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ABOUT US: Abington Bowling Club is one of Northampton's sporting institutions. Based just south of Abington Park, we are in close proximity to the Old Northamptonians Sports Ground. Just a short way east of the town centre. We provide a competitive but welcoming environment for anyone who fancies taking up outdoor flat green bowls, the most popular form of bowls, and the most inclusive of all sports.

We also boast one of the biggest and most furbished clubhouses in the region, complete with lounge area, dining room and boardroom. We offer usage of any of these to interested parties. Click on 'Hire our Facilities' above to see what we can provide.

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LATEST NEWS:

13/8/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEK 12

THE SITUATION continues to improve for Abington in the Monday evening men's league. The B-side now stand potentially just one game away from promotion, having done almost everything to try and remove Brackley from the equation.

And in addition to a 5-1 win over a close rival, a little later came the news of a surprise loss for the only side above them, St. Crispin's. Who just happen to be the B-team's opponents for the 13th round. With the gap to first place now down to just half a point, a win will make the Bs' position almost unassailable.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
St. Crispin’s A	12	8	1	3	739	660	44
Abington B	12	9	0	3	746	679	43.5
Daventry Town A	12	5	2	5	773	718	39.5
Heyford	12	6	2	4	751	700	39.5
Brackley	12	7	1	5	752	684	38.5
Kingsthorpe B	12	6	1	5	725	768	35
Roade	12	4	1	7	685	735	30.5
Harpole A	12	1	0	11	596	823	19.5

The Brackley result confirms how the team has solidified over the course of the campaign, no longer relying on an isolated rink to win big. Dave Brawn and Mick Hall's rinks shared highest-win honours, even though the latter had been level with just three ends to go. Captain Mick Taylor continued his winning run despite a late wobble that brought the deficit down to just two. Four separate scores of three had helped establish their lead. Meanwhile, the one losing rink at least finished a little stronger than they started, quickly quelling any possibility of the points being shared.

A 3-3 draw was the result of the crunch game between Daventry A and Heyford. So both of them have lost out, but neither can be discounted with one of the top two set to drop points this week. The big news is the confirmation of Harpole A's immediate return to Division 3.

Over in the object of all their desires, the First Division, there was more good news for Abington as the A-side went back above Whyte Melville, following the latter's destruction at Kingsthorpe. Two caveats however. It was a most belaboured victory at Bugbrooke, with two points conceded and a winning shot margin considerably less than most others have managed over a side who are now almost confirmed to come last. And also, Abington A's final two matches are against Express A and Kingsthorpe A, so we'll need to see considerable sharpness throughout the side if we are to hang onto fourth. (West End A will certainly be hoping for that as well.)

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Kingsthorpe A	12	10	1	1	803	595	56
Northampton West End A	12	9	0	3	854	588	52
Northampton Express A	12	9	1	2	738	628	50
Abington A	12	6	0	6	706	722	34.5
Whyte Melville A	12	5	0	7	651	714	32
Desborough Town	12	3	1	8	664	760	25
Earls Barton	12	3	1	8	597	816	22.5
Bugbrooke	12	1	0	11	585	775	16

Phil Reeve and Dave Vernon were the two skips who came up trumps this week. The latter was level with six ends to go before an extended salvo of nine in four ends (plus a tied end on the very last). Reeve's game saw an unconventional scoring pattern, with two prolonged spells of conceding ones and twos and a minority of big scores at the beginning and middle. Meanwhile, John Freeman's usually reliable record was dented by a man serving notice of his future intentions. Bugbrooke's Dave Jones completed a personal league double against the men he will be calling team-mates next year. Incredibly, Jones sealed his rink point on both occasions with a superb final bowl while a stackful down. Indications are that he'll be another solid addition to our playing unit.

*** WOULD THAT this upturn in fortunes extended to the ladies team in their Friday triples league as well. After three matches, promotion looked a decent bet, but the only win since then came in a game abandoned after 10 ends for poor weather. Even with one rearranged fixture to play, Abington are resigned to another year in the lower tier. Molly Atterbury and Lis Milburn have been two standout stars of the team, with a 100% winning record from four appearances each, and not always while on the same rink. Unfortunately, few others have been able to match that this season. Although 2nd place is not out of the question mathematically, 3rd looks to be the likely summit of their ambitions now.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Kislingbury	8	6	0	2	235	219	20.5
Woodford-cum-Membris	7	4	0	3	214	199	16
Whyte Melville	6	3	0	3	183	145	14.5
Abington	7	3	0	4	193	186	13.5
Harpole	8	2	0	6	193	269	7.5

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11/8/2017

OUR LADIES AT LEAMINGTON

ABINGTON HAD NEVER figured in the women's national championships before, and they exited at the 2nd round. Yet 'if only...' seems an appropriate response, as their conquerors ended the week with the trophy in their hands.

On paper, this wasn't the closest the eventual champions came to defeat, but few opponents of Ann Halliday's Middlesex rink would have performed better. Certainly no-one scored more shots against them.

A curious quirk of Middlesex's run to ultimate glory was that they kept being dealt the same big challenge, how to deal with a rink buoyant with the joys of administering a thrashing in their previous round. And our rink began this demanding series. All four of Debbie Bradshaw, Diana Brown, Lis Milburn and Debbie Cadd were marvellous in their opening match as Bernadette Hill's rink from Bolton BC, Lancashire were simply carved open.

The front pair gave them a head start on most ends, and consequently the game overall. After a few ends, the back end's confidence had risen enough for them to match that consistency, and more importantly, play the crucial conversion shots with ease. Perhaps most crucial of all was Cadd's final wood on the 16th end, with which she drilled onto a Lancashire shot bowl and collected the jack taking it a few feet towards a collection of Northants woods for six.

That swiftly ended the only slightly sticky patch of the first game, and effectively killed the tie. Cadd and company eased towards an eventual 25-8 win, with two ends to spare. They had never been to Leamington before but they looked like they belonged.

