2025/26 indoors season: the end game(s)

The 2025/26 indoors season is rapidly coming to an end - and the good news is that Andover Bowling Club still have interest in both competitions still running.

Following our valiant defence of the John Ash Trophy in February, the Hamblin Trophy, played at Riverside Bowling Club, Winchester, comes to a thrilling conclusion this coming Sunday. We sit in pole position at the top of the table, two points clear of Littleton in second place, with a record of six victories and one loss (in our second game against Winchester City). Littleton - also based in Winchester - have lost twice this season and, with just the one game to play, have an inferior shot difference to ours (Andover +96; Littleton +85). Thus, if we avoid defeat in our final game, we will be champions, Our opponents on Sunday? Littleton! A winner-takes-all game - albeit not quite, as a result of that shot difference: Andover could lose narrowly and still be champions. That won't be the mindset of the team, though - we will be going all out to retain our title and, at the same time, register an impressive fourth consecutive title.

Next Sunday, 29 March, sees our Moreton Cup Lions side take to the concrete in Longmeadow, Whitchurch, for the final of that competition. Following our exciting 32-29 win over Eastleigh Red Devils in the semi-final, Lions will play Oakley, who we also played in the group stage of that competition. Oakley had the better of us that day (it was the first game of the season) but the final is a very different prospect and, having never reached the final before, we will be well up for it.

Good luck and true arms to all our bowlers!