SAUNDERSFOOT 90 (12 pts.) FISHGUARD AND GOODWICK 73 (2)

Saundersfoot played a first division league match last Saturday at home to Fishguard and Goodwick and won a close encounter by 17 shots.

Any thoughts of an easy win by the third placed villagers against a team who are bottom of the table were soon dispensed with as the visitors were determined to get something from the game to ease their relegation worries.

After five ends, the team from the north of the county led by one shot and the scores were level at the half-time tea break and again after 15 ends.

A late surge, however, particularly by one rink, ensured a home win and with second place Tenby playing a Carruthers Welsh cup match and the news that league leaders Haverfordwest were beaten at Pembroke Dock, the position at the top of the table is beginning to look like a three horse race which could go down to the wire.

On rink two, Dai Davies led for skip Joe Dennis, with father and son Selwyn and Louis playing second and third. Although taking an early lead, the four could not quite get away from Davo Hughes and his boys and a dropped count of five on the last end ended with a narrow one-shot win by 21 shots to 20.

Club chairman Myrddin Dennis skipped Roy Kennion, Neil Hensman and Brian Desmond on rink two and gain a 20 shots to 13 win over Alan Newbury.

On rink three John Dugmore, Alan Brain, captain Macky Brace and skip Don Poole had a torrid time against the visiting four skipped by the evergreen Tom Jones and at one time found themselves 15 shots adrift. A late fightback helped the overall situation although still led to a loss of 27 shots to 17.

Nev Ruff, Rhys O’Mara, Paul Blayney and Steve Dick on rink five were bidding to extend their winning run to four games, but Fishguard skip Mike Barringer and his four had other ideas for most of the game. With only four ends left to play, the Saundersfoot rink only just had their noses in front by three shots but counts of a three, four, five and another four gave them victory by 32 shots to 13 and with it the overall win.

The game showed that nothing can ever be taken for granted in bowls or indeed any sport and if the Fishguard boys can continue with the same fight that they showed in this game then they will certainly have a chance of surviving in the top division.

There is no league match this weekend due to the club’s open week tournament finals and they will next face Tenby in a top of the table clash on August 6.

ST. ISSELL’S 87 BORDERERS 76

The St. Issell’s men played their last group match in this year’s Brains Cup competition with a mid-week visit to Whitland knowing that a win by 17 shots would see them through to this year’s final.

A valiant effort saw one rink consisting of Bob Storey, Brian Dooley, captain Billy Glynn and skip Brian McKehon win by 36 shots, but with the other three rinks losing, the team just fell short of their target with an 11-shot win.

The team also played a league game on Sunday away to Mariners, of Pembroke Dock, only gaining two points with one winning rink consisting of Dennis Reed, Brian Dooley, Dennis Ball and Neil Hensman who defeated the home four by 18 shots to 13.

ST. ISSELL’S LADIES

The St. Issell’s girls played Pembroke Dock Park ladies home and away last week and continued their rise up the league table winning both matches and gaining 10 of the 12 points that were at stake. A busy August lies ahead for the team who have matches in hand over their rivals.

MEYRICK OWEN COMPETITION

The St. Brides team who were top of their league playing in the one rink Meyrick competition suffered a defeat last week at home to Fishguard and Goodwick and will have been looking to get back to winning ways with two matches scheduled for this week away at Pendine and the return match at Fishguard.

OPEN WEEK

The annual Saundersfoot Open Tournament week commenced last Monday with bowlers from all over South Wales taking part.

Some of those progressing included Pembrokeshire county singles champion Mike Jackson, Carmarthen county singles winner Mark Driscoll, as well as Welsh internationals John Roberts, who has won the Osborne singles on three occasions, and David Kingdon who won the event twice and who is defending his title.

Also successful was three times winner Tom Daniel, of Beaufort.

The semi-finals of the singles and pairs events are due to take place today (Friday) with the finals tomorrow afternoon.

Spectators are welcome, with refreshments available all day.