Dinas Powis PG2 team travelled to Llanbradach on Saturday 10th May for their second league fixture of the season, hoping to build on the promising start made with an opening day victory.
Both teams stepped onto the green amidst very high winds and intermittent rain that would continue throughout the afternoons play, and with the home green also undergoing some running repairs, rarely used mats were in place at either end of all rinks which further added to the challenges the players faced in trying to conquer the somewhat artic feeling weather conditions.
In the event Dinas settled to their task quickly and after seven ends had forged into a healthy 17 shot lead, with Alun Jones' and Chris Scott's rinks leading the way being 10-2 and 9-2 in front respectively.
During the middle third the home side mounted something of a fight back and were able to reduce the deficit to ten shots, with Dinas in front 52-42. At this stage their was little in any of the four rinks, Jones' advantage had been cut to five (15-10) Scott's to four (14-10) Chris Bates rink was one in front 14-13 with Captain Paul Marks all square at 9-9 on his rink.
Sensing the closeness in the match Dinas were able to regroup and re-assert themselves on proceedings. Over the final ends Alun Jones' rink moved out to win by 10 shots, Chris Scott, aided by picking a four on the 19th end, ran out victors by six and Captain Paul Marks' rink epitomised the teams fighting spirit by picking up eight shots in the final four ends to turn a five shot 9-14 deficit, into an unlikely 17-14 win. Unfortunately Chris Bates' rink couldn't make it a clean sweep, and despite picking up four shots on the final end, eventually succumbed to a 19-23 defeat.
After the match, and having retreated to the warmth and dry of the Llanbradach clubhouse, Captain Mark's was delighted with his teams gutsy display in winning by 15 (80-65) and thrilled with their start to the season having collected 24 points from their opening two PG2 league fixtures.
M.Diment, A.Harvey, T.Hurcom, A.Jones (23-13) J.Coles, J.Ackland, A.Locker, C.Scott (21-15) D.Parker, H.Lamont, D.Ireland, P.Marks (17-14) D.James, M.Seaford, N.Giles, C.Bates (19-23)