In a tense closely contested MBA game against Machen at Avenue Road, where two rinks were tied and one rink successful for each team, Abergavenny managed to seal their victory over the final two ends of the match to win the game by 77 shots to 72.

The victorious rink for Abergavenny was that of Robert Poynter. They established an eight shot lead by the fourth end and then maintained their lead to win by 20 shots to 13. Peter Stahl’s rink fought back from an early five shot deficit to secure a draw on the final end by scoring one shot to tie their game 19 shots each.

Gethin Hill’s rink could not register a point over the first five ends but gradually got into the game and then scored eight shots on the penultimate end which secured a tie, each team scoring twenty one shots. The rink of Matthew Vale was involved in a close tussle which was decided by the Machen rink scoring one shot on each of the final two ends to win by 19 shots to 17.

In their GBL game at Gilwern, Abergavenny won on one rink but were beaten on two rinks to lose the game by 65 shots to 47.

The successful rink for Abergavenny was that of Bill Belli. Although the game was close, they managed to score shots on the final two ends to win by 15 shots to 13. Although John Marsh’s rink held a five shot lead at halfway, they then conceded eleven shots over the next five ends which led to defeat by 23 shots to 17. Derek Bailey’s rink recovered after conceding ten shots without reply over the first five ends. They were only one shot behind but then conceded a further thirteen shots on the last six ends to lose by 29 shots to 15.

In the second GBL game against third placed Abertillery at Avenue Road, Abergavenny held a five shot lead after 16 ends.

Unfortunately, in the final five ends, Abertillery turned the situation round to win by 52 shots to 49. Abergavenny had one successful rink, that of Jeff Gibbon. In a close game they sealed their victory by scoring one shot on each of the last two ends to win the game by 17 shots to 14.

John Marsh’s rink held a five shot lead with five ends to play but then conceded eight shots on four ends to eventually lose by 19 shots to 18. Similarly, Derek Bailey’s rink could score only one shot on the final five ends and lost by 19 shots to 14.

This weekend Abergavenny play their Carruthers Cup game at Bedwas & Trethomas and also visit Blaina for a GBL fixture. Next Wednesday Bailey Park will provide the opposition for an EMBA game at Avenue Road.