RHYDLEWIS bowlers have been crowned champion of champions in the National League Winners’ competition in Landrindod Wells

They qualified as winners of the Cardiganshire Short Mat Bowling Association league for 2016/17 and travelled last Sunday to face league-winning teams from all over Wales, dotted with Welsh international players.

That this did not phase the Rhydlewis team was amply demonstrated by them winning so convincingly in the earlier rounds that they only had to win one of the three games of the final round.

As it turned out, this was fortunate as the pairs simply could not control their opponents and the triples lost by the narrowest of margins – all down to the fours.

The fours came back from 6-0 down after a couple of ends to lead 10-6 going into the last end.

Their opponents from Swansea turned the head round to be lying five shots up by the time the skips bowled.

Robert Evans bowled first for Rhydlewis and attempted to drive some of the opposition woods off the mat – narrowly missing his target. Swansea’s skip added another to the count, making it six in their favour.

However, Robert then drew in for third shot, placing his wood in such a position that it was impossible to imagine how their opponents could regain sufficient shots to for an extra end or win.

Ultimately, the Swansea skip could only play with weight in a hit-and-hope shot which actually provided Rhydlewis two shots to win.

That was all that was needed as Rhydlewis took the title of Welsh Short Mat Bowls Association National League Winners.