ABERGAVENNY Bowls Club is delighted to announce the accreditation of five of its members as qualified coaches.

Under the instruction of Lyn Perkins who heads the Welsh Bowls Coaching Association they attended training sessions over a three week period as a group before the individual assessment conducted by the WBCA’s Noel Tippett.

The five members are, Maurice Padfield, Ron Smith, James Harris, Mike Collins and Clare Morgan.

Their services and coaching skills were certainly needed as the recruitment drive to attract new members, sponsored by the Auberge Bar and Restaurant Abergavenny, was so successful that the club can boast 18 new members.

The coaching course was made possible as the result of a significant grant from the Monmouthshire Community Chest panel which also paid for new bowls and coaching equipment for the club.

A number of sessions for members have already taken place and anyone joining can be assured of support from the coaching team. There is still time to join the club this season and the opportunity to take advantage of subsidised fees still applies for those new to the game. Interested? then contact Jackie Evans on 01873 853301 or Maurice Padfield on 07968 867749 or email him at [email protected].

LAST weekend Abergavenny men’s team played matches in the MBA against Newbridge at Avenue Road and travelled to Caldicot to fulfil an EMBA fixture. Unfortunately, they came off second best on both occasions. On Saturday, although winning on two of the four rinks they were beaten by the small margin of four shots, losing 89 shots to 85. On Sunday, they could win on one ring only and therefore lost by a fairly large margin.

On Saturday the winning rinks for Abergavenny were those of Gethin Hill and Matthew Vale. Gethin Hill’s rink built a substantial early lead. This lead was gradually reduced until the Newbridge rink led by two shots after 18 ends. The Abergavenny rink then scored five shots over the final three ends to win by 22 shots to 19. The game on the rink of Matthew Vale was close throughout the first nineteen ends but the Abergavenny rink managed to seal victory by scoring five shots on the final two ends to win by 29 shots to 23.

The rink of Keith Richards held a nine shot lead after the first ten ends. This lead was gradually eroded and then the Newbridge rink scored six shots on the final end to seal victory by 26 shots to 21. Anthony Moriarty’s rink was level after ten ends of their game. Unfortunately the Newbridge rink then outscored the Abergavenny rink during the second half of the game to win by 21 shots to 13.

On Sunday, in scorching conditions on an excellent green at Caldicot, Abergavenny gave several new members their first taste of league bowling on an away green. Although they acquitted themselves well, Abergavenny could win on one rink only and therefore were defeated. The only victorious rink was that of Anthony Moriarty. The Abergavenny rink was always ahead after the fifth end and went on to win by 23 shots to 18. The rink of Keith Richards was involved in a close tousle throughout but just lost out on the final end, losing by one shot. The rinks of Matthew Vale and Gethin Hill were both defeated which led to overall defeat for Abergavenny.

Last week Abergavenny ladies team welcomed Pontyfelin to Avenue Road for a league fixture. Unfortunately, they only won on one rink and therefore were defeated by a large margin. The successful rink for Abergavenny was that of Judi Belli who managed to score the winning shot on the final end of the game. The rinks of Ceri Clark and Sian Phillips were both defeated, leading to overall defeat for the team.

This coming week Abergavenny men’s team play in the first round of the Welsh (Carruthers) Cup at Avenue Road. Their opponents Aberavon may include Welsh international and TV commentator John Price, who is a member of the club. The ladies team will play a league fixture at Garndiffaith and the mixed team will play St Martins at home and Caldicot away.