STAR BOWLERS ARE HONOURED
THE Llanelli and District Bowling League has honoured a number of its members for their achievements in the sport.
The award of honorary life membership, by custom, has been reserved for those who have been at the highest level of the game such as competing in World Bowls Championships or the Commonwealth Games
Last week, life membership awards were formally presented to Chris Spriggs of Havelock Park Bowls Club for his participation in the Commonwealth Para Bowls, and to Mrs Tracey Williams, widow of the late Dylan Williams, who passed away after his selection for the Wales Para Bowls Team for the same event.
Further formal awards will be made later in the year to brothers John and David Phillips, of Gorseinon Bowls Club, who have both acted as technical officials at Commonwealth Games level.
In the Llanelli & District League matches, a number of matters were finalised over the weekend.
However, there is still so much to play for in the Premier division as we approach the final games to be played this Saturday and Sunday.
In division two, Cross Hands are confirmed as champions and will be promoted along with Cwmaman, whose single-rink win at home to Blue Anchor secured sufficient points to go up.
They will be replaced by Parc William and Ty’rfran from division one after just a single season at the higher level, where they may well have gained valuable experience.
Going up to the Premier division will be Dafen Welfare and Tybie.
Dafen played in the highest level in 2021, only to be relegated at the end of that season.
They have bounced back, much to the delight of club secretary Gwylon Jones, who will also be serving as county president next year.
This may also be Tybie’s first experience of the top level of local bowling.
The fight for the league title and relegation from the Premier division comes down to the last games of the year.
At the top are Graig Merthyr, Loughor and Ammanford Park. All three took maximum points in their Saturday games but Graig regained the top spot in the division by having 12 more points at Ammanford Park on Sunday in a rearranged game.
There is no doubt that when the two meet again at Coedbach this Saturday, Park will pull out all the stops in a final attempt to win the league.
Watching closely will be Loughor, who host 2021 champions Kidwelly Town on Sunday.
Having failed to take any points last Saturday, Kidwelly remain in the danger zone for relegation. A visit to Havelock Park this Saturday might clear them away, but nothing is guaranteed.
Also in the mix for relegation are Brynhyfryd and Llanelli. In two games last weekend Brynhyfryd only secured a total of two points, and a visit to Parc y Dre this weekend will not be easy.
Llanelli are away at Burry Port, who have failed to win any of their games this year, but could well have a sting in their tail for their final game.
RESULTS
Premier div: Brynhyfryd 58 (0)(14) 108 Loughor; Graig Merthyr 131 (14)-(0) 41 Burry Port; Ammanford Park 96 (14)-(0) 51 Kidwelly Town; Havelock Park 72 (4)-(10) 99 Parc y Dre; Ammanford Park 64 (2)-(12) 86 Graig Merthyr; Brynhyfryd 52 (2)(12) 84 Havelock Park
Div 1: Carmarthen 67 (4)-(10) 77 Gorseinon; Gorseinon 55.5 (2)-(12) 63 Dafen Welfare; Carmarthen 90 (140-(0) 28 Parc William; Tybie 97 (14)-(0) 59 Ty’rfran; Crusaders 73 (11)-(3) 63 Gowerton
Div 2: Cwmaman 73 (8)-(6) 71 Blue Anchor; Llandeilo 52 (2)-(12) 71 Llangennech & Bryn; Cross Hands 89 (10)-(4) 46 Ammanford Town
SATURDAY FIXTURES
Premier div: Burry Port v Llanelli; Graig Merthyr v Ammanford Park; Havelock Park v Kidwelly Town
Div 1: Ty’rfran v Crusaders; Parc William v Gowerton; Gorseinon v Calsonic Wanderers; Tybie v Carmarthen
Div 2: Blue Anchor v Pontarddulais
SUNDAY FIXTURES
Premier div: Loughor v Kidwelly Town