Man-down Bangor battle back but fail to take spoils
BANGOR City derived limited satisfaction from a 7-5 defeat at Penmaenmawr A in the North Wales Coast Bowls League’s top flight – after a stirring revival had averted a complete wipe-out.
Handicapped from the outset by being a team member short, and having to concede that game 21-0, City then suffered early body blows when they lost the first five games.
That was when captain Andy Price’s battlers rallied to the cause and took the final five games to achieve parity at 5-5 by the end of the enthralling Division A contest.
But the problem was the team had conceded too many points en route and, with the aggregates declared at 180-148 for the hosts, they missed out on the bonus and Penmaenmawr A claimed victory overall.
Llanfairpwll went down 8-4 at regular highfliers Rhos Park A, after trailing 4-6 in games and 152-186 points, with Geraint Booth resisting at 21-9.
Beaumaris A were very much second best at Blaenau Ffestiniog, where they crashed 10-2, and their only solo winner of note was Barry Harris on 21-6.
Division B: Caernarfon 8 (Eiddon Jones 21-7) Benllech 4 (Dennis Taylor 21-8); Dyserth 9 Bethesda 3 (Richard Jones 21-11).
Division C: Beaumaris B 8 (Brian Begley 21-5, David Graves and Mike Ormond both 21-9) Eirias Park 4; Old Colwyn 8 Holyhead 4 (Dan Rossington 21-7).
Llanfairpwll broke their duck at last, at the eighth attempt, in the Welsh Counties League, when they achieved a welcome 6-4 result over visitors Abergele.
The games were shared at 4-4 and captain Geraint Booth’s hosts, languishing at the foot of the table, earned the bonus to gain overall victory, because of the 153-142 points’ aggregates.
The home team’s four individual winners were Booth himself on 21-13, John Evans 21-14, Gary Buckland 21-15 and Dylan Williams 21-16.
Beaumaris finished second best in a tight tussle at Min-y-Don, the scoreline being 7-3. Beau’s three solo successes were all 21-15 – Barry Harris, Stuart Thomas and Ryan Short. After six straight wins, reigning champions Llangefni experienced defeat for the first time this season in the Anglesey/Bangor and District League’s Monday Division, when they crashed 7-3 at Holyhead.
The hosts’ Bob Cuthbertson and Dave Jones excelled at 21-8 in the pairs.
Other results: Benllech 2 Criccieth 8, Caernarfon 8 Academi Llanfair 2 (Keith Bailey 21-9), Llanfairpwll 3 ( John Evans 21-9) Beaumaris 7 (Arfon Jones and Dave Mathias 21-5 in the pairs), Menai Bridge 1 Bangor City 9 (Hefin Jones 21-6, Gwerydd Buckland 21-7, Gary Buckland 21-9).
The Anglesey/Bangor and District League’s Monday and Wednesday Divisions will stage a combined pairs’ competition, for members from registered clubs only, at Caernarfon’s green on Sunday, June 17.
In previous seasons, the divisions had separate knockouts.
Play will start at noon and the organiser is Hannah Williams-Jones, who is receiving entries on 07775 325275.
Beaumaris A claimed a prized scalp in the Gwynedd Seniors League when they beat last season’s champions Llandudno A by a 7-2 score to open up a six-points lead on their rivals in the Division A title race.
The Castle hosts featured David T Evans as their best solo performer with 21-6, backed up by Arfon Jones and Dave Mathias on 21-8 in the pairs.
Also in Division A: Benllech 7 (Gwyn Owen 21-9) Criccieth 2, Conwy 7 Llanrwst 2, Dinas Criccieth 7 Beaumaris B 2, Llanfairpwll A 1 Craig-y-Don A 8.
Division B: Caernarfon 8 Gwyngyll 1, Craig-yDon B 7 Peibio 2, Craig-y-Don C 3 Bethesda 6, Dwygyfylchi A 9 Llanfairfechan A 0.
Benllech Bowls Club’s green will be the venue for the resumed Welsh Junior Individual Merit Championship on Sunday, July 1, following the abandonment of the original event, after incessant rain had caused waterlogging.
The competition features 24 of the top under-18s’ bowlers from across the North Wales region, including several hopefuls from local clubs, and progress had been made towards the quarter-finals’ stage when officials were forced to call a halt.