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On the road in their fourth South Monmouthshire League (SML) match, Pontymister Athletic picked up a “valuable” ten points in a win over Ebbw Valley rivals Abercarn.

On a rather overcast evening, the Mister Men hit the road again for the fourth away game in their first five SML fixtures.

On Wednesday May 29, Pontymister travelled to Abercarn, who have had an influx of players in the close season to bolster their ranks – so a tough battle was expected. 

The visitors started well and were seven shots up on five ends, but the home team fought back to lead by three shots after ten ends.

The game swung back to Pontymister by the 15th end, who held a seven shot advantage. The visitors managed to hold onto this slender lead running out 52-58 winners and collected ten very valuable away points.

On rink two, promising new bowler Simon Webb, Ian Holder, Chris Beale, and skipper Graham Smith were involved in a tight battle with C. Coombs, D. Mitchell, A. Burns, and P. Robinson.

The Mister Men led 2-3 on five ends, but lost four of the next five ends to trail 4-8 after ten ends, Abercarn kept their noses in front 11-9 on 15 ends, before running out 14-10 winners.

On rink three, the loaded front end of John Sheldon, and the talented Malcolm Goldie, played with Chris Simmonds and the versatile Ian Collier.

Pontymister led 2-4 on five ends against C. Reers, M. Hillier, T. Howells, and K. Caddick, but Abercarn fought back to lead 8-7 on ten ends. Pontymister then won four out of the next five ends to lead 10-14 on 15 ends, before running out 11-17 winners.

On rink four, Martyn Watkins and Richard Beaugie were teamed up with the young back end of Sean Kenvyn and promising skipper Jack Collier and played Abercarn’s reserves.

Pontymister led 2-3 on five ends, but Abercarn fought back to square the game 8-8 on ten ends, and picked up a count of four on the 11th end and then won the next 3 ends.

The Mister Men snatched a three back on the 15th end to trail 16-11, but Abercarn went on to win the last three ends ending up 19-11 victors.

On rink five, the club’s talented young Ethan Simmonds was teamed up with Jamie Roberts, Ken McKinnon, and Richie Murphy.

Pontymister led 2-5 on five ends against, 6-9 on ten ends, before winning four of the next five ends to race into a 7-17 lead on 15 ends and eventually winning comfortably 8-20.