CADOXTON Bowls Club travelled to Ystrad Mynach for the final CML6 game of the season, with all early hopes of promotion gone. They produced a good performance in the early part of the game on Saturday, August 29.

However, once again their staying power deserted them, when 12 shots were dropped across the board during the final three ends.

Howard Craven’s rink had a tight tussle with the score level on 2, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17 shots each, but the two last end defeats lost the points.

A similar match took place on John Jones rink, with scored level on 2, 7, 11, 17, 18, but after taking a two shot lead on the 18th end, five shots were lost in the last three ends.

Don Kuhnell also had a close encounter in the early stages when four singles were scored by both sides in the first eight ends. Two fours against opened a gap but a two and four partly cancelled the deficit.

By the 14th end there was a home advantage of five shots. A single and a three were added to either side, but a five on the 19th took away any hopes.

Roy Harding’s rink struggled in the early stages and managed two singles in the opening 10 ends, to trail 11-2.

A two stopped the run but four more added against, to bring the score to 15-4. This signalled the start of a revival during which a five and two threes were scored to reach 16-19 after the penultimate end.

Three shots for a tie were held but with his final bowl the home skip moved the jack to cut it down to just one.

J Stacey, I Robertson, G Davies and D Kuhnell 14 –26

P Swannick, H Hellyar, P Ellis and R Harding 17 –19

S Clarke, D Evans, D Brook and J Jones 20 –23

L Adams, W Craven, D Jeffries and H Craven 17 –21

68 – 89

Cadoxton ‘A’ hosted their final CML7 game against Llantwit Major ‘A’ with the now accepted shortage of players. They will be hoping for an influx of new players, next year, to ensure the second team can continue and can produce a more competitive side to enjoy a better season. They should be praised for managing to complete the season.

G Powell, L Davies, D Fanning 9 – C Williams, A Horgan, L Fowler, E Hacker 35

G Garland, D Tuck, R Byrne 8 – G Timms, W Jochem, J Nixon, M Adams 20

S Clements, A Field, D Hammond 11 – J Ball, P Brown, R Gray, K Alexander 35

R Cole, J Smart, G Solomon, A Carpenter 16 – M Harmon, J O’Brien, P Twomey, H Merchant 26

44 - 116

TWO light-hearted fixtures were played, bringing the season to a close. The first one was a friendly against Bridgwater, who held their centenary year at the same time as Cadoxton, in 2008.

This resulted in a game played every year since to celebrate the occasion. Seven rinks took part, made up with men and ladies. The game was played on a lovely afternoon and ended as an honourable draw.

The friendship and pleasant ambience built during the years was present in the after match occasion in the clubhouse. Arrangements for next year's visit to Somerset have already been made together with a return in two years time.

The second game was the annual fixture against the ladies, with a five shots start on each rink. The outcome of this was also played on a nice afternoon, with the men’s side being the successful team.

On Saturday, September 12, there were five Finals contested. The first of which, was played in the morning, between Paul Swannick and Steve Clarke for the Two Bowl Trophy. This was a tightly contested contest with neither player able to take a commanding initiative.

Steve held the lead for most of the game although never more than three shots in front. After 13 ends Steve held a three shot advantage, but Paul came back to win the next three ends to take the lead for the first time, with two remaining ends. The win went to Steve after two final singles.

The afternoon session started with the Triples and Pairs. The Pairs had youngster, Ewan Heppenstall and John Jones in opposition with Phil Ellis and Roy Harding, who was playing in his first of three finals. It turned out a fairly one sided game, with the latter team scoring regularly to build up a comprehensive win.

The Triples was a much closer game, the teams being Ian Heppenstall, Paul Swannick, and Gordon Davies with opponents Dave Fanning, Les Adams and Derrick Jeffries. By the half-way stage, Derrick Jeffries three, held a one shot advantage.

However during the following six ends this had advanced to five shots. Gordon Davies attempted to make a come back in the final three ends, but managed just singles.

The Championship brought Steve Clarke back onto the green for the second appearance to play against Don Kuhnell. He took an early advantage with a 4-2 lead. Two singles brought the game level. This was followed with a two each to still remain level.

After a single for Steve, the next three ends went in Don’s favour, to open up a five shot supremacy. Once again Steve fought back with six shots against one to draw level once more. Nevertheless the more experienced Don, took over, and scored a four and three to leave just a single to win, on the final end.

Roy Harding then appeared in The Jack Hartman Trophy, his second final of the day, against Dennis Hammond, who did not let Roy have it all his own way.

The scores were level on four, six, and eight before a single gave Dennis the lead.

However two threes and two twos gave Roy an advantage, and although another revival of seven shots during four ends reduced the advantage to just two, with singles on the last two ends brought success to Roy

On Sunday afternoon the final two competitions took place.

Les Adams and Dave Fanning who were winning partners in the triples met each other in the Novices Trophy. It was a one-sided affair with Les showing his supremacy by winning the opening six ends to lead 10-0.

Dave then opened his score with a single either side of a three to trail 13-2. After losing two more ends, Les regained his domination by succeeding in the next four ends, and so did not need to complete the final two ends.

The Handicap brought together two players for their third final appearance this year.

Roy Harding, already had two wins under his belt, whilst Steve Clarke had one win and a defeat.

Steve Harding with a two handicap, took the early dominance, with six shots in three ends. Roy was not playing as well as normal and the tiredness was creeping in, playing his third hard game of the weekend.

However this did not deter from the excellent play from Steve who powered away with some superb bowls to continue opening a larger gap throughout, to win meticulously.

Championship - Don Kuhnell 21, Steve Clarke 14

Handicap - Steve Clarke 21, Roy Harding 5

Two Bowl - Steve Clarke 13, P Swannick 12

J Hartman - Roy Harding 21, Dennis Hammond 17

Novices - Les Adams 21, Dave Fanning 5

Pairs - Phil Ellis and Roy Harding 23, Ewan Heppenstall and John Jones 7

Triples - Dave Fanning, Les Adams and Derrick Jeffries 15, I Heppenstall, P Swannick and G Davies 13