As theirs was an early first round, they had to pack up, go home and return the following afternoon for their second game. In that time, the weather deteriorated, but their form didn't. As they bolted into a 9-2 lead after five ends, it seemed more of the same was due. A dropped four on the sixth end though confirmed that this foe wouldn't lay over quite so meekly. After 10 ends, that early lead had evaporated.

The second half became a cat-and-mouse chase as our girls fought to keep up the pace. There was time for one final twist though. Abington re-took the lead for Northants with two ends to go after yet more excellent conversion shots from Cadd. But neither she nor her teammates could repeat the feat on the last couple of ends and two dropped threes brought the axe down.

Despite that gutting blow, all four of them can return to Abington with their heads high. They represented their county with some high quality bowling and pushed the eventual winners nearer the exit than most. To get here in the first place, they had to defeat previous winners of the national tournament. They are Abington's first female qualifiers for the nationals, but one gets the feeling we won't have to wait long for more.

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6/8/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEK 11

IN THE LAST Monday league report, this page raised some serious questions about the ambition of our two sides, and awaited a "big response". The initial verdict is, they buried most of the immediate issues.

We have to begin with the B-team in Division 2, as they are involved in a pursuit of league glory whereas the As aren't (although the A-team is still hunting for silverware, as we shall see later). It has to be said though they are scraping by on the bare minimum required, and taking four points off bottom-placed stragglers Harpole might be considered a disappointing return.

Still, a win's a win, and no worse a result than any of the other sides managed. With Heyford beating Brackley and Crispin's A beating Daventry A by the same points margins, Abington B's result was enough to get them back into the second promotion spot. Once again, Peter Milburn and captain Mick Taylor were the star skips, both winning in double figures. However, with the two sides either of them still to play, they will need the whole team to perform over the next couple of weeks to capitalise on this position.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
St. Crispin’s A	11	8	1	2	687	599	42
Abington B	11	8	0	3	684	630	38.5
Brackley	11	7	1	4	703	622	37.5
Daventry Town A	11	5	1	5	698	643	36.5
Heyford	11	6	1	4	676	625	36.5
Kingsthorpe B	11	5	1	5	664	716	31
Roade	11	3	1	7	623	685	23.5
Harpole A	11	1	0	10	546	761	18.5

For once this year, it was the A-team who recorded the better result. It's perhaps undignified to toast a 6-0 win over a side in the relegation zone, but what was gratifying to witness was a complete team performance. Every rink and every player giving of their best all at the same time, as the top three sides manage so often (and indeed as West End A managed twice this week, including an eye-popping annihilation of Earls Barton in their rearranged match, in which they racked up a shot score of 103!).

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Northampton West End A	11	9	0	2	807	520	51
Kingsthorpe A	11	9	1	1	716	556	50
Northampton Express A	11	8	1	2	670	581	45
Whyte Melville A	11	5	0	6	612	627	32
Abington A	11	5	0	6	648	668	30.5
Earls Barton	11	3	1	7	550	747	21.5
Desborough Town	11	2	1	8	595	713	20
Bugbrooke	11	1	0	10	531	717	14

We've had to wait too long to witness a similar mass attack from Abington A this year, but at least it arrived at this point in time. Two days after the Desborough demolition - crushing in its wake any suggestion of a shock demotion to Division 2 - Kingsthorpe A mosied into town for the quarter-final of the league's knockout tournament and were stunned by an Abington A side reinvigorated with determination, purpose and poise.

Given the extra quality of the opposition, this proved far from a thrashing, but in many respects it was an even finer performance. The perpetual champions were simply outclassed and the current holders of the shield progress to the last four again. Perform like this every week, and there is no limit to what this team can achieve. Next up, a potential mercy killing of Bugbrooke.

A match report of the knockout match can be found in the men's section.

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31/7/2017

LAST-END FINAL HEARTBREAK FOR LEAMINGTON-BOUND FOUR

THIS TIME next week, Abington will be represented in the women's national championships for the very first time. Unfortunately, Debbie Cadd's rink were a whisker away from travelling to Leamington Spa as county fours champions. 

Also featuring Debbie Bradshaw, Diana Brown and Lis Milburn, the rink travelled to Wellingborough for the final game of the county tournament on Saturday 29th July. They were already history makers, but hopes were high they could make it even more special.

Those hopes looked to have been obliterated before the gripping agent had even dried on their woods. Their Burton Latimer opponents, skipped by Sharon Hall were all more experienced at this level of bowls and took advantage immediately, scoring six on the first end.

However, our girls have overcome the odds every step of the way this season. Getting the bad end out of the way straightaway actually allowed them to settle down. Over the next few ends they matched their opponents' scoring rate, keeping the deficit manageable until the seventh, at which point they clicked into turbo. Cadd and her charges could barely miss during the middle period, putting together a run of 13 shots from just half as many ends. If they could just maintain that scoring rate for a few ends more, the trophy was surely theirs.

Unfortunately, as the headline will already have told you, that didn't quite happen. Not for want of good bowling, as Abington took second wood for six successive ends, but eventually the dam burst. An exceptional head of woods from Hall's rink on the 20th end, and some slightly wayward attacking shots from the Abington players, reversed the scoreline going into the last.

Despite some more good play from Burton, Abington were ready to respond this time, and Cadd had a much more inviting head to bowl at with her last of the game. Sadly, she wasn't quite able to trail the jack far enough to bring a third Abington wood into the count, and the extra end hopes were gone, along with the championship. Still, Cadd and teammates could walk away having given yet another star rink a close game, proving that when the date of destiny arrives next week, they will be ready. Abington's players will make their Leamington bows in an early 1st round game on the afternoon of Monday August 7th, with further rounds (hopefully) on the Tuesday and - dare we say it? - Wednesday. We'd love to see you there.

*THERE WAS only one other piece of Abington news from the county comps this week, but it was a biggie. Adam Hawkings, Mick Taylor and Dave Fage reached the final of the Northants Executive Triples - despite the absence of their name player for the crucial 'whites' stage.

Even before departing for a holiday, Jonathan Brown graciously decided that he would not insert himself back into the lineup even if they got through last week's play. So it will be the Saturday captain, a member of the selection committee and the bar chairman who will represent the Abington boardroom's honour in the final of this curious competition, a mixed event to which entry is only open for club administrators.

