PENARTH Bowling Club notched up an historic “first” in the past week with an away victory at Rhiwbina Bowling Club’s indoor rink.

Indoor matches between the two clubs have taken place each winter over the past 20 years and, though Penarth have come close on several occasions, they have never actually achieved a win at this notoriously tricky venue.

The evening did not get off to the best of starts when huge traffic problems caused gridlock around Cardiff and the Vale and panic began to set in when it took an hour to travel from the club to Sloper Road.

However, the team eventually made it and the match kicked off with a delayed start.

By the end of the first session it was Rhiwbina who held a narrow eight shot lead despite some dogged resistance from the Penarth men.

Dave Clements’ rink were a little unlucky in losing by a single shot and Bob Hill’s four battled well against a strong home quartet.

The second session saw Penarth stage something of a heroic fightback with the ever dependable Bob Lewis leading his rink to a fighting two shot victory.

The climax of the match produced real drama. With Bob Lewis’ rink having completed their scheduled ends the Guy Thomas rink had one more end to play with Penarth trailing 46-48.

At this point the Penarth rink all bowled superbly well leaving the opposition with no answer and produced a wonderful six shots to clinch the game over all by just four shots.

SCORES

Bob Willmott, Phil Davidge, Lawrence Brooke, Bob Hill : 9-16.

Ron Birkby, Berwyn Lansley, Russell Daniel, Dave Clements : 7-8

Brian Knight, Derrick Musk, Colin Hicks, Bob Lewis ; 13-11

Ron Birkby, Derek Blainey, Tony Thomas, Guy Thomas ; 21-11.

Penarth 50 Rhiwbina 46