PENARTH Bowling Club started off the New Year with two resounding victories in last week’s matches.

Wednesday’s visitors were close neighbours and friends from the Murch Bowling Club and they put up a plucky fight before eventually losing on three of the four rinks.

Star performers for Penarth were the Clive Fry rink where “Kojak”, ably assisted by Lawrie Brooke, Mike England and Haydn Trow won by 23 shots.

Somewhat ironically, it was two ex-Murch stalwarts Bob Hill and Colin Grant who were the other two winning skips.

The bright spot for Murch was the performance of the rink comprising J Flye, T Phillips, and that formidable duo of Derek Davies and Doug Bateman, who inflicted an all too rare reversal on Reg Jones.

Saturday’s opposition was provided by the Llantwit Major Club in a mixed four rink match. The visitors put up a fighting display on this occasion and the overall result was perhaps a little flattering to the Rectory Road side.

Putting aside Wednesday’s woes, Reg was back to his finest form and solidly backed up by Barbara Brown, Pat Bartley and Lawrie Brooke, he provided the top rink for the home side. There were also good wins for Peggy Fitzgerald, Haydn Trow and Betty Jones.

Special mention must be made of “Bowen The Books”, who, due to a communications breakdown between him and captain Ron, first withdrew only to be re-incarnated minutes later in the form of a lady lead! Is there no end to this man’s versatility?