Beaumaris win risky race against clock
AN audacious bid by Beaumaris A to cram three matches into less than 72 hours paid off handsomely when they won all three – two away from home – and piled up 26 points in the North Wales Coast Bowls League.
In the process, captain Keith Bailey’s men enhanced their Division A title challenge with the huge rewards from the fixtures’ catch-up, prompted by recent postponements.
Beaumaris A opened their triumphs at Blaenau Ffestiniog on Thursday, then dominated at home to Colwyn Bay Legion on Friday and completed the hat-trick with a bold snatch on the Rhos Park B green on Saturday.
Summary: Blaenau Ffestiniog 4 Beaumaris A 8 (Keith Bailey 21-5, Barry Harris 21-6); Beaumaris A 11 (Barry Harris 21-4, Keith Bailey 21-6) Colwyn Bay Legion 1; Rhos Park B 5 Beaumaris A 7 (Adam Harris 21-8, Stuart Thomas 21-9).
Bangor City emerged as dramatic 8-4 winners over visitors Llanrwst A, with last-man Gwerydd Buckland producing a crucial 21-12 card.
At one stage late on, the rivals were level at 4-4 in games, and Llanrwst were seven points ahead in the team totals, but then City’s Jesse Buckland delivered a 21-18 score, followed by his uncle Gwerydd faring even better.
Having improved to secure a 6-4 lead in games, Bangor also forged in front by 182-177 points to clinch the bonus and overall victory.
An earlier highlight had been when City’s John Short overcame Llanrwst’s Michael Pritchard - clashing as the division’s top two unbeaten performers after 10 wins each - by a resounding 21-7 margin.
In Division B, Llanfairpwll celebrated one of their finest displays and results of the season in winning 9-3 against Llandudno A on their own green at The Oval in the showdown between the top two title contenders.
The Anglesey villagers, who remain a close second to the Seasiders, featured special efforts by captain Geraint Booth at 21-3 and Gavin Davies 21-4.
Other Division B results: Beaumaris B 7 (Allan Caughter and David Graves both 21-6) Benllech 5 (Owain P Williams 21-6); Fron Park 8 Bethesda 4.
Division C: St Asaph B 9 Holyhead 3 ( John Prosser 21-7, four losses 20-21).
Beaumaris and Llanfairpwll swapped places in the Welsh Counties’ Bowls League’s bottom half – they are now ninth and 10th, just one point apart – after the latest outings, which brought contrasting results.
At the Castle green, captain Adam Harris’s team outperformed Llanrwst 7-3 and highlighted big solo successes by John Short on 21-6 and Keith Bailey and Stuart Thomas both 21-7,
But Llanfairpwll were slammed 8-2 at Broughton, where the away side’s only winners, Geraint Booth and Gary Buckland, just made it by 21-20 apiece.