Indoors season 2025/26 - update

This news release rounds up the current state of play in the indoors cup competitions in whch Andover Bowling Club has entered sides.

In the Moreton Cup, played at Longmeadow Indoor Bowling Club, Whitchurch, a loss to Kingsclere yesterday saw Andover Eagles' competition come to an end at the group stage. Eagles narrowly lost their frst fixture, to Atherley, before bouncing back with a heavy defeat of Aldermaston. Needing to beat Kingsclere to stay in the competition, Eagles sadly lost both rinks to a very strong Kingsclere outfit who thus qualify for the knockout stages - congratulations to them.

Andover Lions' final fixture in their group takes place next Sunday morning (25 January) against Newbury. Like Eagles, Lions lost their first game, to Oakley (who have qualified for the next stage), before taking both rinks from Yately in their next match. Lions ought to qualify, but this is bowls and nothing is certain; however, taking at least one rink from Newbury, which have yet to pick up a point, would seal qualification.

In the Hamblin Trophy, which Andover won last year and which takes place at Riverside Indoor Bowling Club, Winchester, our fixtures are rather oddly spaced. Currently, we sit in second place in the league, having won two games and lost one, all taking place in 2025. Our next fixture is also on Sunday, against Hyde Abbey B - the team's first of 2026 - but there is then no fixture again until 15 February. With four games left to play, there is everything to play for, with the top four in the nine-team league winning the available prize money.

The John Ash Trophy - which we are defending as we also won it last year - will take place in Salisbury on the weekend of 7-8 February. This is an intense competition with four games on the Saturday, each with 1.5-hour timeslots, followed by semi-finals and the final on the Sunday. We would like to take a squad of ten bowlers experienced in playing indoors. Depending on numbers, most players will get three games, two as a minimum. At present, we still have a few places left for players for this event; if you are interested in playing, do let Gordon Bazley know by the usual routes; however, do note that we are only looking for players who can commit to participating on both days.

You can catch up with the full results and league tables for all the indoors competitions over on our dedicated page on this site.