Barry Athletic bowlers earn two‑team promotion across East Wales divisions

Barry Athletic bowlers are celebrating a double success, with both their Private Greens East Wales League teams winning promotion.

The first team clinched it with a game to spare, but the A team, having finished their fixtures, had a nervous two weeks plus waiting on other results before they knew they were going up.

The first team closed out the season with a five-game winning streak, including winning three matches in eight days. But the A team, after finishing their fixtures on August 20, endured a nail-biting spell, particularly on the last day of the season, more than two weeks later, as they waited for other results to come in.

Athletic’s first team, in Division 3, finished second seven points behind Dinas Powys, winning nine of their 12 games, and 16 points ahead of Ystradfechan.

The A team, in Division 6, were second to runaway winners Caerphilly Town, who finished on 162 points. Athletic won seven and lost seven to post 107 points, one point ahead of also promoted Ely Valley, two ahead of Sully Sports, and five ahead of Whitchurch Hospital, the latter pair just missing out.

“This year has seen the most exciting games of bowls I’ve ever played in,” said first team captain Scott Howell. “We were miles down, but we had games to play, and we had to play three of the sides above us in eight days. We won all three 12-2.

“Our last defeat was at Ystradfechan at the end of June. They had the points on the board, and we had to catch them. But if we hadn’t beaten Ystradfechan on the Friday night (at Barry) we wouldn’t have gone up.

“We went from one down to seven up on the last end against Ystradfechan. The following day against Dinas Powys we were three up and managed to win by seven. (It all came) down the last ends.” Barry’s largely homegrown squad have “got a winning habit,” said Howell. “We know how to win. We’re a second half team, we come strong at the end.”

Athletic played Whitchurch and Rhiwbina back-to-back, winning both, with the victory over Whitchurch ensuring promotion. “Whitchurch on the Saturday was a close game, we only won by seven shots. The last three home games have all been won by seven shots.”

Albert Mintern, patron of the League, frequently found his A team losing players to fill a gap in the first team. “We started off quite well, but midway through had a sticky spell. But then towards the end we started to pick up points. I felt we were going to get promotion, and I was hoping we would achieve second or third spot.

“August 20 was our final game, at Rhiwbina.We then had to rely on other teams for their results. Ely Valley had to get 11 points to overtake us, and Whitchurch Hospital five. Sully couldn’t overtake us.”

He watched the first team playing Whitchurch. “The last Saturday was a nail-biter. I was watching the first team and kept looking at the website to see other scores. About 8.45pm we found we had achieved promotion.

“This year we were short of players, but happily the Ladies helped in the league. Greatly appreciated, and without them we couldn’t have done this.”