GRAIG STORM TO TITLE GLORY

GRAIG Merthyr are the new champions of the Llanelli and District Bowling League.

It is a massive achievement for the Coedbach Park-based team, who had not won a divisional trophy for 30 years. That was when they topped the second division of a four-division league structure.

Since then, they have progressed to the top flight of local bowls and have established themselves as contenders for silverware.

Boasting a number of current and former international players and national competition winners, they have proved themselves worthy champions after a close battle with Loughor, who had led the way for most of the year.

On Saturday afternoon they required 12 of the 14 available points to guarantee taking the title, a task made more difficult by having to play Ammanford Park, who were also within a whisker of becoming champions if they could win the match.

Also in the mix were Loughor who had one remaining match which was at home to 2021 champions Kidwelly Town, which was scheduled for Sunday.

If Park could defeat Graig, then a Loughor win would see them retake top spot, in itself such a fantastic achievement as they had only returned to the Premier division this year following relegation in 2019.

Graig, however, were not to be denied and will remain a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.

Meanwhile, Brynhyfryd were relegated to division one following their loss at Parc y Dre, while Llanelli narrowly defeated Burry Port. It meant Port failed to win any of their matches on their first season in the top flight.

Dafen Welfare go back up to the Premier division next year as champions of division one. They will be joined by Tybie, whose final match against Carmarthen gained them 12 points and 17 shots, leaving them with an identical record to that of Dafen.

The teams were separated by the overall shot difference for the whole season, which Dafen held the advantage at the close by just seven-and-a-quarter shots.

Ty’rfran and Parc William return to division two after just one year and they will be replaced by Cross Hands and Cwmaman, with Cross Hands going up as champions.

RESULTS

Premier division: Burry Port 72 (4)-(10) 77 Llanelli; Graig Merthyr 95 (12)-(2) 57 Ammanford Park; Havelock Park 80 (4)-(10) 82 Kidwelly Town; Parc y Dre 105 (12)(2) 55 Brynhyfryd; Loughor 79 (12)-(2) 66 Kidwelly Town.

Division one: Ty’rfran 66 (2)(12) 100 Crusaders; Parc William 64 (3)-(11) 94 Gowerton; Gorseinon 52 (0)-(14) 80 Calsonic Wanderers; Tybie 89 (12)-(2) 72 Carmarthen.

Division two: Blue Anchor 87 (12)-(2) 66 Pontarddulais.