Sport can on occasions be very cruel, and so it proved for Dinas bowlers on Saturday 1st August, as the first team went down to defeat at Penylan with three of their rinks each losing by a single shot, leaving Dinas empty handed when in truth their efforts and endeavours deserved some reward.
Games between the two sides are always keenly contested, as proved when the sides met the previous Saturday and this game was equally close. Indeed Dinas started in positive fashion and after the seven ends they had nudged in front 25-23.
Through the middle seven ends of the game Penylan had the better of proceedings and after 14 ends had been completed they had moved three shots in front at 51-48. At this stage everything was to play for with Alex Meddins rink 16-9 ahead for Dinas.
Over the final third of the match the rinks of Alex Meddins, Ritchie Janes and Mike Ackland all fought hard to stay in their respective games before agonisingly slipping to one shot defeats, despite all win more ends than their opponents, which was no consolation at all.... as Dinas slipped to a 70-82 shot defeat.
J.Ackland, T.Hurcom, D.Vowles, M.Ackland (17-18) M.Gershenson, G.White, C.Todd, A.Meddins (19-20) J.Coles, A.Harvey, M.Edwards, R.Janes (17-18) H.Meddins, D.Parker, G.Griffiths, C.Blake (17-26)
The 'A' team meanwhile were equally disappointed as they surrendered their unbeaten league record as they slipped to a 72-79 home defeat to second in the table Cardiff, a team whom they had beaten the previous Saturday.
There were good wins for the rinks of Alun Jones and Club Captain Paul Marks, whilst the evergreen Peter Critcher's rink slipped to a narrow two shot defeat. The match however was decided by an extraordinary 20 shot to 34 shot defeat for Andre Desrosiers four where 'counts' abounded.
Not withstanding this first slip-up of the season the 'A' team still sit proudly at the top of the Division and remain favourites for promotion back to the 1st Division at the first attempt.
M.Diment, G.Duggan, D.Ireland, A.Jones (16-12) A.Gittins, H.Lamont, M.Seaford, P.Critcher (16-18) B.Harris, J.Follon, A.Locker, P.Marks (20-15) D.James, G.Leach, N.Giles, A.Desrosiers (20-34)