Bowls: St Asaph slip up at home to Rhos Park

Jun 10 2009 by Our Correspondent, Denbigh Visitor

IT was a quiet Saturday in the North Wales Coast Bowls League, but second-from-top in Section A St Asaph were disappointed to lose 8-6 at home to Rhos Park A.

Steve Lawley and Andy Bray both pulled off 21-12 wins to tip the verdict as Kris Fearnley 21-7 took Saints close. After sinking leaders Beaumaris 11-3 on the same green the previous week this was a disappointing outcome for expectant Asaph.

In Section B, Fron Park inflicted an 11-3 defeat on Rhuddlan while Denbigh A sank Conwy 10-4, but the matches at Bethesda and Dyserth were both rained off.

There were no fixtures in Sections C or D but a full programme will resume this Saturday.

VALE OF CLWYD MIDWEEK LEAGUE

Top blocks Dave Phillips 21-4 and David Trickett 21-8 swept reigning champions St Asaph to a 9-5 win at Abergele A to retain their five-point lead in Division A of the Vale of Clwyd League.

Second-placed rivals Sunny Rhyl matched their feat in like manner with a 9-5 victory at Old Colwyn to maintain the status quo.

Form pair Chris Slater 21-3 and Paul Walley 21-9 won well for Rhyl while struggling bottom club Meliden A emerged welcome 9-5 winners at Kinmel Bay A. Meliden were well served by Brian Searle 21-7, with Les Caddick 21-8 unable to save the Bay.

Single-figure performances from Aled Roberts 21-8 and Les Capper and Alan Evans, both 21-9, sealed a 9-5 verdict for Rhuddlan A over Copperfields, who drop to joint bottom, while Martin Svilis 21-5 earned Denbigh A a 7-7 draw at Trefnant A.

Norman Withers 21-3 and Bill Glazier 21-6 helped Highbury to an 11-3 success over Bryn Newydd in their Division B derby, while Brian Godsill 21-5 and Bryant Merrick 21-9 steered Grove Park to a 12-2 win over Trefnant B.

Llysfaen go third after their 9-5 win at St Asaph B to displace their beaten hosts, Peter Hayes 21-9 unable to avert the leap-frog.

Tommy Wynne 21-3 and John Blair 21-6 helped unbeaten Rhyl A to a 9-5 win at Denbigh B but their Division C promotion rivals East Parade A went two better by routing Grove Park 11-3 for their sixth consecutive success.

Dot Ford 21-6 and Margaret Jones 21-8 shaded an 8-6 win for Rhyl B over Kinmel Bay B, Ron Roberts 21-6 responding.

WELSH COUNTIES LEAGUE

Title hopefuls Sunny Rhyl let their Welsh Counties Super League challenge slip as they fell to a disappointing 7-3 defeat at third-from-bottom Cunliffe.

Playing on an unfamiliar green, top block Neale Charlton had no problems in racing to a 21-10 win.

However, only consistent Chris Rimmer 21-17 and returning Steve Hipwell 21-19 followed his example as Rhyl trailed 149-136 on the aggregate to dip to fifth position, 13 points behind the leaders.

Jason Jones was unlucky to be edged out 21-19 with Trevor Heath falling 21-17, Andy Jones 21-14, Paul Whalley 21-13 and Kris Charlton 21-10. Now Whalley will be looking to restore Rhyl’s championship credentials when they meet lowly Llanfairpwll this week.

Meanwhile, St Asaph fell further off the pace after going down 8-2 at Llanrwst. Scott Parry 21-11 and Lewis Scott 21-20 were Saints’ only winners in a 157-111 aggregate deficit.

POINTS AND PLACINGS: Gresford 56, Esclusham 56, Llay 44, Llanrwst 44, Sunny Rhyl 43, Deganwy Roofing 39, St Asaph 39, Beaumaris 38, Colwyn Bay RBL 36, Cunliffe 34, Llanfairpwll 29, Rhos Park 22.