SADLY, events at Penarth Bowling Club were overshadowed last weekend by the news of the death of Ron Maggs, one of the longest serving and best loved members at Rectory Road.

An excellent bowler and a hard working and dedicated member, Ron will be sorely missed by everyone. Deepest sympathies from everyone at the club go out to Lucy and family at this very sad time.

Tuesday’s Alliance fixture against Murch BC was a very close run thing, and, by the finish, Penarth, despite winning on three rinks, only just edged it by two shots.

Top performers on the day were Reg Jones, Claudio Gent, Brian Hocking and promising youngster, Haydn Trow (22-12). Good wins for Roger Gidman (19-11) and Nick Thomas(14-12) clinched the issue.

Wednesday’s visitors were Sully Sports for the last home match in this year’s Munro Cup. Despite a spirited display from the visitors, Penarth eventually established a winning lead in this game, thanks to two winning quartets, comprising Terry Buckingham, Guy Thomas, and Colin and Rob Grant (22-10) and Russell Daniel, Dave Clements, Dave Plank and Dave Dalby (22-18). The final result was a 70 - 59 win with 10 points gained.

Thursday’s opponents at Rectory Road were Barry Veterans, a side made up of members from various clubs in the Vale and, it was duly noted that there were several Rectory Road “traitors” amongst their ranks. This match was always on a knife edge with the visitors finally winning out by just two shots.

The successful home rinks on this occasion were D Cameron (guest), Trevor Jenkins, Russell Daniel and skip Derrick Musk (17-11) and Ron Birkby, Don Butler, Nick Thomas and Bob Willmott (17-13).

Saturday’s visit to Mackintosh BC in the PG1 produced a real nail-biting match. With three rinks having finished their 21 ends the result hung in the balance.

Good wins for Dave Dalby, Dave Plank, Bob Willmott and Jack Beanland (26-16) and Colin Grant, Dave Clements, Paul Church and Rob Grant (21-12) and a narrow defeat on the other rink meant everything ultimately rested on the result of the closing end for the one remaining foursome.

Showing great resolve, skip Nick Chandler gained the single shot needed to win the game with his first wood only to see the opposing skip wrest it back. In the ultimate test of nerve Nick once again drew the shot and this time gained the single needed to secure the narrowest of victories by one shot overall.

The PG2 team produced yet another excellent performance on Saturday last and proved far too strong for the visiting Cardiff (Sophia Gardens) on the day. There were three winning rinks in this 12 - 2 point victory with the foursome of Neil Gaskell, Mike England, “Crafty Cockney”, Dave Hilldrup and skip Brian Brennan (35-16) leading the way.

First class performances from Nick Thomas with Brian Hocking, Dick Edwards and Russell Daniel (30-16) and Bob Hill aided by John Whitfield, Brian Knight and Ron Birkby (29-15) and the fighting qualities of the Haydn Trow rink, who were unlucky to lose out by a single shot, set the seal on a highly successful outing.

Heartiest congratulations to captain Sue Croll and the ladies who have reached the final of the Evening League KO competition to be played at Barry Romilly on Friday, August 19.

In a thrilling semi-final the Penarth ladies won through by a single shot. Jill Gaskell, Betty Jones, Kath Jenkins and skip Belinda Price (19-15) and Lorraine Palmer, Maureen Dalby, Sue Croll and Tricia Brinkworth (15-18) sealed this historic win.

Good luck in the final girls, the whole club wishes you well.

The Afternoon League game against Penarth Windsor produced yet another nail biting battle with The Windsor finally squeezing through by just three shots. The bright spot for Penarth was a dominant showing by skip Belinda Price, who, teamed up with Norma Duggan, Diana Willcocks and Kath Jenkins ended up 27 - 15 winners.