Sportsline

THIRD WIN FOR JAMES

Cardigan postman Kevin James collected his third County Singles title last night when he defeated Aberystwyth rival and fellow postie Ian Pugh.

James a former British Isles and Welsh singles champion opened up a healthy lead early on and never looked to be in trouble ending the match 11 shots ahead at 21-10.

This was never a classic final as both players struggled at times to find their weight especially bowling away from the sea on the very lush looking New Quay green with the woods pulling up very quickly and making it very difficult to achieve consistency especially under the shadows of the clubhouse and overhanging trees.

James though was the more consistent with his immaculate delivery paying rich dividends and Pugh was on the back foot for most of the game and forced to try a succession of heavy shots he didn’t really want to play on a tricky rink.

The Plascrug man eventually found more consistency with his weight and came back midway to close the gap to just eight shots at 18-10 but James pulled away with a two and on the next end when just needing one shot to become champion of Ceredigion he drew his opening wood to just behind the jack and despite the efforts of Pugh the speckled lime bowl of James remained rooted to the spot at the end to clinch the win.

James joins a select band of bowlers to have won this title at least three times and follows in the footsteps of Aeron Thomas of Aberystwyth, Ron Williams of Newcastle Emlyn, Jeff Edwards of Lampeter and Paul Wright, Rhun Owens Gwynant Ellis and Rowland Salmon, all of Aberystwyth BC.

The senior pairs title was claimed by the Lampeter duo of Emlyn Dudley and Lewis Williams who defeated the New Quay pair of Neil Immins and Graham Rees by 18-15.

New Quay were more fortunate in the Senior Triples as their triumvirate of Dennis Thomas, Dave Rees and John G. Evans comfortably beat Roger Dimmack, Edward Sandford and Brian Davies of Queens Road by 16-7, with skip Evans in particular playing some crucial turnover bowls.

Tonight the Cardigan rink of Kazi Lorenz, Andrew Wilson, Mike Williams and Paul Edwards will meet the Lampeter foursome of Aled Roberts, Emlyn Dudley, Emyr Thomas and skip Nick Randell.

In the Senior Rinks final Tregaron will be represented by Will Jones, John Powell, John Lewis and skip Gareth Jones and they will play the New Quay quartet of Dennis Thomas, Dave Rees, Neil Immins and Graham Rees.

In the under 18 singles Hari Butten of Lampeter takes on Iwan Davies of New Quay