Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Club: Adderley
Captain: Connor Whitehall
Players Signed: Darren Palin, Dan Hazeldine, Rob Hollins
Players Left: Tom Killen, Ed Proudlove
Aim for your team: Try and secure more home agg wins and move up the table.
Thoughts on the top of the table: Same top 3 as last year.
Dark Horses: Ifton to challenge for second.
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Horsehay
Who will be challenging for the play offs from other leagues? Same 2 as last year, don’t think Prince can get past Castlefields.
Club: Burway
Captain: Adam Dovey & Ben Allen
Players Signed: Peter Griffiths, Chris Dovey
Players Left: Nick Lewis, George Cooper, Viv Cooper
Aim for your team? Try match last seasons good finish, be solid at home.
Thoughts on the top of the table: Castlefields or Bayley will battle it out.
Dark Horses: Not sure. Don’t know who’s strengthened in the winter.
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Bylet or Horsehay.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Not much clue on other leagues, I’m sure Woore will be challenging again with the side they’ve got.
Club: Bylet
Captain: Cheryl Caswell
Players Signed: No one
Players Left: Too many to remember
Aim for your team: To get to the end of the season fulfilling all our fixtures with a full team.
Thoughts on the table: It will be a two horse race between Bayley and Castlefields and will come down to how each squad will cope in holiday season and missing key players.
Dark Horses: Ifton
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Being realistic it will be between us and Horsehay again. The experience they would have gained from last season will stand them in good stead for this year, particularly when travelling away from home. As for us we probably have the most unsettled squad in the league which will undoubtedly play a massive part in our season, making for another close battle between two friendly clubs.
Who will be challenging for the play offs from other leagues? I’ve not really given it much thought but can’t see anyone competing against Woore in the play offs given their new signings on top of an already established and experienced squad.
Club: Castlefields
Captain: Steve Peach
Players Signed: Andrew Armstrong & Mark Taylor
Players Left: Russell Pugh
Aim for your team: As always with any Castlefields teams – to be competitive on all fronts.
Thoughts on the top of the table: Another fascinating battle lies ahead for us and SJB with a couple more in the mix this year.
Dark Horses: Wrockwardine and Ifton will both make inroads on the top 2 so either of these two could be dark horses I feel.
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Horsehay had a good play off win versus Woore which may give them the confidence to be more competitive this season. Bylet may struggle so could be close down there.
Who will be challenging for the play offs from other leagues? Woore are the obvious ones
Club: Hanmer
Captain: Dave Ellison, Lee Peate, Mike Gilpin
Players Signed: Mel Jenkins, Danny Hughes, Gareth Foster, Phil Scott, Rich Pullen, Henry Owen
Players Left: Rob Bennett, Graham Bennett, Ieuan Pugh, Nathan Lacey
Aim for your team? To finish as high as possible and giving everyone the chance in the squad to play prem bowls and enjoying it again.
Thoughts on the top of the table: Castlefields to win it again.
Dark Horses: Wrockwardine Wood
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Maybe Horsehay and Bylet but hopefully not ourselves.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Woore again and maybe Shifnal
Club: Hanwood
Captain: Simon Lane
Players Signed: Phil Lyttle
Players Left: None
Aim for your team: Hanwood will be looking to build on last season. We have Phil Lyttle back in the fold and then experienced players like Dave Burton, Shaun Bould and Mark Parsons are keen and available for the majority of games this season. We will be hoping to create good team spirit, enjoy our matches and hopefully climb a couple of spots up the table by the end of the year. Good luck everyone for the season.
Thoughts on the top of the table: The top 2 or 3 will probably pull clear with Castlefields just taking it again.
Club: Highley
Captain: Simon Rhodes
Players Signed: Sean Lockley
Players Left: Jack Hill
Aim for your team? To finish mid-table and to progress well in the County Cup
Thoughts on the top of the table: With SJBC recruiting well again in the 2024-25 off season it would be foolish to not suggest that they are the favourites to win the Premier League this year. However, Castlefields can never be discounted with their strong home performances and aggressive and decisive away victories.
Dark Horses: Wrockwardine Wood have not been mentioned for a couple of years as serious contenders, but they continue to be a very significant threat, with their strong home wins and quietly strong away victories (although maybe not so quiet encouragement around the green).
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: I certainly do not want to see our neighbours at the Bylet reduced to the position that they are currently are facing, however, they along with Horsehay have got to be the realistic contenders for the wooden spoon position this year, unless they are both able to make some very last minute signings.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Woore unfortunately took their eye of the ball at the end of the season playoff final, resulting in a very hungry, competitive and deserving Horsehay side remaining in the premier league. I feel that they will be hungry again to thrown their hat in the ring with their team full of talent and will be up there again competing to get in to the premier league. However, we have strengthened teams in Shifnal and Sinclair this season, who are also going to be tough to beat and will be heavily competing for the play off final from Mid-Shropshire.
