LAST weekend Abergavenny played an MBA game at Brynmawr and a GBL fixture against Pontymister Welfare at Avenue Road. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure victory in either of the games.

In the game at Brynmawr, Abergavenny won on only one rink and were therefore defeated by 84 shots to 67. The only successful rink was that of Anthony Moriarty. Although they were behind after 13 ends, they then scored 14 shots without reply to secure victory by 23 shots to 15. The rinks of John Beaton, Matthew Vale and Gethin Hill all suffered defeats by 24 shots to 14, 23 shots to 13 and 22 shots to 17 respectively. This result enables Brynmawr to push ahead in their quest for promotion to division one.

In the GBL game at Avenue Road, Pontymister Welfare managed victory on two of the three rinks to win the game by 60 shots to 53. The victorious rink for Abergavenny was that of Kevin Matthias. They were level with six ends to play but then outscored their opponents over the last five ends to win by 22 shots to 17. The rink of Ron Smith had a ten shot deficit after nine ends. Although they reduced their deficit, they were eventually beaten by 20 shots to 16. Maurice Padfield’s rink could never quite get on terms with their opponents which eventually led to defeat by 23 shots to 15.

The GBL team also played a rearranged league game against Bedwelty Park at Avenue Road. They won on one rink but lost the game by 85 shots to 50. John Marsh’s rink was the only rink to record a victory. They were in charge throughout to record a victory by 24 shots to 18. David Powell’s rink held an eight shot lead after five ends but then their opponents took control to win by 32 shots to 15. The game was close for the first ten ends on the rink of Ron Smith. However, their opponents then outscored the Abergavenny rink to win by 35 shots to 11.

In the week prior to last weekend’s games, Abergavenny Bowls Club was represented in the finals of the Welsh Championships played over ten days in Llandrindod Wells. The club had teams in both the Open Rink and Senior Triples competitions.

The rink of Matthew Vale, Gethin Hill, Martin Doughty and John Vale played against a rink from Gilfach BC, the South Glamorgan BA winners. The Abergavenny rink held a five shot lead after 14 ends but a change of tactics by their opponents enabled them to score six shots, without reply, to win the game by one shot and win through to the quarter finals.

The first game for the Senior Triple team of Gethin Hill, Martin Doughty and John Vale was played against Beaufort, who had defeated them in the MBA final the previous week. On this occasion, in a very tense game, the Abergavenny team managed to score three shots on the final end to win the game by 19 shots to 16. This saw them through to the quarter final, played on the same day, where they played Berriew BC, representing Montgomeryshire BA. The game was equal for the first twelve ends but the Abergavenny team then seized control of the game to build a seven shot lead with one end to play. Although conceding two shots on the final end, they won through to the semi-final.

The semi–final was played in damp conditions on Thursday morning. Unfortunately one member of the Abergavenny team was taken ill the previous day and so a substitute had to play at short notice. In the semi-final Abergavenny faced a team from Resolven BC of West Glamorgan BA. The Abergavenny team held a four shot lead with four ends to play but a turn around with the Resolven skips last bowl on the next end enabled them to score four shots when Abergavenny were holding four shots prior to the last bowl. This levelled the scores and then on the next end the Resolven team scored two shots. This meant that the Abergavenny team then went to the final end with a two shot deficit. They very narrowly missed scoring the three shots required for victory and so lost the game by 16 shots to 13, unfortunately not going through to the final. Their opponents in the semi-final, Resolven BC, went on to win the final and become Welsh Champions.

In a busy week for the club, Abergavenny play Croesyceiliog in an MBA game at Avenue Road and also play a GBL game at Bailey Park on Saturday. In addition there is also the final EMBA game against Monmouth plus two friendly games for the mixed team against RTB Ebbw Vale at Avenue Road and at St Martins BC in Hereford.