ABERGAVENNY Bowls Club held their Captain’s Day Two Wood Pairs competition last Saturday.

A total of 24 ladies and men entered the competition, resulting in two leagues of six pairs playing a ‘round robin’ section.

The top two pairs in each league then contested the semi-finals. Jack Vale and Maurice Padfield defeated Matthew Vale and Paul Beaumont in one semi-final and Perry Morgan and Dylan Beaumont-Welsh won their game against John Woodier and Ron Smith. After a closely contested final the pair of Perry Morgan and Dylan Beaumont-Welsh managed to overcome the pair of Jack Vale and Maurice Padfield to claim the trophy.

On Sunday Abergavenny had seven members involved in the East Monmouthshire Bowling Association finals which took place at Caldicot. Matthew Vale, John Marsh and Dewi Williams played in the Triples final against the trio of Barry Sansom, Brian Howard and Mark Lewis from Caldicot. Although the Abergavenny team matched their opponents for the first half of the game, the Caldicot trio then gained the upper hand to win the final by 18 shots to 10.

In the Over 60’s final Abergavenny’s John Vale faced Phil Read of Crickhowell. Again the Abergavenny player was able to match his opponent for the first half of their game but Phil Read then took control to win by 21 shots to 10 and claim his third trophy of the day.

The most closely contested and tense game of the day was the inaugural Mixed Pairs final played between the Abergavenny pair of Sue Williams and Gethin Hill and Chepstow’s Meryl Slaywater and Peter Bailey. This was a very gripping match throughout with some excellent bowling from both teams. There was never more than a two shot difference at any time in the game. The destination of the trophy was finally decided when the Abergavenny pair bowled their last two bowls to within six inches of the jack to claim their victory by 19 shots to 18. This first venture into a mixed pairs competition in Monmouthshire has been a tremendous success and it is apparent from the level of entries this year, and the interest shown in the competition, that this Mixed Pairs and perhaps even other Mixed competitions is likely to grow in future.

The remaining Abergavenny finalist Jack Vale was involved in the most important contest of the day when he played Open Singles final against Mark Handcock of Chepstow. The Abergavenny player established an early advantage which was gradually reduced and then overtaken by the Chepstow player. At this stage Mark Handcock led by three shots but Jack Vale then produced some excellent bowling to regain his advantage and go on to win by 21 shots to 13 and claim the title of Champion of the EMBA.

This weekend Abergavenny will hold their club finals at Avenue Road where a number of their season long competitions will be decided.