CAPTAIN Mike's Rectory boys took the short trip across town on Saturday full of optimism that a victory at the Windsor was a probability.

This optimism turned out to be a bit of a false dawn, as the home side pulled out all of the stops to register a 35 shot overall win. So much for Love thy Neighbour.

The game's result revolved around a superb performance from home captain Matt Woodcock who's rink trounced the luckless Clive Fry, Bob Lewis, Phil Davies and Dave Murphy by 41 shots to 10. Grant junior also managed a loss when his rink of Dave Clements, Daddy Grant and Ron Birkby surrendered by 10 shots to 20.

Two rinks however managed to secure what could be a most valuable four points in the knife edge quest for promotion. Dave Dalby, Dave ' up the City ' Plank, Bob Willmott and Jack Beanstalk battled to a 22-19 win.

Similarly Nick Chandler, Bob Horne, Don Shirley and Mike Conway secured victory by three shots (23-20) in a mammoth battle over the 21 ends.

Congratulations are due to Matthew and the Windsor Club for what looks like a cert for them to be promoted. Rectory hope to be doing enough in their last two games to secure third place and promotion with them.

Munro Cup victory aspirations may well have faltered, despite a great run of recent results, which have cemented second place in this competition. The latest was a convincing 14 point win secured from a 75-51 victory at the Murch. All four rinks managed to tame a rather difficult green to win through and claim the maximum reward.

The Rectory ladies are also finishing the season with a run of very creditable wins. In the evening league their latest win was at home to Mackintosh by 37-16, secured a third position which meant they just failed to emulate last years final appearance and win. Nevertheless captain Kath was very proud of the excellent challenge her bowlers put up again this year.

Similarly a late run of superb victories in the afternoon league has moved them up to leaders of the division vying with the Murch ladies for what will be a superb achievement. At the moment there appears to be only one shot difference.

A home victory against Cowbridge by 39 shots (61-22) was due mainly to two resounding margins achieved by Chris Church, Lorraine Palmer, Jayne Edwards and Betty Jones (36-3) and Norma Duggan, June Williams, Tricia Brinkworth and Belinda Price (35-5). Sue Croll's rink also chipped in with a 20-14 win.

This was followed up by another great win away at Pencoed (52-43). Again Betty Jones and her rink underpinned victory with a 24-9 margin.

Penarth have a real chance of winning this league.