Saundersfoot 74 - Ammanford Park 73: Playing at home to Ammanford Park last Saturday in the first knock out round of the Carruthers Shield Welsh Cup competition, all the Saundersfoot team knew that it was going to be a close encounter against a side who had reached the quarter finals last season.
What non-one thought, however, was that the result would depend on the very last wood.
With three rinks having completed their games with an overall deficit of one shot, Graham Hughes, Neil Hensman, Brian Desmond and skip Myrddin Dennis still had two ends to play but led by five.
On the penultimate end, the village rink dropped a single to leave Saundersfoot three shots in the lead.
With all the other players on both sides watching anxiously from all corners of the green, the last end was a very cagey affair which saw some brilliant bowling with first Saundersfoot and then Ammanford Park holding shot.
With his last wood, the visiting skip Wayne Owen, drew to make a count of three to leave the possibility of all players having to return to the green for an extra end but with the home boys willing him on, Myrddin Popeye Dennis drew third shot to ensure a Saundersfoot win by the narrowest of margins.
The whole team were delirious and congratulated Myrddin with many high fives and he himself said afterwards that it was his best shot of the season but as your correspondent told him, “cometh the hour, cometh the man”!
Captain Berwin Dennis said how proud he was of all his team for coping with the pressure and in particular the rinks skipped by Steve Dick and Joe Dennis who found things difficult in the first half of the game and at one stage were eleven and eight shots adrift respectively only to fight back to only lose by one and three.
Congratulations to both teams who played their part in the game which was played in the correct competitive manner.
The team spirit (and obviously a few good bowls along the way) has seen Saundersfoot win all eleven of their matches so far this season but many challenges lie ahead.
The team now progress to the last thirty two round where they will meet Merthyr West End, again at home on Saturday July 7th.
Rink scores with Saundersfoot first and Ammanford Park skips only were: Graham Hughes, Neil Hensman, Brian Desmond, Myrddin Dennis 21 Wayne Owen 19; Alan Brain, Selwyn Price, Louis Price, Joe Dennis 16 Alan Price 19; Dai Davies, Don Poole, Richard Whittaker, Berwin Dennis 20 Kieran Peregrine 17; Brian Dooley, Mackie Brace, Paul Blayney, Steve Dick 17 Ross Davies 18.
Saundersfoot 113
Milford Haven 50
There was also league action for the team last week with a home game against Milford Haven but in this match the villagers had an easier task, winning by sixty three shots and gaining all fourteen points to maintain their place at the top of Division One of the Pembrokeshire County Bowling Association competition.
Rink scores with Saundersfoot first and Milford Haven skips only were:
Alan Brain, Selwyn Price, Louis Price, Joe Dennis 33 Brian Cale 13; Graham Hughes, Neil Hensman, Brian Desmond, Myrddin Dennis 22 Gareth Walters 15; Dai Davies, Don Poole, Richard Whittaker, Berwyn Dennis 40 Jim Thomas 8; Brian Dooley, Mackie Brace, Paul Blayney, Steve Dick 18 Paul Morgan 14
Saundersfoot 146
Yeovil 119
Saundersfoot entertained a tourist team from Yeovil in Somerset last Saturday, the seven rink match taking place in the morning due to the green being in use in the afternoon for the Carruthers match reported above.
Top rink in a twenty seven shot win went to the rink skipped by the club captain Graham Hughes’s wife Alwen who won by a creditable twenty two shots.
Rink scores with Saundersfoot first and Yeovil skips only were:
Kath Williams, Christine Ball, Ken James, Alan Rich 20 D. Whitelock 24; Lynne Reyed, Christine Harris, Dave Walters, Dennis Ball 27 D.Cue 15; Peter Williams, Derek Bibby, Sandra Ingerson, Sue Roden 23 B.Hurley 11; Roy Harris, Barrie Lee, Mike Carr, Shirley Cox 19 P.Colby 18; George Cavell, Billy Glynn, John Haig, Jean Dezille 10 G.Woods 28; Dennis Reed, Jacquie Ford, Barry Lee, Alwen Hughes 30 J.Woods 8; Val James, Wynne Evans, Mike Oliver, Paul Sneyd 17 B.Roberts 15.
Saundersfoot Ladies 70
Rhiwbina 67
A five rink ladies friendly took place on Sunday afternoon against Rhiwbina ladies from the Cardiff area.
The inclement weather in the morning thankfully cleared to give the home girls a narrow three shot win although the result was declared a draw!
Rink scores with Saundersfoot first and Rhiwbina skips only were: Lynne Reyed, Audrey Williams, Jacquie Ford, Christine Harris 18 M.Couglan 9; Elaine Shaw, Rene Silcox, Kath Blayney, Sue Roden 16 G.Bird 15; Kath Williams, Diane Rigden, Christine Ball, Jean Dezille 8 Pam Gough 22; Val James, Sandra Ingerson, Lorna Campbell 13 Mary Wathen 9 (Triples); Lynn Statters, Diane Disney, Alwen Hughes 15 Marianne Lewis 12 (Triples).
St Issells Ladies
The ladies of the St Issells team played three matches in the past week and gained fourteen of the eighteen points that were at stake.
Playing away at Pendine, the match resulted in a win by forty seven shots to twenty two and all six points.
Rink scores with St Issells and Pendine skips only were: Kath Blayney, Christine Ball, Sue Dooley, Sue Roden 21 Ann Stewart 13; Christine Harris, Kath Williams, Sandra Ingerson, Shirley Cox 26 Gill Cobb 9.
At home to Milford ladies, six more points were gained with Kath Blayney, Christine Ball, Sue Roden and Ann Lewis defeating the rink skipped by Julie Morgan by twenty two shots to nineteen and Lynne Reyed, Sue Dooley, Christine Harris and Shirley Cox beating Sylvia Davies by twenty three shots to thirteen.
Their only defeat came away to Whitland where they picked up two points from one winning rink but lost overall by eight shots.
Next Monday the two ladies teams at the club go head to head with the match commencing at 6 pm.
Neyland ladies top the league being undefeated with St Issells hot on their heels and the two teams will play each other on Saturday June 30th at Saundersfoot.
Meyrick Owen
The St Brides team who feature in the one rink Meyrick Owen league gained success last week when they defeated Pembroke Dock Mariners by twenty two shots to twenty.
Kath Williams made a winning debut at skip with the other players being Mike Carr, husband Peter and Ken James.
Welsh Selection
Congratulations to Stephanie and Gemma Amos of the Saundersfoot club who have been selected to represent Wales in the forthcoming ten nations test series which will take place in early July at the Penylan, Penarth Windsor, Barry Athletic and Dinas Powis bowling clubs.
Best wishes to them and also three other Pembrokeshire players, Katie Thomas of Whitland and Ysie White and John Roberts of Tenby who will also feature.
Pro AM?Evening
Another reminder that the rearranged pro-am evening will take place on Friday, July 6 and a notice to enter for the event, which is being organised by club captain Graham Hughes, can be found at the club.
Ladies Captain’s Day
This year’s overall Saundersfoot ladies captain, Val James will be hosting her special day next Thursday, June 28 and the event will have an Ascot theme.
Other Fixtures
Saundersfoot men play away at Pendine tomorrow whilst the St Issells men travel to play Fishguard and Goodwick on Sunday.
The Saundersfoot ladies play away at Picton of Haverfordwest this evening (Friday) and are home to Tenby on Sunday afternoon.