ABERGAVENNY Bowls Club has played two MBA fixtures in the past week at Crosskeys and Beaufort. Unfortunately both games resulted in defeat for Abergavenny, thus increasing their chance of relegation to Division Two of the MBA next season.

In the first of the two games at Crosskeys, Abergavenny won on two rinks but lost the game by 85 shots to 70. John Vale’s rink managed to forge ahead by scoring eight shots over the last five ends to secure victory by 21 shots to 16. Similarly the rink of Robert Poynter scored four and dropped only one shot on the final four ends, to win by 20 shots to 19.

The rink of Ieuan Jenkins was only one shot down with four ends to play but then conceded eight shots to lose by 22 shots to 13. Matthew Vale’s rink was only three shots behind at halfway but the Crosskeys rink then took control of the game to win by 28 shots to 16.

In the second MBA game at Beaufort Abergavenny was outplayed on all four rinks, resulting in a loss by 127 shots to 55. Rink scores were Matthew Vale 15 – 38, Gethin Hill 10 – 32, John Vale 16 – 28 and Robert Poynter 14 – 29.

The ladies team also played two league games in the past week. The first of these was when they welcomed Caldicot to Avenue Road. Unfortunately, they could win on only one of the three rinks and therefore lost the game by 74 shots to 38. The rink of Sian Phillips was the only rink to register a victory in a very close contest, whilst the other two rinks suffered heavy defeats. The ladies were more successful in their game at Pontypool Park, where they won on all rinks to record a victory by 53 shots to 25.

This weekend Crosskeys are the visitors to Avenue Road when Abergavenny must win the game to have any chance of retaining their place in the first division of the MBA.