PENARTH PG2 side felt the pressure of two difficult away games in a matter of 3 days last week.

However, despite some trepidation, captain John need not have worried as his side amassed a total of 24 points from the games.

The first encounter was at Rhiwbina on Thursday evening when a bit of a nail biter ended in a 7 shot win by 80 -73. Ten invaluable points were secured from this win. Saturday then saw them travel to Pontyclun for what potentially could have been a difficult trip.

Again the side came up trumps recording a huge win by 101 - 60 taking all 14 points on offer.

Dave Dalby, Brian Hocking, Don Shirley and Lawrence Brooke topped the scoring with an impressive 30 - 12 win, never relinquishing an early lead. Nick Thomas rink of Bob Willmott, Mike England and Brian Knight may have bettered this if it were not for dropping a 6 on the very last end. However a 29 - 16 victory was regarded as acceptable !!

Colin Hicks, Capt John, Neil Gaskell and Alex Forsyth continued the winning ways in a 22 - 16 result.

Again they were never in trouble throughout the 21 ends. Completing the rout and winning by 20 -16 was the rink of Brian Brennan, Derek Blainey, Bob Lewis and Haydn Trow.

These two wins and the points achieved have consolidated the PG2 league leadership. There is more to come no doubt.

Saturday meant a visit from Pontyclun to the Rectory green, in a PG1 game which also was important in the battle at the top of that league. Pontyclun were 5 points ahead of Penarth, so a good win was essential, particularly as Penarth also have a game in hand on them.

Beaufort are the likely winners of the league, so the battle is for second place and promotion. In a tense encounter with the lead changing hands regularly, Penarth eventually triumphed by 25 shots in a 98 - 73 final score.

After 15 ends Pontyclun led by 2 shots overall, so the last 6 ends saw an unusual, for Penarth that is, late rally which recorded a total of 38 shots for the home side with only 11 against. With only one rink losing this secured a haul of 12 most valuable points.

Clive Fry, Dave Plank, Jack Beanland and Phil Davies led the way with a 13 shot win scoring on every one of the last 6 ends which contributed 10 shots in their 26 - 13 win.

Nick Chandler, Bob Horne, Chas Burton and Berwyn Lansley also did well over the last 6 ends rattling up 13 shots in their 30 - 23 win. A high scoring competitive game which included a total six fours and a six.

Tony Holmes, Paul Gunter, Paul Church and Capt Russell completed the winning trio of rinks finishing 21 15 to the good. Unfortunately Colin Grant and his rink saw their lead of 15 - 5 at the 9th end, gradually slip away to lose by just 1 shot at the end. Overall this was an excellent win in what was a fascinating battle of good bowling.

The Munro Cup campaign continued on Wednesday with an encouraging win over Sully Sports by 77 - 51 to register a further 12 points to the cause.

The Penarth ladies also had a fruitful and rewarding week with 3 wins out of 3 games. The Double rink side travelled to Dinas Powis on Monday and were a little disappointed that the opposition were only able to field 3 players in each rink. The game however was still a tight one with Penarth coming out on top by 24 - 16.5 after shot adjustments.

Joan Lewis, Val Turner, Mary Bowen and Lynda Jones faced stiff opposition but eventually reigned supreme winning 13 - 9. Jayne Edwards, Diana Willcocks, Anne Thomas and Pam Halbert also secured an impressive win by 11 - 7.5.

That same day saw an Evening League game at Penarth against Penylan, which once more resulted in an valuable victory.

Wendy Grant, Tricia Brinkworth, Sue Roberts and Jill Gaskell were in control of most of their 18 ends, scoring on 12 of the ends and eventually running out 18 - 12 winners. Sue Croll, Kath Jenkins, Betty Jones and Chris Davies were involved in a much closer affair, winning by only 2 shots.

They won on 11 of their 18 ends and the final 4 ends won the game for them by picking up 5 shots to snatch the win.

Midweek saw the old enemy of Windsor visiting Rectory in an eagerly awaited Afternoon League encounter.

A delighted lady captain in Chris Davies bathed in the glory of a convincing 55 - 36 success.

The bedrock of the win was a 29 - 10 secured by Belinda Price, Tricia Brinkworth, Jayne Edwards and Chris Church, followed by a 17 - 11 win from the Sue Croll, Betty Jones, Joan Lewis and Capt Chris rink. Wendy Grant and her rink unfortunately lost by 9 - 15, but overall the damage was done .