PENARTH entertained PG! newcomers Beaufort last weekend in what promised to be an interesting and competitive encounter.

Penarth fielded a strong side and hoped to quell to exuberant and lively visitors and early signs were that a shock result could be on the cards.

Colin Grant, Phil Crocker, Ken Thorne and Terry Buckingham were quickest off the blocks surging in to a lead of 11 - 1 after just six ends. By the 9th end this lead had increased to 14 shots ( 19 - 5 ) with the home rink well in control.

However at the 10th end, Beaufort won back the jack and proceeded to play to long ends.

This totally disrupted Colin's rink which enabled the visitors to claw back to 22 - 21 going in to the last end. Skip Jones bowled to great woods to steal 2 shots and a win by 22 - 23. Nightmare on rink 2.

A similar nightmare was unfolding on rink 4 where Nick Chandler, Bob Horne, Mike Conway and Berwyn Lansley had been in complete control winning 8 of the first 10 ends to lead 14 - 7.

The home rink imploded to secure shots on only four of the remaining 11 ends and literally surrender victory to their opponents. Clive Fry, Paul Gunter, Jack Beanland and Phil Davies were in a similar '' white flag '' mood as they let slip an 18th end lead of 15 - 12 to lose 15 - 18, dropping shots on all of the last 3 ends.

Tony Holmes, Dave Plank, Chas Burton and Captain Russell were never able to out bowl their opponents.

Having rushed in to a 1 shot lead on the first end, they were not able to secure the ascendency again and went down to a miserable loss by 12 - 28.

There was a distinct air of disbelief in the Penarth Clubhouse that evening whilst all and sundry tried to answer the inevitable question -- -- '' How the hell did we lose that one ? ''

Earlier in the week a Munro Cup fixture at Sully had produced another comfortable win by 36 shots ( 81 -45 ). A satisfying haul of 13 points resulted from the win and kept them on a winning course overall.

Winning rinks were provide by Nick Chandler ( 24 - 9 ), Colin Grant ( 24 - 10 ) and Clive Fry ( 20 - 13 ). Tony Holmes managed to steer his rink to a last end draw of 13 - 13. Another positive result in the chase for Munro Cup success.

On Tuesday evening the Ladies had suffered a real disappointment, going down by the narrowest of margins to near neighbours Windsor. An overall by 5 shots ( 34 - 39 ) secured the points for the visitors.

Belinda Price, Kath Jenkins, Tricia Brinkworth and Christina Church rallied on the last two ends in an effort to overhaul an eight shot deficit but just failed to repair earlier damage to lose by 3 shots.

Having lead by 9 shots on the 7th end, a disastrous next 3 ends saw 11 shots surrender the lead which they were never able to recover.

Wendy Grant, Sue Croll, Betty Jones and Captain Chris achieved ascendency in their game, relinquishing their lead on the second end and were then behind throughout, eventually losing 13 - 15.

The Afternoon League home fixture with Murch ladies proved to be a much more pleasing encounter with wins on all 3 rinks. The final tally gave Penarth the points with a clear victory by 71 shots to 44. Anchoring the win was the rink skipped by Belinda Price with solid assistance provided by Tricia Brinkworth, Lynda Jones and Christina Church enabling them to run up a score of 37 -12.

Sue Croll, Betty Jones, Joan Lewis and Norma Duggan weighed in with a steady performance, not losing the advantage throughout and presenting a win by 8 shots ( 18 - 11 ).

Wendy Grant, Jayne Edwards, Diana Willcocks and Chris Davies were not to be outdone an despite losing a narrow lead midway, they rallied an took the honours on the last four ends to take a total of 7 shots guaranteeing a win by 16 shots to 12.