TAFF ELY BOWLS CLUB
THE final fixture for the Taff Ely Bowls Club over60s in the National Championship East League occurred during midweek, where a keen side of 16 bowlers travelled to Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, in an attempt to finalise their programme with a win.
So although losing out in qualifying for the national play-offs, a thirdplace position in the league would be a consolation.
The afternoon encounter began in sparkling fashion as the Taff bowl- ers sprung into action building up a comfortable cushion of shots, with the Sophia Gardens electronic scoreboard showing an overall scoreline of 23 shots for the Taff club and 6 shots for the hosts after the four teams had completed three ends each. On completing 10 ends, Tony Hughes, a late replacement, settled down in the lead position and with the support of Jack Griffiths, Adrian Dash and skip Brian Stock raced into an 18-3 advantage of shots. In front with the score 16-9 was Mark Thomas, Gerry Edwards, Tom Cannon and Reg Rand – leading also with their score 12-8 were Charlie Gittens, Charlie Foulkes, Rob Richards and Howard Pullin. Whilst Ken Cullen, Colin Jones, Dave Randell and Alan Malkin in a locked position of 10 shots apiece. The determined bowlers from Pontypridd continued their first-half performance with Stock and co securing a gain of seven shots on the 14th end to jump up their score to read 26-5, only to witness a loss of six shots by Rand and co on the 15th end. Rand and co with six remaining ends to complete managed only a single to add to their tally to relinquish the two rink points to their hosts, as the home team added 15 shots during the second half of their battle. With a score 16-9 showing after 15 ends for Pullin and co adding two further singles, where their hosts in a last attempt to survive a loss added two triples, a double and a single to level the score to share the rink points. Trailing 1814 at 16 ends Malkin and co gained a bonus of four shots to level and with the hosts just adding a single – a strong finish from the Taff team adding a triple, double and a single to claim a further two rink points as well as an earned overall away victory, to claim a third position in the respective league and now await confirmation of the outstanding results from the other clubs to confirm that the third position will be intact. The Taff club will slip into fourth position should there be a late upset from the side below them. Although the Taff Ely club once again missed out on not qualifying for the national play-offs, captain Rob Richards expressed that the bowlers’ determination will endeavour to be maintained and a further attempt next season hopefully to be rewarded. Result Taff Ely 90 shots (11 points)
Cardiff points) 77 shots (3
With no National Championship East league fixture on the weekend, the Taff Ely club learnt that their second position in the league had been overtaken and that the Taff bowlers, having a game in hand over their rivals, will endeavour to reclaim their spot with a visit to Bridgend and a home tie against the Port Talbot club who have a 100% record of wins throughout the season.
The Taff Ely side against their visitors who are confirmed champions will endeavour to pressure their opponents on February 11 to seek to claim the runners-up position to the champions.
The club in the following weeks will start their open club competitions which will run to the close of the season and members are requested to observe the relevant notice board
for details of the schedule of events.
With successful events in recent seasons, the remaining weeks of this season promises to be as just rewarding, with the participants eager to reach their goal.