Bowls: Poor weather fails to dampen Royal’s spirits

Apr 24 2008 Rhymney Valley Express

Rhymney Royal BC 66 New Tredegar BC 35

RHYMNEY Royal bowlers enjoyed an early-season boost with this 31-shot victory over neighbours New Tredegar in the traditional opening friendly fixture of the 2008 campaign.

With rain threatening and a cold wind swirling around the War Memorial Park, these were not the best conditions for a game of bowls, but both teams tried their best to make it as entertaining as possible.

Rhymney Royal, with father-and-son debutantes Ray and Julian Evans in their ranks, opened brightly with acting captain Adrian Jenkins skipping a rink of R Evans, C Patten and D Morgan.

They soon established an 11-2 lead after six ends against the visiting rink of Gary Lough. They extended this to 17-4 to finally win 24-4 after the game was shortened to 16 ends due to the deteriorating weather conditions.

Last season’s captain Peter Cosh, with his rink of G Morris, N Protheroe and D Lynch, also built up an early lead against Brian Brown’s bowlers.

Although the visitors pulled back to 9-6, it was the home rink that ran out 18-7 victors with some accurate bowling in worsening conditions.

The Royal rink skippered by D Hann had their work cut out against Archie Holpin’s bowlers. Although building up an early 6-2 lead, the visitors pulled back to 8-8 after 12 ends, only to succumb to a single-shot defeat at 10-9 in this truncated game.

Debutante skip Julian Evans, with I Prosser, W Dearth and C O’Brien, battled well against Gary Hook and his rink. Finding themselves 4-1 down, they stuck to their task and established a 14-9 advantage after 12 ends, only to see victory snatched from them, again by a single shot, at 15-14 on the last end.

Although the weather made bowling difficult, full credit must be given to all bowlers for making this friendly such an entertaining game.