Abergavenny Bowls Club – 3.9.16
Abergavenny Bowls Club played their final games of the season in both the EMBA and MBA competitions. On Saturday Chepstow were the visitors to Avenue Road for a title deciding fixture in the EMBA. Fortunately, despite appalling conditions due to rain, Abergavenny won on three of the four rinks to win the game by 88 shots to 83. This victory means that they are EMBA champions for the first time in a number of years.
The three winning rinks were those of Anthony Moriarty which built an early lead and then tightened their grip on the game to claim victory by 31 shots to 16. Ieuan Jenkins rink was involved in a close game but secured victory by scoring four on the penultimate end to win by 22 shots to 20. Robert Poynter’s rink held a twelve shot lead at halfway and then despite a comeback by the Chepstow rink they held on to win by 21 shots to 19. Unfortunately Matthew Vale’s rink conceded shots during the second half of the game to lose by 28 shots to 14.
On Sunday Abergavenny completed their MBA fixtures with a defeat by Crosskeys at Avenue Road. They won on one rink, drew on one rink but were defeated on the other two rinks to lose a close contest by 76 shots to 71. The successful rink was that of Ieuan Jenkins which outscored their opponents in the second half of the game to win by 19 shots to 10. The game on Peter Stahl’s rink was close throughout with their opponents managing to register two shots on the final end to draw 17 shots all. Unfortunately the rinks of Matthew Vale and Anthony Moriarty were defeated by 22 shots to 19 and 27 shots to 16 respectively.
Abergavenny Ladies played a friendly game at Gilwern in mid- week. Due to absences and holidays they introduced three new players who had never previously played a competitive game of bowls. However, Mary Vale, Sue Williams and Ann Whomersley acquitted themselves well enough to enable the Abergavenny Ladies to register a victory by 52 shots to 41. The rink of Shirley Williams had a comfortable victory by 19 shots to 7. The other two rinks were much closer with Mary Evans rink drawing 15 all and Judy Belli’s rink losing by one, 19 shots to 18.
This week end Abergavenny play two GBL games to complete their league season. On Sunday several Abergavenny players will also be involved in the finals of the EMBA competitions, which are being held at Monmouth. In addition, on Sunday, Abergavenny Ladies are holding a Charity competition, played between rinks from local clubs, for the Nevill Trophy. The charity that will benefit from the day is St David’s Hospice Care.