to play at home on Saturday, June 20, although their opponents are not yet known having not completed their group stages.
Both clubs are wished success as they fly the flag for the county.
WHITLAND 63 (2 pts) SAUNDERSFOOT 71 (12)
Returning to league action last Saturday, Saundersfoot continued to recover from the previous week's defeat by Tenby by defeating Whitland.
Having not beaten their Carmarthenshire rivals for three years, this was a particularly impressive result as it was away from home and the Seasiders picked up 12 points, only losing one rink by the narrowest of margins.
On rink one, Myrddin Dennis skipped George Cavell, John Moffat and John Jenkins and in a close encounter, with the lead changing hands several times, went down by just one shot.
Rink two saw brother Berwyn Dennis, ably assisted by uncles Macky and Alan Brace and Paul Blayney at number three, take an early lead which they never looked like relinquishing and ended up with a winning margin of six shots.
On rink three, Roy Kennion, Terry Lamkin, John Dugmore and skip Steve Poole found themselves 10 shots to one down at the tea break, but a tremendous second half fightback saw the scores tied on 20 ends.
The last end was a tense affair, with both teams holding game, but a wonderful last wood from Steve took the shot and the points.
On rink four, Joe Dennis, Nev Ruff, Alan Brain and Steve Dick were neck and neck with the home team all the way through, but pipped their opponents by two shots.
All four rinks fought hard on a very hot afternoon and team spirit helped to win the day. Captain Mackie Brace was justifiably proud of his players and hopes are high for the forthcoming Carruthers Shield match at home on June 20 and the rest of the league season.
One footnote worthy of mention is the increasingly good bowling surface at Whitland, witness to the hard work being put in by Steve Reese and Alan Whithouse.
Rink scores (Saundersfoot first, Whitland skips only):
G. Cavell, J. Moffatt, J. Jenkins, M. Dennis 17; M. James 18.
M. Brace, A. Brace, P. Blayney, B. Dennis 23; A. Whitehouse 17.
R. Kennion, T. Lamkin, J. Dugmore, S. Poole 16; S. Reese 15.
J. Dennis, N. Ruff, A. Brain, S. Dick 15; G. Thomas 13.
ST ISSELLS 82 (4 pts)
ST. THOMAS 87 (10)
St. Issell's, playing at home in a division two fixture, lost by just five shots last Saturday, picking up four points.
Rink one, with Derek Rowen as lead, Don Stokes at number two, Don Pope at three and Mike Carr skip, had an early lead of five shots, but scores were tied on 18 ends.
End number 19 proved the decider, with the villagers gaining a five and, although losing the last two ends, the home team won by just one shot.
On rink two, Newton Griffiths, Geoff Spiller, Roy Pring and Keith Rowlands only won seven ends and with counts of five and a six against them lost by 20 shots.
Rink three saw Brian Deeley, Gwynfor Davies, Bill Glynn and Barrie Lee struggle and were 11 shots to nil down on just five ends. Never giving in, however, the St. Issell's lads fought back from a one-time 14-shot deficit to lose by just three.
On rink four, Lionel Allen, Dennis Reed, John Austin and captain Stew Howe flew the flag for the home team with an excellent 17-shot victory.
Rink scores (St. Issell's first, St. Thomas skips only):
D. Rowen, D. Stokes, D. Pope, M. Carr 23; N. Brown 22.
N. Griffiths, G. Spiller, R. Pring, K. Rowlands 11; R. Lewis 31.
B. Deeley, G. Davies, B. Glynn, B. Lee 18; R. Harries 21.
L. Allen, D. Reed, J. Austin, S. Howe 30; M. Davies 13.
WHITLAND
LADIES 39 (4 pts)
ST. ISSELL'S LADIES 25
St. Issell's ladies travelled to Whitland last Saturday with hopes high of a league double, having defeated their opponents at home just two weeks before.
This was not to be, however, as the girls went down by 14 shots, picking up two points of the six at stake.
Lynn Statters, Mary Cavell, Audrey Williams and Beryl Lawrence found the going tough against the rink skipped by junior international Hannah Thomas and lost by 16 shots.
Sue Roden, Brenda Davies, Kath Blayney and Ceris Hewlings picked up a six on end number four and this helped them to an eventual two-shot win.
Rink scores (St. Issell's ladies first, Whitland ladies skips only):
L. Statters, M. Cavell, A. Williams, B. Lawrence 7; H. Thomas 23.
S. Roden, B. Davies, K. Blayney, C. Hewlings 18; C. Jones 16.
PEMBROKE DOCK PARK LADIES 24 (O pts) SAUNDERSFOOT LADIES 55 (6)
The ladies of Saundersfoot gained an impressive 31-shot victory last Saturday when they travelled to play Pembroke Dock Park Ladies.
Viv Edwards, Steph Amos, Anne Davies and Marion Evans led the way with a 24-shot win, while captain Angela Roberts, Alwen Hughes, Elaine Shaw and Lorna Bissell weighed in with a seven-shot win.
LADIES OPEN TOURNAMENT
This weekend sees the annual Saundersfoot Ladies Open Tournament take place.
Today (Friday) sees 17 triples compete for the Kath and Paul Blayney Shield, while tomorrow the singles competitions take place for the Joan Osborne Cup and Joan Proctor Shield.
Refreshments will be available throughout the day.
GOOD LUCK
Good luck this weekend to the three Saundersfoot ladies who are attending Welsh squad sessions today (Friday) at Barry Athletic and Sunday at Llandrindod Wells. Viv Edwards, Ceris Hewling and Ann Lewis will represent Wales in the forthcoming international series in Jersey from June 13 to 20.
FIXTURES
No fixtures for the club this weekend due to the Ladies Open Tournament, but Monday sees the annual visit of Valley Dragons from the Rhondda in a friendly encounter starting at 2 pm.
St. Issell's ladies have two matches next week. On Tuesday they are home to Cleddau and on Thursday travel to Pendine, both at 2 pm.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Many happy returns next Tuesday, June 9, to Kath Blayney.
Kath, a committee member and wife of chairman Paul, is a popular lady and wished a great day from all her friends at the club.
ANNIVERSARY
Nev Ruff and wife Val celebrated 47 years of marriage last Sunday.
Where were they to be found? Obviously at the bowling club where Nev was helping to organise the Junior Open Tournament and Val was hard at work in the kitchen providing meals for the competitors and spectators.
Congratulations to you both!
SPECTATOR