ANCHOR PAIR CLAIM CROWN
CLIVE Hopkins and Jonathan Williams won the Arthur Cambrey Memorial Mixed Pairs tournament at Llanelli Bowling Club.
The event attracted a total of 24 bowlers. Heavy rain forced organiser Brian Richards to rejig the format and it looks set to remain as a oneday competition in the future.
Players initially competed in a round-robin group stage, with the qualifiers going through to the knockout part of the competition and eventually producing a keenly contested final between Hopkins and Williams of Blue Anchor Bowls Club, who defeated Tony Hancock and Ken Bowen of Calsonic Wanderers.
The trophies and prizes were presented by Alison Cambrey.
In the Llanelli & District Bowling League, Loughor have been confirmed as division one champions following their home win against promotion-chasing Gorseinon and will return to the Premier division next year.
Dafen Welfare have taken over second place after a maximum-points win against Gowerton. The remaining promotion place will be decided at Llethri Road as Dafen and Gorseinon visit Calsonic Wanderers.
Burry Port secured their place in the division with a home win against Tumble who will now be relegated to division two, along with Ammanford Town.
In the Premier division, the fight for survival continues and Llanelli all but secured their place with a 12-point win at home to Brynhyfryd on Saturday, meaning that Brynhyfryd are certain to be relegated.
Llanelli’s survival was dependent on other results, one being the clash between Blue Anchor and champions Kidwelly Town at Penclawdd on Sunday.
Blue Anchor only managed to take four points in that match, even though Kidwelly were playing without a full team, leaving Llanelli safe.
Carmarthen are also in contention to go down and they face Kidwelly at St Peter’s this Saturday needing just two points to stay up. However, a maximum-points win for both Kidwelly and Blue Anchor will see Carmarthen relegated instead of Blue Anchor.
Division two will go down to the wire with Llangennech & Bryn, New Lodge, Tybie and Cross Hands all in with a chance of the two promotion places. New Lodge fought out a winning draw against Llangennech & Bryn on Saturday and Llangennech end their season with a home game against Tybie on Saturday.
Cross Hands have a great chance at home to Llandeilo on Saturday, while New Lodge host Dafen Welfare Crusaders in their final match of the year.
The Welsh Private Greens held the finals of their individual competitions at Bridgend Municipal Bowls Club. In the Triples final, Llanelli’s Mark Ashcroft, Byron Wilkins and Bob Murawski faced Carmarthen’s Ivan Brooks, Morlais Richards and T. Wyn Davies, defeating them by five shots.
Llanelli & District Bowling League results: Premier division – Graig Merthyr 81 (12)-(2) 67 Carmarthen; Llanelli 80 (12)-(2) 64 Brynhyfryd; Havelock Park 76 (10)-(4) 73 Blue Anchor; Blue Anchor 74 (4)-(10) 77.75 Kidwelly Town.
Division one – Loughor 86 (11)-(3) 75 Gorseinon; Dafen Welfare 89 (14)(0) 63 Gowerton; Calsonic Wanderers 91 (12)-(2) 53.25 Ammanford Town; Burry Port 76 (10)-(4) 70.5 Tumble.
Division two – Ty’rfran 86 (12)-(2) 46.25 Parc William; Llandeilo 75.5 (12)-(2) 69 Cwmaman; New Lodge 81 (8)-(6) 81 Llangennech & Bryn.
Fixtures: Wednesday – Premier division: Graig Merthyr v Parc y Dre
Saturday – Premier division: Brynhyfryd v Blue Anchor; Ammanford Park v Parc y Dre; Carmarthen v Kidwelly Town.
Division one: Pontarddulais v Burry Port; Calsonic Wanderers v Dafen Welfare; Gorseinon v Ammanford Town.
Division two: Parc William v Cwmaman; Llangennech & Bryn v Tybie; Cross Hands v Llandeilo; New Lodge v Dafen Welfare Crusaders.