Fage is a previous two-time winner of the Exec (alongside Brown), and was particularly impressive upon this promotion to skip. The quarter-final proved a reasonably comfortable win over Sue Graham-Hole's trio from St. Crispin's, in which they established an early 9-0 lead and maintained the deficit until the concluding handshake.

The semi-final two days later was a much more nerve-wrangling affair. In many ways it was a reversal of the ladies fours final. Fage's men trailed throughout but never stopped fighting. The last end saw a few exchanges of match point, but Taylor's final bowl could not be beaten. Abington had emphatically snatched a place in the final for the first time in seven years.

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31/7/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEKS 9 & 10

AS THE CAMPAIGN enters the home straight, it would be nice to report that Abington are on course to achieve their Monday night targets, but the last two round of fixtures have not gone well.

The B-team are still handily placed, but last week's shock defeat at Roade has set them back slightly. Perhaps there was a slight hangover from the previous week. Sitting second in Division 2, they produced a win over then-table toppers Daventry - only to find they'd DROPPED a place! Not only was the margin of the Daventry win not quite enough to get in front of them, but St. Crispin's trumped both of them with a win over - you guessed it - Roade.

Until that news came through the season had been a steady progression upwards. It was the first time since the second round that the Bs had come away from a game lower in the table than beforehand, and after one of their best results! Sadly it was followed by the same happening again after one of the season's worst results.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
St. Crispin’s A	10	7	1	2	629	547	38
Brackley	10	7	1	3	651	568	35.5
Daventry Town A	10	5	1	4	646	585	34.5
Abington B	10	7	0	3	623	577	34.5
Heyford	10	5	1	4	622	573	32.5
Kingsthorpe B	10	4	1	5	599	652	27
Roade	10	3	1	6	559	620	21.5
Harpole A	10	1	0	9	493	700	16.5

All around them has descended into the usual 2nd Division chaos. Early season pace setters Daventry A and Heyford have also endured a torrid couple of weeks. This has allowed Brackley to suddenly emerge from the lower half and assume the second promotion spot, after taking 11 and a half of the 12 points available from their ninth and tenth fixtures. Just when you think this division is settling down...

So with four matches to play, it's between any two of five, with just three points separating 2nd from 5th and the new leaders out in front by only the same margin (and don't entirely discount Kingsthorpe B in 6th either). Abington B have given themselves a little extra work to do but they have an immediate chance to make a big gain with this evening's fixture at Harpole.

In theory, Abington A should be saying the same thing about this week's visit of Desborough, though it's never clear which side they'll bring with them. In any case, they didn't need many of their star players last time to beat our boys. Little has gone right since that result, and the last couple of weeks especially have suggested a squad growing complacent about their place in Division 1.

For sure, it would only have taken a handful of extra shots to earn a win at Whyte Melville and a second point from last week's West End game, but the fact remains that they didn't get them. (Plus, some individual rink results of late have been hideous for a supposed 1st Division side.) And now, what was supposed to be an title challenge has almost decayed into a bona fide relegation battle. This is especially frustrating when you see how competitive it has got between the top three, knowing that the squad has enough ability to be on their coat-tails at the very least.

It most definitely will be about avoiding the drop if Desborough are allowed to make it a double tonight. Here's awaiting the big response.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Kingsthorpe A	10	8	1	1	637	505	45
Northampton Express A	10	7	1	2	611	527	41
Northampton West End A	9	7	0	2	640	449	40
Whyte Melville A	10	5	0	5	558	568	30
Abington A	10	4	0	6	565	627	24.5
Earls Barton	9	3	1	5	474	565	20.5
Desborough Town	10	2	1	7	554	630	20
Bugbrooke	10	1	0	9	485	653	13

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24/7/2017

COUNTY/NATIONAL COMPS ROUNDUP: 17th-23rd JULY

THE BUNTING IS BACK OUT! Just as we were beginning to prepare our 'better luck next year' messages, two of our men have confirmed their presence at the National Championships at Leamington Spa in August.

Following on from last week's update concerning Adam Brown's passage to the latter stages of the Northamptonshire 2-wood singles, he continued his run all the way to the final. Just.

West End was the venue, and Brown, as Abington players seem to do too often, found it difficult to get into his usual rhythm on the tricky surface. As such, two games he might have been expected to win anyway (despite not having qualified for a nationals before) became a supreme test of concentration and determination.

His quarter-final victim was Dan Trasler of the home club, who had performed brilliantly to reach this stage in only his second year of bowling. In fact, he so nearly made himself the headline act of the night, recovering from an iffy start to take the game to Brown all the way to the final end. Neither player was showing their best by that stage, Brown taking the decisive shot with a bowl over a yard away.

If that was underwhelming though, at least the climax of the crucial semi-final, against Desborough's Carl Wigfield, was anything but. Arguably, Brown should never have found himself requiring at least five of his six (possible) remaining woods to count. But it's amazing what brings the best out of people. It was only in this desperate position that Brown suddenly started playing like he can, peppering the jack to take no less than five shots and claim an extra end.

Wigfield may have committed a cardinal error here. Having won the toss, he gave the mat and jack away. This is the usual thing to do, but in 2-wood the advantage of last bowl is significantly lower than usual. Better to take the chance of putting it on your favoured length and bowling a stonker. That's what Brown had done to force the extra end in the first place, and it was what he did to qualify for his first national championships.

His presence at Leamington Spa will also be a little piece of Abington history. Our first male player to earn a National Championship badge since their tournaments departed from Worthing and joined the women's in central Warwickshire. The club's first men's qualifier in a major competition since Adam Hawkings reached the Junior Singles in his debut year, back in 2008.

However, he won't be the only Abington man on the hallowed turf. John Freeman will be joining him in the Senior Singles. It's the first year he has been eligible for the competition and after a comfortable victory over Higham Ferrers' Steve Norman left him last man standing in the Northamptonshire section, he declared "I should have gone in this years ago!"

