Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Blackwood Bowls Club extended the gap between themselves and Pontymister Athletic in the Monmouthshire Bowling Association league after a narrow victory.

Hoping to avenge a defeat from earlier this season, Pontymister made the trip to high-flying Blackwood on Saturday July 6.

It was a disastrous start for the Mister Men, who were down 22 shots after just five ends. By half-time, things had improved for the visitors, but Blackwood still held a healthy 16-point lead.

A late surge from Pontymister made things competitive, but ultimately the Blackwood lead was too big to catch. They ran-out eventual 85-77 winners.

Report

Rink one saw Pontymister’s Frank Trepleton, Phil Huntley, Chris Beale, and Roger Venn take on Jenson Davies, Brian Keeling, Dale Hutchinson and Will Ford.

The game was a close encounter throughout with both sides playing high quality bowls, but it was the visitors who snatched the points with a late flurry of shots.

On rink two, youngster Ethan Symmonds, who led alongside his grandfather Sid Phillips, captain Lloyd Turnbull, and Ronnie Morgan, played P. Thomas, captain C. Eaketts, N. Hurley and the experienced Clive Jenkins.

After a sticky start, the visitors dug in deep and fought all the way to the end, before losing out by the narrowest of margins.

Rink three saw Dai Bowd, Chris Symmonds, Richie Murphy, and Dave Hill up against T. Bennett, G. Ford, C. Thomas and skip Ollie Witchell.

The Blackwood four, and in particular the two youngsters, were in fine form and raced into a 14-0 lead early on. The Mister Men dug in, and after a six looked like they were coming back, but on the day, Blackwood were too strong and recorded a 13 shot win.

Finally on rink four saw Shaun Kenvyn, Jason Bradshaw, Roger Simms, and skip Andrew Goodwyn take on T. Bennett, I. Buras, the experienced H. Jenkins and Dave Witchell.

As the other rinks, Blackwood galloped into a lead and were ten shots up at the halfway point. But, the Mister Men fought hard and started to get to grips with the green.

Still behind at 15 ends, they eventually gained control and ran out winners by three shots.

That win extends the gap between third placed Blackwood and fourth placed Pontymister to 13 points.