Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Castlefields created more records in the 25th final of the Barlows Fire & Security Alan Mayhew Trophy as they won it for the 9th time overall and became the first team to win it three times in a row.
They were never behind after Mike Beer raced to a 21-5 win over Dave Lloyd on the longer marks, despite Rich Goddard being 10-2 down and Adie Rowe being 10-1 down for them early on. Both players got back into their games with Rich getting 14 in a high quality game with Clay Flattley, and Adie using his green knowledge to get back to 18. Paul Williams also had to fight back from 12-5 down versus Alex Jones, who excelled on the shorter marks, using the corners to his advantage to win 20. So Castlefields led by 7 after four games off.
Russ Pugh had a good start to lead Ant Bracken 10-4 but then trailed 12-10. However he regrouped, and was able to win 17. Jon Palmer and Scott Simpson was the best game of the night, with both going for the corners early doors before Jon changed up the length. There was never much in it, with Jon just being ahead, before a late run at the end by Scott Simpson across the middle earned him a 16 win and the “Mark Burroughs” man of the match award. Andy Judson was ahead most of the game against Gareth Herbert, but a late run by Gareth in the corners meant he run out from 19-16 down. Graham Wall was 7-2 down early on but managed to change up the good length Nick Wyer had early on and got back into the game and actually led near the end before Nick managed to get out 18. This meant the Bayley had closed the game to just 1 chalk after eight games off.
Callum Wraight was number 9 and he raced out of the blocks to lead 13-0 on his usual 20m marks. Kane Beaman managed to get in and matched him from then on in but couldn’t put a run together as Callum won 7. When he came off Carl Wear trailed Michael Cooper 14-7 and the other two games were level so it was still all to play for. But joint skipper Adam Jones put together a great run to go from about 10-7 down to run out against Kevin Hocknull in the corners to seal victory for the Fields. Carl Wear had got back into his game and led 19-16 before Michael won 20, while Kevin Price and Jamie Wyatt were 10 across before Jamie had a run to win 15.
Well done to Castlefields on their success, and commiserations to Sir John Bayley on just losing out but were part of one of the best quality finals the league has seen. Thank you to Meole Brace for hosting, doing the refreshments and the raffle. Thank you to Mike Potter for refereeing, measuring and taking photographs. Thank you to Barlows Fire & Security for sponsoring the competition once again, and to Alan Mayhew for attending tonight and continuing to support the competition.
| No | Castlefields | Score | Score | Sir J Bayley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Beer | 21 | 5 | David Lloyd |
| 2 | Paul Williams | 21 | 20 | Alex Jones |
| 3 | Rich Goddard | 14 | 21 | Clay Flattley |
| 4 | Adrian Rowe | 18 | 21 | Chris Worthington |
| 5 | Russell Pugh | 21 | 17 | Ant Bracken |
| 6 | Jon Palmer | 16 | 21 | Scott Simpson |
| 7 | Andrew Judson | 19 | 21 | Gareth Herbert |
| 8 | Graham Wall | 18 | 21 | Nick Wyer |
| 9 | Callum Wraight | 21 | 7 | Kane Beaman |
| 10 | Adam Jones | 21 | 10 | Kevin Hocknull |
| 11 | Carl Wear | 19 | 21 | Michael Cooper |
| 12 | Kevin Price | 15 | 21 | Jamie Wyatt |
| Games | 5 | 7 | Games | |
| Aggregate | 224 | 206 | Aggregate |
Winning joint captain Adam Jones was “very pleased with the performance and result against a good Bayley side. There were some great games and battles from 1-12. The teams ability to battle and fight for each other and every chalk meant we were able to be in front early on and stay in front. Special mention to the 3 lads playing in their first finals Russell, Graham and Carl all did brilliant in a good atmosphere which will prove great experience for them. Winning the Mayhew cup 3 years in a row is a great achievement and something I believe hasn’t been done before so myself and Michael really proud of the team and squad!”
Semi Finals
It will be a clash of the top two from the last two seasons as Castlefields and Sir John Bayley comfortably negotiated their Semi Final games. The Fields beat St Georges home by 44 and away by 39 with just one loser in each leg. Graham Wall was best winner 8 for them at home and Rich Goddard 10 away. Pete Farmer was the winner away 18 and Roy Bradburn on his debut was at home 21-20. The Bayley also had just one loser in each leg, winning by 21 at home and 53 away. Paul Evans was best winner at home 12, and Spencer Clarke 6 away. Ayden Smith was the only winner for the opposition away 15 and Simon Oldcorn was at home 17.