Indeed, one gets the feeling the senior tournaments will become a favourite of Abington's over the next few years, as an exalted generation of our membership settle into the transition from middle aged to elderly. Last year, Tony O'Leary got to the senior pairs finals and now Freeman is just five more wins away from becoming national old man's champion. The challenge recommences on Saturday 26th August.

For Brown meanwhile, Tuesday 28th August is the first date of destiny, with hopefully another to follow. Although members will have to juggle other club and work commitments, we hope as many as possible are able to get down the M45 and support our boys as they take on the (rest of) the country's finest.

*AFTER THEIR QUALIFICATION, Brown and Freeman resolved to do all they could to allow several of their clubmates to share in the glory. Unfortunately, despite a tireless effort from all concerned, the A-team's run in the men's National Top Club was ended one round ahead of the area final, at Avenue BC in Coventry on the evening of Saturday 22nd.

It was always going to be an uphill battle from the moment it was confirmed that two of the regulars would be absent for an away game at an unfamiliar club, against a side with no fewer than six Middleton Cup bowlers, one of whom has recently won a hat-trick of county singles titles. (Our best wishes especially to Phil Reeve as his heart adjusts to the addition of stents and he now patiently waits for the operating date.)

And all that was before the rain came. Never heavy, but constant miserable drizzle. It was sad to make our exit on such a night. However, many thanks must be extended to Avenue for looking after our boys with a nice spread - and hopefully teaching them a few bowling lessons as well.

A full match report can be found in the men's section.

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18/7/2017

COUNTY/NATIONAL COMPS ROUNDUP: 10th-16th JULY

CLUB MEN'S champion Adam Brown made home advantage pay in the county 2-wood singles. He was one of eight survivors from the opening rounds day, the southern half of which was staged this year at Abington on Sunday 16th July.

The tournament resumes this coming Friday the 21st, with the quarters and semis at Northampton West End. Brown reached this stage after more than a combined two and a half hours of play. He was one of only two competitors to battle through four rounds, having been asked to begin at the prelim stage, and the only one from the southern leg who did so.

Brown's clubmate Dave Fage nearly proved equal to that challenge, but he sadly wilted with the chequered flag in sight. If Fage had also made it through to whites, then it would have guaranteed an Abington semi-finalist. Instead, Brown's next opponent is West End's new young bowler Dan Trasler.

His youngest opponent on Sunday proved his most difficult. Express' Tom Wellburn had seemed to be going in a similar direction to Tim Dawkins and Paul Green but raised his game superbly over the last five ends. It was a surreal situation for Brown, whose withered away even though his own performance remained strong. A superb jack trail from Wellburn left Brown match down in a game he had stood on the precipice of winning for several ends.

By the belly of his last bowl, he squeaked that one last vital shot just in time, a display of impressive nerve that may hold him in good stead later on in the competition. In comparison, his group final against Abington's own Phil Reeve, his toughest opponent on paper, was a breeze. Reeve had preceded that with a win over Rob Archer, Abington guaranteed a quarter-finalist even with two rounds to finish. Archer had previously notched up one of the day's most impressive results with an extra end win over Express star Chris Bland.

Seven more of our men also competed, but only Adam Hawkings got through his first game before joining John Freeman on the list of scalps claimed convincingly by Kingsthorpe's Ben Sharpe.

For Brown, progression to the latter stages of a county singles competition was an effective balm after a surprise early exit from the Mason Champion of Champions to Whyte Melville's Mark Courtney. It so nearly did similarly for Reeve, but instead it was one of a trio of disappointments for our new man, alongside similarly decisive losses in the national senior singles and pairs. At least in the latter he was able to share the pain with his good friend Freeman rather than take it all from him, as happened in the former.

*** IT'S TO BE another busy week of wining and dining the Bowls Northants elite. Abington stages the county mixed pairs QFs and male junior pairs final on Wednesday, July 19th. The winner of the latter receives a place at the National Championships at Leamington. Hope to see you there ourselves.

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15/7/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEK 8

THE B-TEAM continue to fly ever higher in Division 2 of the men's Northampton Area Monday League. A gutsy display at Heyford has leapfrogged them from fourth into second, and the p-word is now on everyone's lips.

With Heyford also a promotion hopeful, and enjoying the home advantage of a notoriously spongy surface, it was no great shame that Abington's highest winning rink triumphed by a mere eight shots. It is however to their immense credit that three of the four rinks came away with the goods, and even the one that was defeated staved off a pummeling by Heyford's star skip, Michael Moulton.

Yet again, it was captain Mick Taylor who had the best result of the four skips, scoring 11 before dropping and practically coasting to the finish. Mick Hall and Peter Milburn's rinks took a decisive handful of shots at the halfway point, which kept their noses in front to the finish. Similar will now hopefully be written of the season as a whole. If this run of wins continues to a seventh, Abington B will almost certainly displace their next target, Daventry A, from top spot.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Daventry Town A	8	5	1	2	537	464	31
Abington B	8	6	0	2	503	457	29
St. Crispin’s A	8	5	1	2	488	432	28
Heyford	8	4	1	3	486	464	26.5
Brackley	8	5	1	3	498	461	25
Kingsthorpe B	8	3	1	4	484	520	22
Roade	8	2	1	5	442	493	16
Harpole A	8	1	0	7	405	552	14.5

But even though this was the result of the season so far for the Bs, it wasn't even the standout result of the night in Division 2. That honour went to Brackley, for a disquieting thrashing of Crispin's A on the latter's home turf. A result that played its own part in Abington B's sudden rise. Daventry themselves warmed up for their trip to our place by stuffing Roade. With Kingsthorpe B getting revenge on Harpole A for their opening day loss, the gap to safety for the bottom two teams widens ever further.

