HAVING a free weekend from the Welsh team championship, Sully Indoor Bowls Club members were involved in further qualifying games - pairs, senior pairs and rinks - in the Welsh national open competitions.

There was a shock in the first round of the senior pairs where last year's national champions, Graham Cogbill and Brian Foscolo, lost to Dave Curtis and Brian Griffiths in an exhilarating game which was nip and tuck. On the 11th end, with the score at 6-5 to the champions, Griffiths and Curtis scored a six to lead 11-6, but the next three ends went in favour of Cogbill who edged back to within one shot of their opponents. On the 16th end, Curtis and Griffiths scored a four to lead 16-10, but, as you would expect, the champions showed their battling qualities to edge 18-17 ahead going into the last end. The pressure appeared to effect on all the players, except Griffiths, who was able to draw three shots past short bowls to gain a brilliant 20-18 win for him and his partner.

In the open pairs, there were wins for Cogbill and Greenslade, Phil and Mat Gershenson and Holmes and McLeod, who gained victory over Clarke and Woodcock in another closely fought encounter.

The rinks competition produced comfortable wins for fours skipped by Dick Cowling, Brian Griffiths and Dave Mason, while the rink of Ken McLeod enjoyed an excellent 20-16 win over Martin Clarke’s four.

The Sully team return to league action this Saturday against Taff Ely at Pontypridd. There are two sessions, with three rinks playing from 10am-2pm and three (2-6pm). All players are requested to confirm availability by Thursday, December 5.