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Pontymister Athletic Bowls Club returned to South Monmouthshire League action early in the week with an impressive 73-53 home victory over Machen Dragons.

The “rebuilding” Machen side held a two shot lead on five ends before the Mister Men found their form over the next five ends to lead by 17 shots.

The Dragons reduced the deficit to just 11 shots on 15 ends, but over the final three ends, Pontymister maintained control to run out eventual winners.

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Starting on rink two, making a welcome return our old favourite Frankie Trepleton played lead with Jamie Roberts, David Bowd and Roger Simms against Vince Quirk, R. Watkins, S. Lucas and C. Venables.

Pontymister led 6-1 on five ends, and 10-4 on ten ends, before Machen closed the margin to 12-8 on 15 ends.

But with a “3” on the 16th end and a “2” on the 17th end, it was the mister men who ran out eventual winners, 17-9.

Over on rink three, John Sheldon, Keith Davies, Ian Collier and Richie Murphy had a tough battle against M. Deem, C. Stafford, R. Jones and P. Cooksley.

After five ends Machen led 3-4 before the Mister Men won four of the next five ends to lead 9-5, with a “4” on the 14th end.

The visitors then went ahead 11-12 but Pontymister won all four of the last four ends to eventually win 21-12.

On rink four, Phil Huntley, Jason Bradshaw, Mike Lyons, and Andrew Goodwin, had a sluggish start against J. Mullahy, M. Burkitt, Mike Doody and Andrew Fallaize with the Dragons leading 2-5 on five ends.

The Mister Men soon got into their stride however with a “7” on the eighth end, and a “3” on the ninth to lead 13-8. Shots were shared four a piece over the next five ends to make the score 15-12, with Machen coming back strongly taking two counts of “3” on the last two ends to narrowly lose 19-18.

Finally on rink five, the Pontymister foursome of Richie Jones, Beynon Jones, acting Captain Chris Beale and Graham Smith had a close game against E. Davies, M. Johns, M. Vacara, and Rhodri Holmes.

Machen made a strong start to lead 1-4 on five ends, but with two “3s” and a double over the next five ends, it was Pontymister who led narrowly 9-8.

The Dragons had a “4” on the 15th end to trail by just one at 14-13, but with two singles over the last three ends it was Pontymister who edged the contest 16-14 despite both rink’s winning nine ends each.