As indeed does the gap to the ultimate glory for Abington A in Division 1. The visit of Earls Barton for the season's first return fixture brought about another points majority but also another listless performance overall, with victory by just eight shots. The season continues to drift to such an extent that Whyte Melville, next week's opposition have surpassed our team for 4th.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Kingsthorpe A	8	6	1	1	521	410	36
Northampton West End A	7	6	0	1	513	345	34
Northampton Express A	8	5	1	2	474	435	30.5
Whyte Melville A	8	3	0	5	420	462	21.5
Abington A	8	4	0	4	452	475	21
Earls Barton	7	3	1	3	381	426	19
Desborough Town	8	1	1	6	440	510	14
Bugbrooke	8	1	0	7	385	523	10

John Freeman and Tony O'Leary skipped the two winning rinks, finishing with the exact same score of 20-11. O'Leary's rink began very strongly with eight from just the first two ends, after which the scoring was almost egalitarian. Freeman's trio experienced this the opposite way round, with half of their 20 coming on the final three ends.

Alan Dunkley's rink also displayed the advantage of finishing strongly, albeit to the benefit of the visiting Barton players, as they vanquished an 11-7 lead by dropping 12 across the last six ends. Phil Reeve's rink narrowly came off second best with cause to curse dropping a four on the 11th end, the first after they had finally edged in front.

There were no great twists and turns elsewhere in the First Division, just yet more proof of the continuing gulf between our side and the three imperious leaders. Minds are clearly focused elsewhere at the moment, but caution still needs to be advised. Let's not get involved in a battle for survival just to relieve the monotony.

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11/7/2017

COUNTY/NATIONAL COMPS ROUNDUP: 3rd-9th JULY

DAVE VERNON had a nice shock when he turned up at Grange Bowling Club in Rugby, as part of Abington's National Top Club men's A-side. The skip of the rink against, Brian Humphries, was a former school friend.

"See you in another 54 years!" he quipped on his way out the door a few hours later, but all concerned would agree that a return at any time would be fantastic news, following a keenly competitive but very pleasant match. And we're not saying that just because our side won.

A full match report can be found in the men's section, but as thoughts now turn to a trip to another unfamiliar Warwickshire location - Avenue BC in Coventry - what gives most comfort was further evidence that the side is strong in all departments. No longer is it reliant on particular players or formats to drag the rest through.

Aside from that, it hasn't been a bountiful week, with our sole remaining entrant in the mens' county pairs, Chris Beck and Peter Milburn, harshly dispatched 7-22 and the latter's wife Lis receiving similar treatment from Ann-Marie Waters of Roade in the ladies singles. To round off a most miserable week in the Milburn household, his rink in the county senior fours was also walloped, 8-23, by Mick Donohue of Kingsthorpe. Better news in the Northants executive triples, where club secretary Beck had at least some small success this week, and in the county mixed pairs, where Debbie Cadd and Rob Archer edged a high-scoring affair over Tom Wellburn and partner.

Although the Harris Cup is now taking pride of place behind our bar again, it will sadly not be joined by another jewel in Bowls Northants' crown. Yet another Manfield Cup day passed by with Abington placing highly - 4th - but not high enough. A tied game on captain Jonathan Brown's rink at Cogenhoe cost them a bronze medal placing but it would have taken a doubling of the score to trouble the top two, West End and winners Express.

Returning to the O55 rinks, also excised from it this week were John Freeman and Alan Dunkley's entries (the latter containing Colin Barnes and Reg Jones surprisingly coming a cropper on Cogenhoe's heavy surface for the second time in a week). Between them, these two rinks make up the bulk of our Top Club team. It appears that 2017 is becoming a season of that one very laden basket. Hopefully, it can take the strain for a good while longer.

*** OPPORTUNITIES FOR Leamington qualification haven't entirely closed for Abington's men though. This Sunday July 16th sees the opening rounds of their county 2-wood. This year, the southern half of the draw will be staged at our club, so we hope to see you in attendance on what should be a lively day of pure draw bowling. It's the first of a few important dates for Abington with other county comp events, including the mixed pairs quarters and Mason Cup latter stages, to follow in August.

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9/7/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEK 7

A DOUBLE HEADER with Kingsthorpe's A & B sides marked the halfway mark of the Monday evening league on July 3rd, and it was one in which Abington claimed a majority of the points on offer, 7-5.

Admittedly, the vast majority of those went to the B-side, but while the As now languish a very distant fourth in the top flight, Abington B continue to encroach on the promotion spots in Division 2. A complete clean sweep over their Kingsthorpe counterparts was not only a delicious and swift avenging of their defeat in the knockout tournament last week, but also the clearest statement yet that the team means business again. 

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
St. Crispin’s A	7	5	1	1	440	372	27
Daventry Town A	7	4	1	2	471	414	26
Heyford	7	4	1	2	437	404	25.5
Abington B	7	5	0	2	443	408	24
Brackley	7	4	1	3	438	413	20
Kingsthorpe B	7	2	1	4	413	475	17
Roade	7	2	1	4	392	427	15
Harpole A	7	1	0	6	360	481	13.5

This was the Bs' fifth successive win, yet incredibly their first by a major margin. This blog has fulminated several times in recent weeks on the possibilities that will open up should the side put in a fully-rounded performance, and at last, they have fulfilled that potential. Peter Milburn's rink were the standout performers, winning 21-9, a result that hinged entirely on one plentiful end nearly halfway through.

For a while it looked like Dave Brawn would achieve the highest win, but a big chunk was taken out of their advantage over the final four ends. Nevertheless, they held on for the point, while Mick Hall's rink fought back dramatically to snatch theirs at the death and captain Mick Taylor edged a narrow held a reasonable lead from the halfway mark.

Frustratingly, they still sit no higher than fourth place, but with Daventry Town A receiving a shock tonking at Brackley, the race for glory hasn't been so wide in weeks. St. Crispin's A assume top spot for the first time after crushing Harpole A, who now prop up the table, while Heyford continue their push after doing likewise to Roade.

So much could rest on Abington B's trip to Heyford in the upcoming match, the first reverse fixture of the season. A lot has happened since the night Heyford came to our HQ and claimed five of the six points on the opening night of the season, and Abington B are now breathing down their necks. This week was a result of pure vengeance. Inspiration will now need to strike twice.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Kingsthorpe A	7	5	1	1	463	365	31.5
Northampton West End A	6	5	0	1	449	291	29
Northampton Express A	7	5	1	1	429	377	29
Abington A	7	3	0	4	389	420	17
Earls Barton	6	3	1	2	326	363	17
Whyte Melville A	7	2	0	5	358	421	15.5
Desborough Town	7	1	1	5	386	446	13
Bugbrooke	7	1	0	6	344	461	10

There's far less to report on the A's form and prospects, with the trip to play Kingsthorpe A bringing as few fruits as normal. Special mention though must go to the triple of Chris Beck, Tony O'Leary and especially our recent recruit, Phil Reeve, whose return to his old stomping ground resulted in an awesome 27-5 stuffing, and the sole point.

