IT was very much an “All-Penarth” affair at Rectory road last Wednesday as Penarth Bowling club welcomed a combined team from their two closest neighbours, Windsor and Belle Vue.

With a number of the opposition ‘regulars’ at the indoor stadium a keen tussle was anticipated and, indeed the early stages suggested that this might be a close run.

One of the Belle Vue rinks, skipped by captain Malcolm Thomas established an early advantage over Clive Fry, whilst the Windsor rink led by Reg Dyer roared into a 10 shot lead against none other than Bob Lewis, one of Penarth Bowling Club’s star skips.

However, despite a spirited performance from the visitors, this early dawn rapidly turned into encroaching darkness as the home side gradually established a stranglehold on the proceedings, eventually turning out winners on all four rinks.

Top rink for Rectory Road was the Clive Fry quartet, where Clive, aided by Ron Maggs, Derek Musk and Phil Davies chalked up a 21 shot win.

Solid performances from Dave Clements and Dave Dalby sealed it for Penarth and Bob, chastened by the thought of ending up as the bottom rink and having to suffer the indignity of the post-match washing up, rallied strongly despite a very good display from the Windsor four of Reg Dyer, John Saulsbury, Lance Davies and an immaculate display of leading from Mike Matthews.

Ron Birkby is lead to believe that Eddie Thorne gave a master class in bowling against Dave Clements, only to be thwarted by the shortcomings of his supporting rink. At least, that’s what the celebrated thespian told him to say.

(However, we strongly suspect that anyone who talks to Trevor Warburton, Brian Rogers, or Mike Fullbrook might well hear a slightly different version of the proceedings.)