SAUNDERSFOOT 78 (12 pts) TENBY 70 (2)

The villagers opened their Division One league campaign last Saturday with a home fixture against near neighbours Tenby, the champions of the last nine years.

Saundersfoot have finished third for the past two seasons and were looking for an improvement this summer under the captaincy of Berwyn Dennis.

The match was always going to be a close encounter and so it proved, although the scorecards showed that the home team were always in the overall lead from start to finish.

After five ends, the difference was plus five and at the tea interval Saundersfoot led by 17.

In the second half, the expected Tenby revival led to the home lead only being one shot after all rinks had played 18 ends, but with two rinks taking counts of four on the next end, the villagers ran out eventual winners by eight shots.

Rink two saw the only defeat of the day, with John Dugmore, Paul Blayney, Don Poole and skip Steve Poole losing out by 25 shots to 15 against Dion Peregrine, Ben Cloake, Liam Price and Paul Diment.

On rink three, Dai Davies led for skip Berwyn Dennis, with Selwyn Price second and Steve Dick third. In a titanic battle against Cameron White, Peter Hooper, Mike Jackson and John Roberts, scores were tied after the penultimate end, with the Saundersfoot boys gaining one shot at the last to win by the narrowest of margins 18 shots to 17.

New member Roy Hooper, Neil Hensman, Brian Desmond and skip Joe Dennis found themselves four shots down after the first two ends on rink four against Andrew Morse, Aaron Lloyd, Peter Day and Andrew Muskett, but soon took the lead by winning the next seven ends.

They kept the pressure on after that and in a match-winning performance, won the rink by 26 shots to 14.

Finally, on rink five, Graham Hughes, John Amos, Alan Brain and Myrddin Dennis defeated Luke Rees, Charlie Morse, Chris Court and Kieran Peregrine by 19 shots to 14.

This was an inspired opening to their season and the Saundersfoot boys will be looking for more success tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to play Pendine.

PANTHER TOURISTS

Last Sunday, the Panther tourists from Somerset visited the Saundersfoot green for what was hoped to be a six-rink mixed friendly.

After using the village green in the morning for a tournament for their players, all 43 of their party enjoyed a buffet prepared by the Saundersfoot ladies, before they commenced their afternoon game.

Unfortunately, after just two ends, the weather took a turn for the worse, forcing everybody to retire to the clubhouse. Not to be disheartened, however, everyone joined in with an indoor fun game of bowls, made difficult by using potatoes and onions (don’t ask) organised by the two overall club captains Graham Hughes and Sue Roden.

Before leaving, the visitors complimented the Saundersfoot members for providing such a wonderful welcome and looked forward to a return tour to Pembrokeshire in a few years time.

FIXTURES

As stated above, Saundersfoot men visit Pendine tomorrow as do the St. Issell’s ladies for league encounters commencing at 2 pm.

Next Wednesday, the Saundersfoot ladies also come up against Pendine with a home game at 6 pm, whilst on Thursday there is a mixed home friendly hosting West Midlands Police.