Sadly, this failed to inspire any of his new team-mates to similar heights, even though there was general agreement that the defending champions were untypically vulnerable on this occasion. John Freeman and Pat McAlwane's rinks were only narrowly beaten, both of whom were at level pegging with just a handful of ends to play. Unfortunately, neither could hold on. Meanwhile, Alan Dunkley's trio were being sliced and diced to the scoreline of 9-30, not scoring on either the first four or last six ends. Captain Jonathan Brown was left to rue his enforced absence as Kingsthorpe A took five points from an aggregate shot win of just nine.

Not for the first time recently, it, and other results, places the Abington side nearer the relegation zone than the gold medal slot, or bronze for that matter. Silverware concerns then have drifted back towards a defence of the league's K/O shield. That now has reached the last eight again after a comfortable desecration of Express B's wildest hopes and dreams. Reeve's rink was again the stand-out, barely conceding a shot and racking up 27. This time he was joined by others, with skipper Brown back in the side and similarly comfortable, and Dunkley scrambling back from 2-9 down at halfway to snatch it 12-11 at the death.

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5/7/2017

COUNTY/NATIONAL COMPS ROUNDUP: 26th JUNE-2nd JULY

AFTER NEAR-MISSES in the fours and triples, the start of the county pairs was greatly anticipated at Abington, but unfortunately the first week proved a massacre, with only one of 11 entered duos surviving.

Chris Beck & Peter Milburn were the great heroes of the week, the only duo to win on both the Wednesday and Friday. On both occasions a strong finish saw them through after a tight first and second acts, but it would be fair to say that their 3rd round opponents are their first serious opposition.

Nevertheless, the Beck/Milburn show - whose combination play might be termed stack-em-and-smack-em - has achieved great things against supposedly more gilded players on several occasions in the past. Five years ago, it took them to the brink of a county final. The club now needs something similar to that to restore the lost pride of a difficult week.

All the bigger shocks befell our players on the Friday night, with Alan Coleman & Terry Brown - semi-finalists last season - moored on the extremely heavy surface of Daventry Town. Colin Barnes & Alan Dunkley and Tony O'Leary & John Freeman were both stunned by opponents they would have been backed to beat. The father and son duo of Jonathan & Adam Brown had it a little harder against Andy Fowkes and Martin Walker of West End, but were no less dejected after dropping a five on the penultimate end to lose by four.

The other six entries were either comfortably stuffed - including a tough assignment for Adam Hawkings & Phil Reeve at West End, which they lost by 10 - unable to play, or narrowly beaten by fellow clubmates. Rob Archer & Pat McAlwane will have felt aggrieved after seeing O'Leary & Freeman's shock loss, having been only one bad end away from a similar result on the Wednesday.

So, opportunities are running out fast for Abington's men to join the women at Leamington, but there are still some rays of light poking through the clouds. The club took its first tentative steps into the unchartered waters of the new county senior fours this week also, beginning with a dramatic victory at Bugbrooke for Alan Dunkley's rink. This correspondent is reliably informed that as long as a bowl is live, it has its uses, no matter how far away from the target it was!

Only the county singles remains for Tony O'Leary though as he and senior pairs partner, Kingsthorpe's Jim McKee, qualifiers for the nationals last year, had their run ended this time much earlier and rather ignobly by a fully Kingsthorpe duo, 6-24. Roger Tansley & Mick Sharpe's reward for this was to be a game against Abington opponents either way, as the Barnes/Dunkley and Freeman/Reeve set-ups duelled in the same round. It was the latter who prevailed, getting off to a blinding start and holding a double-figures advantage through to the conclusion.

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2/7/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEK 6

AS THE HALFWAY stage of the men's Monday evening Triples League approaches, it's becoming difficult to decide for both teams what will constitute a successful season

In game six, the A-team were overturned 1-5 by an Express A who remain in pursuit of the title. Already, that seems a long way off Abington's radar, and yet with only a few ends to spare, it was the home side who could have bagged a similar share of the points.

The biggest gut-wrencher of the night was the loss of the final point on captain Jonathan Brown's rink, who remains surprisingly winless despite being the only man now to have featured in every match so far. Their losing four shots over the last couple of ends was the screw on which everything turned. If they had gone the other way, the As would at least have salvaged a draw.

Nevertheless, every rink was guilty of at least a fairly weak finish, with only Ollie Kirkwood's managing to score more than they conceded over the final three, though it was the ever reliable combination of Adam Hawkings, Terry Brown and John Freeman who produced the sole reward of the evening.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Kingsthorpe A	6	4	1	1	396	307	26.5
Northampton West End A	5	4	0	1	382	235	24.5
Northampton Express A	6	4	1	1	371	328	24
Abington A	6	3	0	3	331	353	16
Whyte Melville A	6	2	0	4	302	354	14
Desborough Town	6	1	1	4	337	388	12
Earls Barton	5	2	1	2	253	317	12
Bugbrooke	6	1	0	5	298	388	9

The result leaves the As eight points adrift of Express, as the front three continue to pull clear (West End postponing their home tie Earls Barton and dropping to second notwithstanding). Surely the As are too good to go down, but have they already ascended to their highest peak? It's looking likely that attention will have to be focused on defending the knockout shield again, but fitting that in is currently playing havoc with the schedules.

That's an issue that the B-team have dealt with by exiting at the 2nd round. Coming a day after their fourth successive win in the league, it will hopefully have no effect on the great progress that has been made recently. Especially as it provides a potential fillip for the side who now sit just one place below them in the Division 2 table, Kingsthorpe B. It was a game Abington B were always chasing, but with no eventual pay-off - with the grand exception of Mick Hall's rink. Ironically, it was they who had the most ground to make up, finding themselves 3-15 down with just six ends to go. But two explosive salvos brought 16 shots, including seven over the last two.

