OVER the past two weeks Abergavenny Bowls Club has been involved in MBA and GBL games, along with some members playing in the finals of the Welsh Championships at Llandrindod Wells.

Last Saturday the club travelled to Bedwas and Trethomas for a vital MBA game. They needed to win the game to improve their chance of avoiding relegation.

Unfortunately they were beaten on all four rinks and lost by 89 shots to 57. Gethin Hill's rink lost five shots to a fluke on the final end to be defeated by 22 shots to 21. The rink of Mathew Vale was leading by ten shots but then could not score again, eventually losing by 19 shots to 15.

The game involving John Beaton's rink was very close for 15 ends but then the opposition forged ahead to win by 21 shots to 13. Robert Poynter's rink could not get into the game and were defeated by 27 shots to eight.

On Sunday, the club played their final MBA fixture of the season in a re-arranged game at Blackwood. Unfortunately they were defeated on all four rinks, losing the game by 105 shots to 55. This defeat probably ensured that the club will be relegated to division two of the MBA for the 2013 season.

On Saturday Blackwood also provided the opposition for a GBL game at Avenue Road. Although they won on one rink, Abergavenny lost the game by 63 shots to 43. The one successful rink was that of Bill Cooke. The rink built a substantial lead over the first 15 ends and then resisted a comeback by the Blackwood rink to win by 16 shots to 13.

John Marsh's rink dropped seven shots on the last six ends to lose by 18 shots to 12. Derek Wood's rink held a five shot lead after nine ends. The game was then turned around as the Blackwood rink gained control to win by 32 shots to 15.

The previous weekend Cwmbran Park provided the opposition in the MBA at Avenue Road. Abergavenny won on all four rinks to record a victory by 87 shots to 67, scoring a much needed 14 league points.

Mathew Vale's rink was involved in a close match for two thirds of the game. The rink then scored ten shots over the last six ends, without reply, to win by 22 shots to 11. The rink of Robert Poynter was six shots behind with six ends to play. They then took control to score eleven shots, conceding only two, to win by 21 shots to 17.

John Beaton's rink always held a slight advantage for the first half of the game. They capitalised on this by scoring eight shots in three ends and then resisted a late fight-back by the Cwmbran rink to win by 23 shots to 20. Gethin Hill's rink built an early lead which was gradually reduced by the Cwmbran rink. However, they regained the initiative and eventually won 13 of the 21 ends to record a victory by 21 shots to 19.

The GBL team played at Gilwern where they suffered defeat on two of the three rinks to lose by 79 shots to 39. The only successful rink was that of Gareth Jones who built an early lead and then consolidated on this to win by 24 shots to 15. Results on the other rinks were Derek Wood 9 -21 and Bill Cooke 6 – 43.

Club members Robert Poynter, Ieuan Jenkins, Keith Richards, Gary John and Neil Roberts were involved in the finals for the Over 60's rink of the Welsh Championship at Llandrindod Wells during the previous week. To reach this stage, the rink had already played several games to qualify for the finals. They did so by being the runners up in the Monmouthshire Bowls Association knock out competition.

Their first match in the Welsh Championship was in the round of the last 16, where they played Queens Road club from Ceredigion. The Abergavenny rink progressed into the quarter final with victory by 26 shots to 14. In the quarter final they beat local rivals Pontymister Athletic, to whom they finished runners up in the MBA competition, by 14 shots to 12. In the semi-final they faced local club Llandrindod Wells, who were playing on their own green. Although it was a very close game the Abergavenny rink was defeated by 20 shots to 19, which unfortunately ended their efforts to become Over 60's Champions of Wales.

This week-end the club play an EMBA fixture against Chepstow at Avenue Road and this is followed on Sunday by the EMBA finals at Caldicot.