ON Saturday, September 1, Sully Sports Men’s Bowls team hosted second placed Llantrisant, in the PG1 Div 3, and by the end of the afternoon, the visitors’ comfortable 100-58 victory, winning on all 4 rinks, gave them the maximum 14 points, which almost guarantees their promotion.

The four home rinks each won only 8 ends, which made any hope of gaining any points very difficult.

Bob Matthews’ rink were 8 shots down after only 3 ends, and though they managed to get back into the game, they never managed more than 2 shots on ends that they won, and the Llantrisant rink notched up multiple scores of 3 or more shots, to outscore the Sports 30-11.

Graham Brown’s rink held were in front early on, the lead then changed 4 times, before starting the 15th end with the scores level at 15-15, on which the visitors grabbed 5 shots, and saw off the Sports slight revival with a 2, and a 3, on the final two ends, for a 27-18 win.

Keith Romans’ rink took the lead on the 2nd end, held it comfortably until the 13th, then on the 14th they conceded 6 shots to go behind 12-14, a blow they did not recover from, and they eventually lost 16-24.

Lee Romans’ rink were slow off the mark, and found themselves down 10-2 after 8 ends, when at last they found their form to take the next 5 ends and lead 11-10 after 13 ends.

What the Sports could do so could Llantrisant, and they then took the next 5 ends to lead 17-11 after 18 ends. Both sides then chalked up 2 shots each, to give the visitors a 19-13 win.

Rink Scores:

R Knight, D Austin, C Coomber, B Matthews 11-30;

R Giddings, A Thompson, A Collard, G Brown 18-27;

M Stafford, P Holland, B Whyman, K Romans 16-24;

M Morgan, L Adams, G Currie, L Romans 13-19.

For their final game of the season (the friendly due on 15th Sept has been cancelled as Barry Central cannot raise a team), the Sully Sports made the short trip to Penarth in the PG1s, and it turned out a quite an exciting finale. Both sides took 2 rink wins, but Penarth, never behind on aggregate took the overall victory by 79-68 shots.

Keith Romans’ rink were 11-0 down after 5 ends, and 14-2 in arrears after 9 ends, but a courageous fightback, winning 8 of the remaining 12 ends, was not sufficient as the home side scored 6 shots in the closing stages to re-open the gap and run out 23-15 winners.

Graham Brown’s rink started brightly leading 5-1 after only 3 ends, then lost 5 of the next 6 ends to trail 13-6, and although they won most of the remaining ends, they were mainly by a single shot, whereas Penarth took 2s and 3s on their winning ends, so held on to win 23-17.

Alan Collard’s rink lost the opening end by 4 shots, were level after 3 ends and at 6 ends, nudge in front and slowly built up a 18-12 lead with 2 ends left.

Penarth took a shot on the penultimate end, leaving themselves to score 5 shots for a drawer, or 6 for a win, on the last, but the Sports rink, with the advantage of the last wood, although losing the end, kept the margin down to 3 shots, and took a close 18-16 win.

The most dramatic rink, and last to finish by some time, was skipped by Lee Romans, Sully Sports and C Fry, Penarth.

The Sports took a shot on the 1st end, but were down 4-9 after 9 ends, tied the scores with 5 shots on the 10th end, and a 10-9 lead on the 11th. Penarth retook the lead to be up 16-11 after 16 ends, and were 17-13 up with 3 ends remaining. The Sports took 3 shots on the 19th, and a single on a highly contested penultimate end as both teams bowled their hearts out. The scores level, tension high, the final end had plenty of drama, and excitement, and eventually the Sports prevailed with a shot to win the rink 18-17.

Rink Scores:

L Adams, B Gist, B Whyman, K Romans 15-23;

B Knight, M Stafford, B Matthews, G Brown 17-23;

A Fitt, D Austin, G Currie, A Collard 18-16;

M Morgan, A Thompson, C Coomber, L Romans 18-17.

With the outdoor season over, attention turns to Finals Day, AGM and the Annual Dinner.

The Club’s (Ladies & Men) Finals Day is on Sunday, 16th September, starting mid-morning.

The Men’s AGM will take place at 6.30pm, in the Bowls Pavilion, on Monday, 24th Sept, and the Annual Dinner in the Indoor Clubhouse, 7pm for 7:30pm, on Friday, 5th October.

With the Ladies’ League season over, all eyes were on Sylvia Phillips and Mary Dare, whom having won the Glamorgan Pairs Div 3, recently played the Finals at the Rhoose Bowls Club.

Sylvia and Mary had he hardest of drawers for the semi-final being paired against the Cardiff Club pair of Debbie Jones and Pam John.

The match was entertaining and of a good quality, and with the scores level 7 all at the halfway point, it was anyone’s game, but it was the Cardiff duo who really found their touch in the remaining ends to secure 25-11 win, which was, in truth, not a fair reflection on how well Sylvia and Mary had performed.