Elsewhere, the Bs had to take solace from the Monday league victory at St Crispin's A. A wafer-thin but nonetheless vital victory at the home of the team who would still be considered favourites to take this tier. Despite taking the majority of shots, the Abington side actually lost on rink points, making the final score as close as could be, without an equal share being taken. Only one Abington rink got the full point, skipped by that man Hall again. And even more remarkably, they only triumphed by five shots, showing how tight the margins were elsewhere, Abington edging the aggregate score by two.

Away from this drama, Daventry Town built upon their lead at the top of the table, crushing Harpole A 5-1, but Kingsthorpe B warmed up for their Abington conquest to beat third-place Heyford 4-2. And Brackley moved off the foot of the table, and even out of the relegation zone completely by thrashing Roade. The entire table, except for the leaders perhaps has constricted yet again.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Daventry Town A	6	4	1	1	423	323	25
St. Crispin’s A	6	4	1	1	378	329	22
Heyford	6	3	1	2	366	346	20.5
Abington B	6	4	0	2	373	368	18
Kingsthorpe B	6	2	1	3	373	405	17
Brackley	6	2	1	3	347	365	15
Roade	6	1	1	4	334	356	14
Harpole A	6	1	0	5	317	419	12.5

So, the Bs are left in a similar situation to the As, albeit it a much more nerve-wracking one. Both the ceiling above and floor below are spongy and vulnerable and its anyone's guess which will give way first. What should be borne in mind at this stage is the memory that Abington B have achieved promotion in similar circumstances more than once before.

*** A GOOD TIME also to check out the progress of the ladies Friday triples league, in which Abington have played three of their eight fixtures so far. After a perfect opening couple of games at home to Harpole and away at league newcomers Woodford-cum-Membris, Abington's form has been curtailed a little by defeat at Kislingbury. We are assured though that this will be only a momentary hiccup. And the table still makes for very good reading, with Abington having a game in hand on all the teams below them.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Whyte Melville	3	2	0	1	106	69	9
Abington	3	2	0	1	102	70	8
Kislingbury	4	2	0	2	104	111	7.5
Woodford-cum-Membris	4	2	0	2	111	122	7
Harpole	4	1	0	3	99	150	4.5

Molly Atterbury and Lis Milburn have produced the outstanding rink results so far, though Diana Brown and Pam Wills have also won both times they've appeared so far. However, it truly is a collective endeavour in a league where game-time is limited, especially with a squad size only slightly below the men's Monday teams. After narrowly missing out on top spot in Division 2 - the only available promotion spot - last year, will the new additions be enough to get them over the line this time? Signs are still encouraging.

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27/6/2017

ABINGTON IN TOP CLUB SENSATION

ABINGTON achieved one of its best results in modern times on Sunday June 25th, to remove Rugby BC from the men's National Top Club, traditionally one of the tournament's strongest sides.

Victory in three of the five disciplines was enough to expel a side brimming not only with Middleton Cup regulars but also a smattering of genuine international class. As recent winners of the trophy - and semi-finalists last year - the Warwickshire side would have been considered the favourites, but this upgraded Abington team stared them down and made them blink first.

In fact, the tie could have been done and dusted a whole hour before it eventually was, but for a couple of shots that went astray in the 4-wood singles. Only the pairs were soundly beaten, and they won't face too many other national team regulars on this journey.

Abington have always been able to get top results against the familiar Northants-based foes in this competition, but this year's new additions mean we can now also take on the very best from elsewhere with no fear. And win. Next up will be a trip to Rugby itself, to play Grange.

Full match report in the men's section.

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26/6/2017

COUNTY/NATIONAL COMPS ROUNDUP: 19th-25th JUNE

NO-ONE was expecting them to win, and such predictions did come to pass, but it was a valiant effort from Abington's last triple standing in their county quarter-final on Tuesday 20th June.

Rob Archer, Alan Coleman and Pat McAlwane would have been considered easy prey for their last-eight opponents from Wellingborough, skipped by one of Northamptonshire's classiest bowlers, Neil Corbyn. But they did not freeze in the spotlight. Instead, they were inspired into a startling performance, Archer in particular outstanding at lead.

Abington held shot on a decent majority of ends after the frontmen had finished, and it could only have been one extra decisive wood that ensured the favourites went through to the semi (and eventually qualified for Leamington). The scoreline was tied on several occasions, with just one end bringing a score of more than two shots. Archer's trio were even holding matchpoint for a few minutes of the final end, until Wellingborough's middle man Darren Lyman produced a peach of a shot bowl, right in front of the jack. The carrot dangled tortuously, with a big collection of Abington bowls just beyond, but would remain unconsumed as Lyman's wood proved too difficult to dislodge.

However, to walk off with regrets of what might have been is still an achievement in itself against top players. Having put an end to our Leamington dreams twice this year now, let's just hope that Abington has seen the last of Neil Corbyn for a while.

In other news, Tony O'Leary continues to fly the club's flag solo with yet another easy win in the county singles, this time over Express' Chris Terry, which puts him just one stage away from 'whites'. O'Leary was also on hand to assist Kingsthorpe's Jim McKee in the National Senior Pairs through another stuffing, this time over Kislingbury's Kevin Mawson.

John Freeman and Phil Reeve also made it through to the 2nd round of the senior pairs with ends to spare, which sets up a swift 'old man's comp' rematch between Reeve and clubmate Colin Barnes, who fought out a tense encounter in the senior singles. Reeve initially had trouble finding the final shot for victory and Barnes steadily encroached to the point where he also could take it on one end, but eventually Reeve's nerve held.

By the nature of the way Bowls England draw these things, his next opponent will be the man who conquered Bugbrooke's Dave Jones this week... John Freeman.

