GILWERN Bowling Club MBA team travelled to promotion-chasing Caerleon BC for their penultimate league game of the season on Saturday.

Although Caerleon are second in the league, the visitors managed to win on three rinks to register victory by 82 shots to 74, securing 12 league points in the process.

The rink of Mark Wells was four shots behind with six ends to play but then took command over the closing stages, scoring 13 shots and conceding none, to win the game 23-14.

The other three rinks were all very close, with Gilwern successful on two and Caerleon on one.

Bryant Chivers’ rink won 20-19 and Richard Davis’ 23-22, with Tony Corfield’s rink just losing out 19-16.

Gilwern BC also held the finals of their club competitions last week, where Byron Jones was crowned men’s champion, and Jill Howells defeated Bonnie Bowhay 21-19 in a very closely fought game to be crowned ladies champion.

Men’s pairs winners were Byron Jones and Brian Hughes who beat Mick Axford and Malcolm Powell 17-15, while the ladies pairs was won by Mal Smith and Kay Doughty, beating Karen Fulton and Anne Konieczny 12-11.

The mixed pairs was won by Ken Christie and Ann Whomersley, who overcame Brian Hughes and Anne Konieczny 16-14 in a rain-interrupted final.

The novices final was won by Maggie Sevenoaks, defeating Ian Cole.

Finally, the men’s champion Byron Jones and ladies champion Jill Howells played off to become ‘Champion of Champions’, with Byron succeeding 21-17.

This Saturday (September 12), Gilwern host Whiteheads for the final league game of the season, followed on Sunday (September 13), by the finals of the East Monmouthshire BA at Chepstow, where three members of Gilwern BC will be hoping to be crowned champions. (start 9.30am).