Pontymister Athletic welcomed Rhymney Royal to Fields Road on Saturday in a Division 1 MBA clash. The mister men new that the Royal would be a massive challenge as they were fighting for survival in what can only be described as a brutal league, The game itself started close enough, but the rinks of Dave Hill and Roger Venn surged into commanding leads and at the halfway point the home side led by 17 shots.
To the Royals credit, they were battling hard and led narrowly on two rinks , but Hill and Venn secured the points for Ponty with big wins. Going into the final ends, it looked like the Royal would get a well deserved 4 points, but for a miracle bowl on the last end by Andrew Goodwyn who picked up the jack to make a 5 gave the home side a 12-2 win (98-71).
Rink 2 was experienced but experimental as Mike Lyons returned, Phil Huntley played 2nd, Chris Beale 3rd and skip Roger Venn took on the Royal 4 of C.O’Brien, C.Dennelly,J.Chard and R.Chard. After an early scare which saw Royal press into a 6-1 lead the Ponty boys set about their task and dominated throughout with some high class bowls and recorded a fine 18 shot win.
Rink 3 brought together the ever improving Eathan Symmonds, Grandad Sid Phillips, Captain Lloyd Turnbull and everyone’s favourite Ronnie Morgan, who was sponsored by Annadin Extra on the day. They were challenged by I.Jones,H.Davies,P.White and STYX who gave the Ponty boys a real battle. The game was close throughout , with Morgan lifting the roof on numerous occasions, but it was the away team who took the spoils, recording a narrow 3 point win.
Rink 4 of David Bowd, Chris Symmonds, Richie Murphy and Dave Hill were given a vote of confidence by the selectors and repaid them in fine fashion. Playing against A.Jenkins,C,Greaney,J.Prosser and Gary Heath, the Ponty boys were at it from the off surging into an early lead which continued to the end, winning by 11 shots.
Rink 5 Mr Goodwyns favourite rink saw him matched with Jason Bradshaw, Ken McKinnon and the man with a spring in his step Roger Simms . They were matched with a tough challenge against A.O’Brien, D.Murphy,D.O’Brien and W.Jones. The first half of the game was evenly contested, but the Royal pulled away and going into the last end they led by 4 shots and warranted victory, but bowls can be cruel on times and we were about to witness an unexpected twist. With all the players and supporters deserting the green, Ponty were holding 2 on the last end , which was not enough, but Goodwyn took control and playing with weight, picked up the jack and made an incredible 5, that gave Ponty the points.
The Rhymney Royal boys were a credit to their club both on and off the field and although they find themselves bottom of the league they fought all the way and showed great unity across the rinks. We would like to wish the club every success in the future and in particular Gary Heath who is playing in the Monmouthshire o/60s final.
Finally, thanks to Lloyd for a wonderful buffet after the game and good luck from everyone at the club to our own finalists in the Monmouthshire o/60s triples Graham “SID”Phillips, Dave Hill, Roger Venn and substitute Phil Huntley. Lets get behind them and support them all the way to LLandod.