TAFF ELY BOWLS

A THREE-DAY programme of club finals took place at the home of the Taff Ely indoor bowls club at the historic venue of the Goods Yard Stadium during the final week of 2016.

Peter Andrei with a vast amount of many years experience clashed with his rival opponent Alan Malkin in the climax of the event in the over-60s club singles championship with a large amount of support that gathered in the stadium to witness an entertaining performance. Andrei who ousted Malkin in the club’s Open Championship at the end of last season’s competition continued his recent in-form dominance that had Malkin under pressure throughout this intriguing final. Such was the cool and collective performance from Andrei that left Malkin at no time to take the lead during the encounter. With the score 6-5 after 8 ends of play the large supporting crowd settled to what was becoming a hard fought battle between the contenders to claim the Champion title. With the score at 11-9 at 15 ends a triple scored by Andrei which at the time the highest amount of shots gained. Completing 20 ends Andrei looked set to claim the title with another triple only to find his opponent just sneaking his last bowl to survive after a measure was taken. Andrei now with just one shot to earn for claiming the honours saw his opponent gain a full house of shots to 20-15. Lifted by the count of 4 shots which gave Malkin a glimmer of hope for a late rally only to see Andrei deliver a “killer” drawing front “toucher” bowl which Malkin had to disturb to force another end. Although Malkin “rocked” the target bowl it was not sufficient enough to force another end giving Andrei a deserving second claim of the over-60s championship title.

With both Andrei and Malkin achieving to reach three finals events out of the scheduled amount of four competitions, Andrei with his pairs support from Mark Thomas who is proving to be a much gained experienced asset to his club, and with a tremendous amount of passion for his sport – playing in the skip position performed to a high standard of play, helped with another highly polished display from Andrei, ousting their opponents who could not settle into the encounter leaving Bryn Roberts and Howard Pullin who have achieved fine performances recently, only to fall by the wayside at the final hurdle.

Achieving the pairs honours and the singles championship title Andrei seeking his third success in the “Fours” along with Aldwyn David, Tom Cannon and Reg Rand ironically facing their op- ponents which included his defeated opponent singles contestant Alan Malkin, with support from Dave Randell, Jack Griffiths and John Powel. In this final, the encounter developed into an unorthodox pattern of scoring, whereby Rand and co collected 4 shots on the opening end, whilst Malkin and co scored a single and two doubles to lead 5-4. On the 6th end Rand and co doubled their scoring with another count of 4 shots to lead once again 8-6.

By the 15th end Rand and co gained a single with another count of 4 shots for the stadium’s electronic scoreboard to state 5 shots adrift with their opponents adding a further 12 shots which included two triples. With a single gained by each team on the next two ends a count of 5 shots from Malkin and co dented the prospect of Rand and co to seek their goal. A consolation single shot from Rand and co gave the honours to their opponents with both teams acknowledging each other’s rewarding play and the sporting atmosphere that continued throughout the encounter.

The over-50s triples event provided a close battle that saw Jim Smith, Tom Cannon and Reg Rand sharing the spoils at the half way stage of the 18 ends encounter 9-9 – against their rival opponents John Powell, Dave Randell and Alan Malkin.

Fast forwarding to the 14th end with the scores once again level at 11-11, the next end provided a disaster end for Malkin and co with Rand and co hitting their opponents for “six”. With just 3 ends to try to recover – Powell, Randell and Malkin although scoring five shots, could not contain a further triple added to the Rand team for them to lift the triples title.

Along side the mens event programme, the Taff Ely club held the mixed pairs competition, where a repeat of last year’s final took place with Lee Bridge and Sue Pitt once again retaining the trophy over their rivals Aldwyn David and Barbara Brown. Bridge and Pitt led the way forward throughout the encounter and with the score at 20-10 by the 18th end, David and Brown shocked their opponents by gaining six shots on the next two ends of play.

Bridge with his defensive play on the final end shrugged off the attacking force of the opposition to claim the reward of holding the mixed pairs title for another year.

The previous rounds leading to the final of the mixed pairs saw an amount of contestants participating in the competition including a family that only took up the game of bowls in the previous six to seven years. In that period the family has produced two internationals of which Lauren Gowen at the age of 13 years has achieved a great amount of success that a piece of furniture in her home houses several trophies that have been won. Lauren’s mum, Tracy, has gained full international honours and is in the national side for the New Year schedule.