Barry Athletic Bowls Club enjoyed double success with both the men’s Senior Triples and Open Pairs crowned champions after tightly contested county finals.
The triples team of Scott Howell, Dave Townsend and Peter Rogers retained the trophy won the previous year, despite Rogers suffering an ankle injury shortly before the finish.
Their Vale of Glamorgan Bowls Association match at Maesteg, played for much of the time in rain, finished at 9.30pm as darkness fell.
“It was a wet and slippery Valleys’ night, my foot went over in a deep ditch, and my weight went on it,” said Rogers. “But the boys pulled me through, and I’m very grateful to them.”
If the injury had happened much earlier, the Athletic triples, who beat Pontycymmer 19-18 after an extra end, would have been forced to concede the match.
“We were in four county finals last year and only came away with one title,” said Rogers. “This year we’re one from one, so that’s a vast improvement."
“I’ve come off a wet and dark green on the unsuccessful end of things many times, so it’s nice to make the sacrifice and get something for it.”
The pairs team of Russell Harris and Paul Swannick, who beat Ely opponents 22-20 the following day, only came together at the start of the competition.
“Swanny had entered and was looking for a partner. I had a partner, but they left the club,” said Harris. “So it was suggested I partner Swanny. It turned out well. Very well.”
Harris had hopes of a double success, but later the same day, he was beaten 21-11 in the Open Singles, while Jack Killin was beaten 21-18 in the under-25 singles. Both Harris and Killin lost to Ely opponents.
Chris Whately, who rarely enters county competitions, lost a tight match 14-10 in the Two Wood Singles to Paul Hookings (Caerau).
“I’ll be replaying the game over missed opportunities,” he said. “But two wood hopefully will give me a good foundation for lead play over the next couple of years.”
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