BOWLS LEAGUE
CAERAU Welfare triumphed 77-64 at Griffin Park last week in Division Two to move to within five points of leaders Mount Pleasant, writes Tony Poole.
The Riverboaters steamed to victory on the back of skip Keith Llewellyn carding a 24-16 win.
Up into fourth position went Kenfig Hill, who defeated Aberavon at home 78-55 with skip Adrian Spanswick gaining a timely 21-8 success.
And in the same division, Maesteg Celtic made it two wins from as many starts via a 66-52 win over Croeserw at Garth Park.
But newly-promoted Prince of Wales Hawks failed to gain lift off at Mount Pleasant, losing 68-61.
However, the Hawks did ruffle the feathers of the league leaders, and flew home with four points from two rink wins.
In Division Three, Maesteg gained only a second victory of the summer, triumphing 65-59 over visiting Bridgend Municipal with skip Derrick Lloyd a 23-13 winner.
But Bridgend went under, 72-62, at Port Talbot Ynys while Caerau Athletic suffered an 83-57 setback against Tyn-y-Twr in Baglan.
Division Four leaders Aberkenfig pulled off another grand win, as BP Llandarcy Tankers ran out of fuel in a 77-61 loss.
Skip Gerald Phillips led the way with a 26-14 victory and Aberkenfig now head closest challengers Bryncoch by a sweet 16 points.
In Division Five, Cefn Cribwr drove to a 6250 win at BP Llandarcy Oilers to go fourth, but newcomers Pencoed lost out to high-flying opponents in the form of Prince of Wales Court Eagles.
The Eagles were landed with a 67-59 away victory that lifted them into third place – skip Trevor Deeble handed in a 19-11 winning card.
Meanwhile, two competitions have reached the last-16 stage with pairings in the Nefyn Lane Singles as follows: Lee Haymer (Pontrhydyfen) v Keith Draisey (Griffin Park), Lyn Guttridge (Prince of Wales Court Hawks) v Chris Preece (Melyn Borough), Elwyn Phillips (Prince of Wales Court Eagles) v Gerald Phillips (Aberkenfig), Andy Donaldson (Maesteg Celtic) v Graham Goodridge (Aberavon Liberal Club Do’s), Alan Furnell (Croeserw) v Bob Rees (Taibach), Gerald Cherrett (Brynhyfryd) v Alun Morris (Aberavon), Robert Hughes (Briton Ferry Steel) v Duncan Rees (Maesteg). Bye: Phil Morgan (Briton Ferry Steel Combine).
In the Emrys Beer Triples Trophy ties read: Bridgend Municipal v Briton Ferry Steel, Aberavon Liberal Club Do’s v Prince of Wales Court Hawks, Port Talbot Ynys v Caerau Athletic, Bryn Welfare v Gwynfi, Caerau Welfare v Aberkenfig, Croeserw v Taibach, Llansawel v Brynhyfryd, Aberavon v Pencoed. RESULTS Division One: Bryn Welfare 73 (14) Pontrhydyfen 58 (0), Llansawel 55 (5) Briton Ferry Steel 64 (9), Skewen 77 (14) TRW Cam Gears 51 (0), Taibach 61 (4) Gwynfi 64 (10). Division Two: Griffin Park 64 (2) Caerau Welfare 77 (12), Kenfig Hill 78 (12) Aberavon 55 (2), Maesteg Celtic 66 (12) Croeserw 52 (2), Mount Pleasant 68 (10) Prince of Wales Court Hawks 61 (4). Division Three: Aberavon Liberal Club Do’s 89 (14) Tata Steel 60 (0), Maesteg 65 (11) Bridgend Municipal 59 (3), Port Talbot Municipal 46 (0) Tata Steel 71 (14), Port Talbot Ynys 72 (13) Bridgend 62 (1), Tyn-y-Twr 83 (10) Caerau Athletic 57 (4). Division Four: Aberkenfig 77 (12) BP Llandarcy Tankers 61 (2), Brynhyfryd 78 (10) Bryncoch 60 (4), Cwmavon 51 (2) Tyn-y-Twr Badgers 67 (12), Cymmer 96 (14) Melyn Borough 37 (0). Division Five: BP Llandarcy Oilers 50 (2) Cefn Cribwr 62 (12), Briton Ferry Steel Combine 61 (4) Briton Ferry Town 68 (10), Melyn United 84 (12) Aberavon Liberal Club Don’ts 51 (2), Pencoed 59 (2) Prince of Wales Court Eagles 67 (12).