MEN’S FIRST

DIVISION TEAM

Having narrowly lost to near neighbours Tenby on the Saturday, the Saundersfoot boys played a further three games in four days last week with mixed results.

First up was an away trip to play Five Arches and in a tight game, the team returned home disappointed after a three-shot defeat.

Ten shots up at the halfway point, their lead was slowly whittled down in the second half to leave them with just four points from two winning rinks.

With one rink left to finish and the villagers, skipped by Berwyn Dennis, holding shot for what would have meant the game being drawn, up stepped Arches skip Neil Dickinson in the gathering gloom to produce the shots of the night, one on the backhand and one on the forehand, to give his team victory by 75 shots to 72.

Rink scores, with Saundersfoot first and Five Arches skips only, were:

Nev Ruff, Rhys O’Mara, Paul Blayney, Steve Dick 16; Jon Webb 27.

Dai Davies, John Dugmore, Alan Brain, Berwyn Dennis 17; Neil Dickinson 21.

Adam Hensman, Dennis Ball, Mackie Brace, Joe Dennis 23; Ashley Hooper 13.

Neil Hensman, Brian McKehon, Brian Desmond, Myrddin Dennis 16; Simon Evans 14.

The following evening, Whitland were the visitors to the Saundersfoot green and this time the result was a win to the villagers by 87 shots to 64.

Determined to reverse their two defeats to the Tenby teams, Saundersfoot started well and led by 14 shots after just five ends and 16 after 10 played.

With two of the home fours streaking ahead, the overall result was never in doubt and this time 10 points went to Saundersfoot.

Top score went to Adam Hensman, father Neil, Myrddin Dennis and skip Steve Poole, who defeated Scott Lewis, Dai Thomas, Colin Wynn and Mike John by 33 shots to 12.

Saundersfoot’s other winning rink was Dai Davies, father and son Selwyn and Louis Price and skip Berwyn Dennis, who defeated the Steve Reese four by 23 shots to 10.

One footnote on this game was a reminder to Alan Brain, Mackie Brace, Brian Desmond and Joe Dennis that it’s no good leading by 10 shots to nil at the start of the match, as it’s the final score that counts!

Last Saturday, the team played host to league leaders Haverfordwest and in an excellent display, won the game by 95 shots to 62.

With three winning rinks and the other only losing by one shot on the last bowl of the match, the villagers picked up 12 of the 14 points being played for and with it gained third place in the league.

After five ends, Saundersfoot led by 23 shots and their lead had been extended at the tea break to 34.

Thereafter, the scoring was fairly even, but the damage to the title aspirations of Haverfordwest had already been done and the Saundersfoot boys, playing some of their best bowls for some weeks, ran out worthy winners.

Top rink again went to Adam, Neil, Myrddin and Steve who defeated Darren Latham, Paul Jenkins, Marley Hughes and Gareth Barrett by 31 shots to 14.

The other rinks scores, with Saundersfoot first and Haverfordwest skips only, were:

Dai Davies, Nev Ruff, Paul Blayney, Berwyn Dennis 25; Peter Jenkins 12.

John Dugmore, Mackie Brace, Brian Desmond, Joe Dennis 20; Alan Whitehouse 16.

Don Poole, George Cavell, Alan Brain, Steve Dick 19; Richard O’Leary 20.

Tomorrow, Saundersfoot play at home to Pembroke Dock in their penultimate league match and with the teams joint third in the table, with the villagers ahead on shot difference, an exciting game is in prospect.

ST. ISSELL’S LADIES

The St. Issell’s girls have also been having a busy time with three games in week, in all of which they came out on top.

Playing at home to Pembroke Dock, they narrowly missed taking all the points, with the rink skipped by captain Sue Roden defeating Diana Davies by 27 shots to eight and the Beryl Lewis four just losing out to Betty James by 21 shots to 20 to give an overall win of 18 shots.

Travelling to Fishguard, the team returned happy with a win by 12 shots and with both rinks winning took all six points from the game.

Last Monday, they hosted top of the table Whitland and again won the match, this time by 14 shots.

Audrey Williams, Christine Ball, Kath Blayney and Sue Roden defeated Andrea Thomas by 17 and Lyn Reyad, Lyn Statters, Dianne Rigden and Chris Harris lost by three to Cally Jones.

Fourteen points out of a possible 18 has lifted the team up the league table, with the girls still having games in hand over the teams above them.

Winning the title is going to be beyond them, but a top four finish, following last year’s third place, is still possible.

MEYRICK OWEN

The St. Brides team in the one rink Meyrick Owen competition suffered a setback to their title aspirations last week when they were defeated by Pembroke Dock Pater, who now lead them on shot difference with just two games remaining.

They play a rearranged match at Fishguard Dinas on August 25 and then Neyland at home on August 30, with hopes still high for winning the league.

WEST WALES LADIES

The girls from the county travel to Merthyr West End Bowling Club on Sunday to play the final of the Savegar competition against Mid Wales to decide who will be this year’s Welsh county champions.

The team will feature a large contingent of Saundersfoot ladies and best wishes to all the Pembrokeshire girls who will be looking for revenge for their defeat last year in the final at the hands of the same opponents.

WELSH SELECTION

Congratulations to Ceris Hewlings, Gemma Amos and Steph Amos for being selected for the Welsh senior squad to play in next season’s home international series. Pembrokeshire will also be represented by Ysie White, of Tenby.

Congratulations also to Gemma and Naomi Fleming from the club for making the junior international squad. Other county girls in the squad are Ysie, Katie Thomas, of Whitland, and Sara John Davies, of Haverfordwest.

FRIENDLY

The club played a mixed friendly last Sunday against tourists from the Southam United club in Warwickshire and won the match by 10 shots. The last friendly of the season will take place on Friday, September 2, when the Oxford Town and Gown club will be the visitors.

WELSH TRIPLES

Graham Hughes, Joe Dennis and Steve Poole travelled to Llandrindod Wells on Monday to represent Pembrokeshire in the national triples competition, having won the county title last month.

In their first match, they defeated their South Glamorgan opponents by a healthy 25 shots to three and narrowly lost their quarter-final to the Neil Rees-led Carmarthenshire trio by the narrowest of margins, 14 shots to 13.