Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Dragons Fightback, Hanmer earn super six, Highley happy with five
All games in week 1 of the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League finished 10-4, 9-5 or 8-6 to the home side in a close start to the season. St Georges fought back from 6-2 down at Meole Brace to get 6 winners. Skipper Tony Rhodes said he was “really pleased with the performance once we got the front 4 stiffs out the way (barring Pete Grimston of course (who was best winner 11) who’s started really well!) the guys were superb and to pick up the last 4 was great. You look at other close games as well and we could have had more but both Wills (Tarrell and Tyler) were very good at the finish to close their games out so fair play. Mike Wainwright ground his game out and Paul Beer and Doug Edwards’ game was top notch at the end. Meole hospitality was superb.” Joint home captain Dave Redge was best 2 for the home side. Hanmer also scored 6 away from home at neighbours Chester Road. Captain Mike Gilpin said it was a “good start for us away from home in a game where the outcome of the match changed several times over the course of the night. After the first four we looked like we could be earning an all important away win. But Chester Road fought back in the middle and it was looking a bit bleak. However we fought back at the back and I felt 8-6 was a fair result in the end. Special mention to Dan Beeston who showed why we have been wanting to get him playing on a Friday for a few years!” Liam Jones was best winner for the home side 3, with Dave Ellison’s 7 win best for the away team.
The other derby on the night saw Highley get 5 winners at Bylet. Skipper Stu Gittings commented on a “decent start for us Friday, a bit cold and green a bit sandy but decent. Both sides were missing a couple of players. First four were all Wolves fans for us as they wanted to watch the game. Dave Scriven’s match and win against Scott was a great start for us. Darrell Handley’s sneaking over the line against Rob was a bonus and I thought we might stand a chance of winning. In fairness their middle four, especially Tim Ealey against Andy James, played well. Dave East from 13 across with John Newey ran out (to be best winner) and made me think we could still win here but the other lads for Bylet all won. Was hoping that Danny Statham could beat Cheryl and we could win but in the end was reasonably happy with 5 points. Early days but believe we will surprise the majority and avoid the play offs.” Rich Taylor was best for the home team 11. The two favourites for the title both won 10-4, with Sir John Bayley beating Ifton and Castlefields defeating Newport. The Bayley had Paul Evans as their best 21-3, with Leighton Roberts best for the away side 11. Fields had Mike Beer as their best winner 5 with Newport’s being Ash Gregory 14.
Burway also won 10-4 at home to Wem USC in their return to the league. Len Lewis and Adam Dovey were their best winners 7, with Fred Bailey Wem’s best 6. Dark Horses Wrockwardine Wood came out 9-5 winners over Hanwood with Dan Taylor and last year’s Averages winner Jamie King best for them 21-4, and Greg Smith returning for Hanwood being their best 21-5.
| W | Agg | Pts | Home Team | Away Team | Pts | Agg | W | PP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 8th Apr Premier | |||||||||
| 8 | 238 | 10 | Castlefields | V | Newport | 4 | 176 | 4 | |
| 8 | 236 | 10 | Sir J Bayley | V | Ifton | 4 | 175 | 4 | |
| 7 | 225 | 9 | Bylet | V | Highley | 5 | 200 | 5 | |
| 6 | 222 | 8 | Meole Brace | V | St Georges | 6 | 204 | 6 | |
| 6 | 218 | 8 | Chester Road | V | Hanmer | 6 | 188 | 6 | |
| 8 | 215 | 10 | Burway | V | Wem U S C | 4 | 175 | 4 | |
| 7 | 211 | 9 | Wrockwardine Wood | V | Hanwood | 5 | 184 | 5 |