There was only disappointment for Abington's ladies in singles play, with Pam Wills a faller at the second hurdle of the champion of champions trophy (by a hair's breadth to Debbie Cox of Finedon), and Lis Milburn likewise in the 2-wood, to West End's Janet Ashby. However, the latter - along with husband Peter - was able to bury that setback by taking out half the Walker family from the National Mixed Pairs with not one but two impressive wins. Similarly, Dave Fage secured a notable 21-10 coup over Middleton Cup regular Richard Lemon in the county exec triples.

But the really good news is the long-awaited return of an old favourite: Northants VP's Harris Cup.

In the oppressive heat of the warmest June day since the infamous summer of 1976, 24 rinks did battle in a series of 7-end games for one of the oldest and grandest trophies Bowls Northamptonshire have to offer. A trophy that will once again reside in its natural home, our clubhouse. Rounding off a most profitable week for all of them, O'Leary, Freeman, Reeve and Terry Brown dominated the final against a Corby Grampian rink skipped by George Mitchell, taking all the middle five ends. Does this bode well for our upcoming attempt to wrest back that other famous piece of silverware, the Manfield Cup, at long last? All will be revealed this Saturday.

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24/6/2017

MEN'S TRIPLES LEAGUE - WEEK 5

IT'S TAKEN a while, but Abington can finally celebrate wins for both the A and B teams in the men's Monday evening triple league.

For the As, a comfortable 5-1 win against Bugbrooke was a refreshing tonic after a couple of bad results in previous weeks, stabilising them in fourth. The real drama of the night was happening everywhere else in Division 1.

Earls Barton and Desborough played out a rare sharing of the six points that nevertheless lifts the latter out of the dropzone. And shock, horror! West End A have lost a game! They still picked up two and a half points and it was away to third-placed Express A, but still... the battle for supremacy just got a whole lot more interesting.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Northampton West End A	5	4	0	1	382	235	24.5
Kingsthorpe A	5	3	1	1	330	260	21
Northampton Express A	5	3	1	1	307	272	19
Abington A	5	3	0	2	275	289	15
Earls Barton	5	2	1	2	253	317	12
Desborough Town	5	1	1	3	284	330	10
Whyte Melville A	5	1	0	4	244	301	10
Bugbrooke	5	1	0	4	251	322	8.5

Now, much was made last week of Abington B only earning four points despite scoring more than twice as many shots as their opponents, while Heyford took five points despite only winning the aggregate by one measly shot. Well, those who believe in karma will be assured to note that this week, the Bs earned an extra half-point from a single-shot aggregate win while St. Crispin's A picked up just four despite stuffing Kingsthorpe B 81-48.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Daventry Town A	5	3	1	1	336	275	20
St. Crispin’s A	5	4	1	0	320	269	19.5
Heyford	5	3	1	1	303	268	18.5
Abington B	5	3	0	2	313	310	14.5
Roade	5	1	1	3	291	287	13
Kingsthorpe B	5	1	1	3	295	342	13
Harpole A	5	1	0	4	269	332	11.5
Brackley	5	1	1	3	278	322	10

Another win for Abington B means the season's record has now flipped into the positive, with a majority of matches won and more shots scored than conceded. Promotion is suddenly back on the agenda, though it will still require a turnaround in form from a couple of rinks to acquire those extra points.

This new hope will be aided by neither Daventry A nor Heyford - still 1st and 3rd respectively - taking the majority of points from their tussle (a result which closes the top three up considerably). The gap to the drop remains closer though. Roade's stuffing of Harpole A constricts the bottom half of the table in a similar manner, and leaves them with the curious record of a positive shot difference - one better than Abington B's to boot - despite this week's result being their first points win of the season. As this column has a habit of concluding, that just about sums Division 2 up. Nothing is ever certain.

Full match reports of this week's games in the men's section. Next week is an acid test for both teams. Express A and Crispin's A the giants they will respectively have to fell. Win these and we can start to get excited.

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20/6/2017

COUNTY/NATIONAL COMPS ROUNDUP: 12th-18th JUNE

ABINGTON WILL once again be represented in the latter stages of a county tournament, but this time nobody could have guessed who those individuals would be.

Rob Archer's triple of himself, Alan Coleman and Pat McAlwane was formed almost as a last-minute afterthought, all keen players with a decent record behind them, but none of them regular skips. However, here they stand - four rounds later - in their whites, another two potential successes away from qualifying for the national championships at Leamington Spa.

Admittedly, should that be the eventual outcome of this evening's and Thursday's bowling at Whyte Melville, it would have to be bracketed as a minor miracle. Few would have picked them to qualify from the group. In fact, there was more than one fellow Abington unit in there alongside them (all of whom they have had to vanquish in their run) who might have been regarded as at least marginal favourites in their head-to-heads.

Also, their passage was eased tremendously by their 4th round opponents, skipped by Ivan Wilson of Kingsthorpe. Wilson's shock win over the group's sole 'star' triple - comprising three of 2016's national fours champions - two nights earlier was the result of the competition so far.

Still, it signalled to our men that no matter the scale of the task in front of you, nothing can be taken for granted in this old, funny game. The hope is that the giant-killing stardust will have rubbed off on Archer's trio for their own date(s) with destiny this week. First up, Neil Corbyn of Wellingborough...

Little else proved to be of good cheer this week. Adam Brown, Jonathan Brown and Phil Reeve's new triple had their run swiftly curtailed by Alan Ashby and team-mates at West End on the Wednesday, and after just two rounds of the men's singles, Tony O'Leary is already the last Abington man standing. Mick Taylor's comfortable defeat to Kingsthorpe star Vernon Gearey was no surprise, though Phil Reeve will be disappointed to have exited early, even if Heyford's Michael Moulton is a tricky opponent himself.

McAlwane's week didn't go entirely to plan as he and Debbie Bradshaw bombed out of the county mixed pairs to Mr and Mrs Bodily of Whyte Melville. Solace was to be found in the mens' senior singles where - despite Alan Dunkley being stuffed 11-21 by Mark Turner - John Freeman and Phil Reeve both battled through. The latter's 21-18 win over former England international Mick Sharpe was a particular highlight of the week, especially as it extracted some small revenge for Sharpe ending Jonathan Brown and Dave Vernon's hopes in the national senior pairs for the third successive year.

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