ABERGAVENNY Bowls Club progressed through to the knock out stages of the WBA Cup by overcoming the challenge of Bedwelty Park at Avenue Road last Saturday.

They won on three rinks and tried on the fourth to win the game by 87 shots to 68. As a result of this Abergavenny will travel to Bedwas & Trethomas on Saturday June 18 for the first round of the knock out section of the cup.

Matthew Vale’s rink began to take control of the game after the fifth end when they scored nine shots over the next three ends. They never allowed their opponents back into the game and went on to victory by 24 shots to 16. The rink of Peter Stahl held a stranglehold on their opponents throughout the game. They scored on 13 of the 21 ends to win by 21 shots to 13.

Robert Poynter’s rink was nine shots behind after 12 ends but then turned the game around by scoring 15 shots and conceding only three to win by 21 shots to 18. The rink of Gethin Hill was involved in a close tussle throughout, with each team holding the advantage at various times during their game. The Abergavenny rink managed to secure two shots on the final end to tie the game at 21 shots each.

Abergavenny played a GBL game away at RTB Ebbw Vale. They won on one rink but overall were defeated by the narrow margin of 60 shots to 59. The only victor for Abergavenny was the rink of John Marsh. They never let their opponents get into the game and won by 28 shots to nine. The rink of Derek Bailey held the upper hand but then conceded five shots on the penultimate end, which led to defeat by 20 shots to 18. Bill Belli’s rink was always struggling to contain their opponents and so lost their game by 31 shots to 13.

Last week Abergavenny Ladies travelled to Caerleon to play a friendly three rink game against Newport Athletic. All three Abergavenny rinks started well and then consolidated their superiority to win the game comfortably by 57 shots to 19. All three rinks won their games. Rink scores were Judi Belli, 16-8, Shirley Williams, 18-5 and Mary Evans, 23-6.

This coming week end Abergavenny play their first game of the season in the MBA when the welcome Welsh Champions RTB Ebbw Vale to Avenue Road. The GBL team travel to Tredegar for a league fixture against Bedwelty park.