LLANDRINDOD WELLS 80 shots

TENBY79

Tenby bowed out of this year’s Carruthers Shield Welsh club championship on Saturday with defeat at a rain-soaked Llandrindod Wells.

But what a thrilling encounter it proved to be in the hills of Mid Wales.

Showing few effects from the lengthy journey, the ‘Sharks’ seemed to enjoy the wet weather as they quickly established a healthy lead, with the rink skipped by Ryan ‘Rhino’ Thomas particularly showing their teeth as they left their opponents trailing in their wake.

The other three rinks witnessed closer battles, though, and gradually the home outfit began to reel in the Sharks.

In fact, with just one rink left on the green and one end left to play, the scores across the board were all level.

It made for a dramatic finalé, with the Tenby rink initially looking in command as they held sway after the opening sorties by the leads and seconds, only for the Llandod third to rock the boat as he drew a front toucher.

Now staring defeat in the face, visiting skip Keith Peregrine produced a miraculous shot to remove it and leave Tenby again lying game.

And it looked as if victory would finally be theirs as the last bowl of the game appeared to be sailing well wide of the head, only for it to wick in off an outside wood and send another crashing in for the winning shot, leaving the shellshocked visitors and supporters shaking their heads in disbelief as delight turned to utter despair.

Five Arches 58 (3 pts)

Saundersfoot 98 (11)

After running Milford close in their previous encounter, the Five Arches were looking forward to this rearranged match with Saundersfoot last Wednesday evening.

The match was due to have been played on Saturday, but due to Tenby being involved in the Carruthers Shield that day, it was brought forward to midweek.

The Arches will perhaps now be wishing it hadn’t been switched, as they went down heavily to their near neighbours, who seemed to master the vagaries of the green better than their hosts.

Initially the Arches were well in contention as two rinks were on top against their opponents, but the two outside rinks struggled all evening and a late surge by Saundersfoot saw them stretch away to a comfortable victory.

It was not all gloom and doom, though, as the Arches did pick up three league points for one winning rink and another which drew.

Rink scores (Arches first, Saundersfoot skips only):

Viv John, Dave Lloyd, Dai Spencer, Simon Evans 19; Steve Poole 19.

Ken Lloyd, Bill Benham, Huw Nicholas, Jonathan Webb 21; Steve Dick 19.

John Rees, Roger Price, Tony Rose, Neil Dickinson 4; Myrddin Dennis 32.

Mike Day, Tony Powling, Steve Davies, Ashley Hooper 14; Berwyn Dennis 28.

Tenby 56

Page Park

Bristol 87

On Friday, Tenby welcomed Page Park from Bristol to the Sutton Street green for what proved to be an enjoyable friendly encounter.

The tourists, who were on a weekend visit to the area, brought a large party with them, in fact so large, that they had to split into two, with two four-rink mixed matches being played, one at Tenby and another at neighbouring Saundersfoot.

They were due to repeat this at other clubs in the county over the following two days and with another match on the return journey home, would be playing seven games in all. A hectic schedule indeed.

Rink scores at Tenby, with Bristol skips only, were:

M. Skyrme, W. Morris, M. Day, R. Price 5; M. Fisher 30.

L. Rees, G. Morris, G. Rose, P. Hooper 22; J. Hibbard 22.

K. Dickinson, P. Thomas, F. Broomhead, N. Dickinson 10; A. Nicholls 24.

J. Rees, C. Lloyd, J. Lloyd, T. Rose 19; J. Walters 11.

Bonus Ball

The winner of last Saturday’s bonus ball was Alan Ol with number 2 - congratulations.

Forthcoming Fixtures

Tuesday, June 20, Goscar men will be playing at home to Neyland, 2 pm start, in the Meyrick Owen. Wednesday, June 21, the Five Arches Ladies will be playing Neyland away, 2 pm start. Saturday, June 24, the Five Arches men will be playing Pendine men on the Sutton Street green at 2 pm. Sunday, June 25, Tenby Ladies will pe playing Whitland Ladies at home, 2 pm start.