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Cardigan Short Mat Bowls
8 Cardigan Short Mat Bowls
Aberporth presented with League Title Shield. After 26 weeks of
games the Aberporth team were presented with their shield of
honour and individual trophies at the CSMBA Annual General
Meeting the Emlyn Arms Hotel in Newcastle Emlyn.
Back in November, Aberporth and Manordeifi were tied,
but from that point onwards Aberporth were in pole position
with Manordeifi and the previous year’s Champions, Rhy-
dlewis, in hot pursuit. In the end Aberporth had 52 points, 12
points clear of second placed Rhydlewis. Apart from the success
of the winning team, credit must also be given to Mydroilyn who
were the team that improved the most. This more northerly club only
joined the League a few seasons ago, but this year broke through the
‘learning curve’ as they ended up in seventh place, up four places on the previous season.
It was an ambition of Aberporth to regain the title they last held in 2010 and once they were
in the lead, they were determined to hold on to it. In some contrast, winners of 2011 and 2012,
Rhydlewis, had a fairly rusty season, and whilst they ended up in second place, for a while it looked
as though Manordeifi would be looking at holding this place. However from December on, Rhy-
dlewis were on the chase, ending up 13 points clear of Manordeifi.
Tied in fourth place were Capel Dewi and Llandygwydd. These teams were having a right
royal battle for most of the time. From about the sixth week until the penultimate week, Capel
Dewi were in the lead – sometimes quite respectfully so, but a cool determination by Llandygwydd
meant that on the final week, Llandygwydd were able to draw level in fourth place.
There were six teams in a strong battle for the sixth to eleventh place and throughout the
season there was little in it. One of the advantages of this League organisation is that so many
teams were neck-and-neck, knowing that dreams of getting the title were just that (dreams) but
determined to succeed over the others close to them.
In the end the positions were: Penrhiwllan 93 (6th); Mydroilyn 87 (7th); Pencnwc 83 (8th);
Tygwydd 76 (9th); Llechryd 74 (10th) and Dolphins 72 (11th). The latter of these teams, Dolphins,
seemed to struggle for much of the season, and it was only in January that they rose above others
to almost overcome Llechryd.
Following an early flourish, Cilgerran had several wins under their belts when they then had
to go to other clubs and play some away games. For one glorious evening, they were in pole po-
sition but it was only the second week! There then followed a string of games where nothing, or
very little, was achieved. In the end they settled for twelfth position, the same as last year.
Finally, Orllwyn took the wooden spoon award. For seven weeks it was beginning to look as
though they would be breaking out of the usual placing, but then other teams improved whilst, like
their colleagues in Cilgerran, they failed to secure enough points from their matches.
What was apparent though, throughout this season, was that the standard of all the teams
have improved – and in many ways, the standard of the lower clubs has improved to the extent
that no club can reliably say that any game will be a walk-over.
As many in the Short Mat Bowling community will know by now, Pencnwc’s attempt to have
the League split into two Divisions was soundly defeated at the AGM last week, but as Darren
Davies pointed out in his motion of objection to the resolution, a 2-Division League would end the
occasions when the Daniels of the League would overcome the Giants. Although I myself was
primarily in favour of the proposal, I have to say that the highlight of Cilgerran’s season was the
time when we nearly snatched all 8 points off Capel Dewi – a situation that would be unlikely to
be repeated under the proposal. Congratulations Aberporth – Commiserations everyone else –
there’s always next year.
Are you new to the area? Or finding life a little dull during the winter months? Why not try
your hand at Short Mat Bowling. There are clubs, usually in the village halls, at Abercych; Cilger-
ran; Aberporth; Llandygwydd; Llechryd; Rhydlewis; Capel Dewi; Mydroilyn; Penrhiwllan; and at