So the Bayley and Castlefields meet on Saturday 28th May at 6.30 p.m. at a Premier League venue to be decided in the next few days.
| 1 | Castlefields | 123 | 5 | 1 | 89 | St Georges | At | Castlefields |
| 1 | St Georges | 86 | 1 | 5 | 125 | Castlefields | At | St Georges |
| Combined Result | Castlefields | 248 | 10 | 2 | 175 | St Georges | ||
| 2 | Sir J Bayley | 120 | 5 | 1 | 99 | Newport | At | Sir J Bayley |
| 2 | Newport | 69 | 1 | 5 | 122 | Sir J Bayley | At | Newport |
| Combined Result | Sir J Bayley | 242 | 10 | 2 | 168 | Newport |
Quarter Finals
There are just four teams remaining in the Barlows Fire & Security Alan Mayhew Trophy, and they are all former winners of the league and this trophy. Sir John Bayley came through another thriller as they beat Hanmer by 4 chalks. They won by 34 at home with 5 winners, Kevin Hocknull the best of them 5, with Nathan Lacey the best for the visitors 15. Away and they were thankful for former Hanmer player Clay Flattley’s 11 win to limit the damage down to 30, despite Lee Peate’s 5 win for the home team. It was even closer between Burway and Newport as the former winners won by 2 chalks. They had all 6 winners at home, including three 21-20s and Aaron King’s best win of 6, to win there by 33, while Pete Cookson was their sole winner away 12 to keep the score down to 31. Kiah Roberts was the best winner for the Ludlow side 7.
Current holders Castlefields defeated the in form Wrockwardine Wood by 16, winning by 32 at home with Callum Wraight their best winner 4. Andy Jones was best for the visitors there 15, and Stuart Clee was best winner at home 10 for the Wrockites as they won by 16 there. Mike Beer’s 10 win was the only one for the away side. St Georges continued their good start to the season by beating Hanwood. They won by 27 at home, with Paul Beer their best winner 7, only Gary Neal winning for the visitors 11. Over in Shrewsbury and the home side only won by 5, their best winner only being Sam Downes 15. Phil Jones was the best for the Dragons 11.
The Semi Finals are played on Wednesday 11th May and it is St Georges v Castlefields in a repeat of the 2019 final, while League Champions Sir John Bayley take on the 2015 winners Newport.
| 1 | Wrockwardine Wood | 115 | 5 | 1 | 99 | Castlefields | At | Wrockwardine Wood |
| 1 | Castlefields | 116 | 4 | 2 | 84 | Wrockwardine Wood | At | Castlefields |
| Combined Result | Castlefields | 215 | 5 | 7 | 199 | Wrockwardine Wood | ||
| 2 | St Georges | 116 | 5 | 1 | 89 | Hanwood | At | St Georges |
| 2 | Hanwood | 113 | 4 | 2 | 108 | St Georges | At | Hanwood |
| Combined Result | St Georges | 224 | 7 | 5 | 202 | Hanwood | ||
| 3 | Sir J Bayley | 120 | 5 | 1 | 86 | Hanmer | At | Sir J Bayley |
| 3 | Hanmer | 114 | 4 | 2 | 84 | Sir J Bayley | At | Hanmer |
| Combined Result | Sir J Bayley | 204 | 7 | 5 | 200 | Hanmer | ||
| 4 | Newport | 126 | 6 | 0 | 93 | Burway | At | Newport |
| 4 | Burway | 117 | 5 | 1 | 86 | Newport | At | Burway |
| Combined Result | Newport | 212 | 7 | 5 | 210 | Burway |
1st Round
League Champions Sir John Bayley had a scare against Ifton as they beat them by just 2 chalks, 1 at home and 1 away. They shared the winner with them, but it was new signing Clay Flattley who was best winner away 11, and Paul Evans 11 at home who made the difference. Richard Zolman was best winner at home for the Miners, with Darren Lacey their best away 13. It was nearly as close in the Burway and Wem USC game, with just 4 chalks favouring the Ludlow side. They won by 13 at home, with joint captain Russ Davies best winner at home 6, and Wayne Rogers 12 away. For Wem it was their captain Derek Wright best at home 12 and Connor Whitehall 11 away.
The holders Castlefields defeated neighbours Meole Brace by 21 with a 32 shot win at home key involving two single figure winners, Mike Beer 3 and Graham Wall 6. At Meole it was Kevin Price who was best winner 14, with the home side having two single figure wins in Nige Bound 3 and Chris Stretch 5. Invitees Adderley managed to beat St Georges at home by 4 but didn’t have a winner away. Ian Howell had a fine 7 win over Pete Farmer at home for them, with Josh Bradburn replying for the Dragons 9. In Telford Pete Grimston was best winner 6. Hanmer had a big win over fellow North Shropshire side Chester Road, winning by 31 away and by 22 at home. Both best winners were 10, with skipper Mike Gilpin and Alan Faulkner delivering those home and away respectively. For Chester Road, it was Andy Smith away 14 and Ben Hinton 18 who were their best.
Newport defeated Bylet by 59, having all 6 winners away from home led by Kieran Buckley winning 9. At home they also had best winners of 9 by Pete Cookson and Allan Smith, with Simon Rhodes one of two winners for Bylet 10. The other game saw Wrockwardine Wood comfortably beat Highley by 36 with 5 winners away from home led by Steve Broome 7, with Andy James the only winner for the home side 17. It was closer at Wrockwardine with the best winner only being 17 for the Wrockites by Dan Taylor, Andy Jones and Martin Williams, and 19 for Highley by Darrell Handley. Hanwood had a bye as Telepost didn’t enter in the end.
Full results are here.