Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Chester Road stun Fields, Race for top 3, Ifton continue form
Chester Road produced one of the shocks of the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League after winning 12-4 at Castlefields. It’s a result that virtually guarantees their survival this season, and comes after losing to the same team 15-1 at home back in May when survival looked bleak. Stand-in captain Andy Smith said “For a team languishing at the wrong end of the league table and having suffered a humiliating defeat in the home match Castlefields away was a daunting prospect for the Roaders – so much so our beloved captain took himself off to Spain! For once however our away performance got the result we deserved and all our lads and lass played superbly on a slightly holding green which favoured us.Castlefields lads were magnanimous in defeat as always, and refreshments were superb. What a night!!” Best winner was Mark Holland 10, with the Fields’ best being James Mammone by the same score. Hanwood won 12-4 at Wem to boost their chances of 3rd and diminish Wem’s hopes of avoiding bottom spot. Joint skipper Ash Wellings said it was a “really good away performance for us. That’s three away games in a row now where we’ve played well and got good results. Kept us in the battle for 3rd spot for now.” Best winner for them was Dave Burton 5, with Shaun Nagle being best for the hosts 11. Sir John Bayley still hold 3rd though as they beat Meole Brace 12-2, and will be looking for possibly 2nd with a visit to Castlefields coming up soon. Best winner for them was Tom Roden 3, while Will Childs 13 was best for the away side whose poor form continues. St Georges also kept up the pressure on the Bayley with a big home win of their own 13-1 against Hanmer. Skipper Tony Rhodes commented on a “great win against a very good side who honestly performed really well. No one likes to lose a game but Mike Gilpin’s form shows why he’s near the top of the averages at the moment and again played well from being behind to win 15. Team are playing really well and now looking at a top 3 place off the back of getting into the Harris Cup final. A good week!” The best winner for the Dragons was Pete Farmer 7.
Ifton continued their good form with a 12-4 win at Newport, their first ever in the league. Skipper Dickie Jones said it was “an excellent team performance where we could have had a couple of more winners, Joey Williams played well to win 8 in the front (to be best winner). Ian Jones and Owen Jackson showed their class to both win 9 and Ollie Jones played very well to win 11 at the back.” Newport’s best winner was Phil Emery 13. Wrockwardine Wood extended their lead to 45 points with an 11-3 win against the Bylet to please captain Rob Jones. “Delighted with another very solid home win Friday against a good Bylet side. Five to play and we want to finish with as higher points haul as possible.” Best winner for them was Jamie King 10, while Rob Fuller was best for the away side 7. Highley beat Burway 9-5 to move above Bylet, as John Heath led the way 6 with Ben James replying by the same score for the visitors.
Wrockwardine Wood are 45 points clear of Castlefields, who are just 5 ahead of Sir John Bayley now. Wem USC are three behind Bylet, who are now 2 behind Highley. Mike Beer is top of the League Averages by himself on 18 wins, having won 8 consecutive wins.
| Won | Agg | Pts | Home Team | Premier | Away Team | Pts | Agg | Won | H | A | CH | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 246 | 13 | St Georges | V | Hanmer | 1 | 155 | 1 | ✓ | |||
| 9 | 223 | 11 | Wrockwardine Wood | V | Bylet | 3 | 190 | 3 | ✓ | |||
| 4 | 204 | 4 | Castlefields | V | Chester Road | 12 | 228 | 8 | ✓ | |||
| 5 | 195 | 5 | Newport | V | Ifton | 11 | 231 | 7 | ✓ | |||
| 7 | 213 | 9 | Highley | V | Burway | 5 | 183 | 5 | ✓ | |||
| 10 | 238 | 12 | Sir J Bayley | V | Meole Brace | 2 | 168 | 2 | ✓ | |||
| 4 | 197 | 4 | Wem U S C | V | Hanwood | 12 | 221 | 8 | ✓ |