Club: Horsehay
Captains: Andy Garbett & Craig Baugh
Players Signed: Rob Clarke, Jack Clayton
Players Left: Michael Cooper has gone back to the Bayley. Wish him all the luck in the world and hope he doesn’t regret the move back.
Aim for your team? Not to be bottom come the end of the season. Try to win a few more home games and hope to improve on last year’s results away from home. Find a way to keep ticking the points tally over .
Thoughts on the top of the table: Always expect Castlefields and SJB to be there or thereabouts again. With Ifton and Wrockwardine trying to force their way into the mix. It will depend on the players these clubs have signed and lost over the Winter.
Dark Horses: Outside of the four mentioned above. I’d give Burway a chance of improving on their tally from last year. But I’m useless at predicting dark horses.
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: As a club were under no illusion it is going to be another tough season and one we will fully embrace and be as competitive as we can. I also think the positions around us will be very similar to last year again. It depends on what signings clubs have made and if there is any personal improvements in performance.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? I think Woore will be there at the end of the season. I heard whispers that Sinclair are trying to make a challenge for the Mid Shropshire. I don’t really know too much about other leagues and clubs.
Club: Ifton
Captain: Dickie Jones
Players Signed: Robin Bennett, Joey Williams, Ieuan Pugh
Players Left: Andrew Armstrong
Aim for your team: To try and get 3rd place again would be a good achievement.
Thoughts on the top of the table: Castlefields
Dark Horses: Hanwood
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Bylet could struggle again.
Who will be challenging for the play offs from other leagues? Sinclair or Woore
Club: Meole Brace
Captain: Chris Jones
Players Signed: Camilla Parsonage, Will Tyler returns!!
Players Left: Will Childs, Phil Lyttle
Aim for your team? To improve on last year’s total number of points and position in the table
Thoughts on the top of the table: Hard to see past another Castlefields vs Bayley shootout with both sides strengthening and expect it to go close again
Dark Horses: Ifton and Wrockwardine could spring a few surprises this year
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Again at the bottom of the table expecting it to be tight with a few teams possibly in the mix to struggle
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Expect Woore to be having another go and it is to be seen who else may make a challenge to get in
Club: Sir John Bayley
Captain: Scott Simpson & Paul Evans
Players Signed: Josh Bradburn, Michael Cooper, Pete Grimston, Joe Dicken
Players Left: N/A
Aim for your team? The aim has been the same for a number of years – to compete. It was a difficult pill to swallow losing the league last year after beating the points record! We go again in 2025 to replicate the last few years and enjoy the season along the way.
Thoughts on the top of the table: The main thought is that I hope we are up there again. There will be a few twists and turns no doubt but despite the game ‘dying’, looking at the Mayhew teams on paper, many have strengthened so who knows. Leagues aren’t won on paper though and form tells you it will be a fight between ourselves and Castlefields.
Dark Horses: Ifton – If Ifton put their best side out week in and week out from the Valleys then they can match anyone.
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: I guess Bylet and Horsehay will be battling it out again but Horsehay have to make up 19 points on last year to match Bylet’s tally. You never know a scorching summer and quicker greens may have a say in where they finish.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Woore – They will be disappointed after losing out last year but they are basically a prem team on a different green.
Club: St Georges
Captain: Tony Rhodes. Martin Gaut V Capt
Players Signed: Kevin Keary, Jack Hill, Julie Alderman
Players Left: A few but no one of any note to mention really
Aim for your team? To make visits to St Georges as difficult as always
Thoughts on the top of the table: Cashlefields again
Dark Horses: Ifton or Wrock Wood
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Bylet or Horsehay again in all probability
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Sinclair or Shifnal and you have to say Woore again to see if they can best the bottom team and maybe PoW. Interesting.
Club: Wem USC
Captain: Andrew Marshall
Players Signed: None
Players Left: George Williams (Year Out), Michael Dulson (Year Out)
Aim for your team? Consolidate on last season
Thoughts on the top of the table: It will be tough to call between Castlefields and SJB. I hope to see another great battle between 2 great sides.
Dark Horses: If anyone is going to upset Castlefields or SJB I think It will be Wrockwardine Wood as they have strengthened again ahead of this season
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: I think it will be interesting to see how Horsehay adapt to their second season in the league. I think it will be tight between them, ourselves, Adderley & Bylet.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Its tough to see past Woore but I thought like most people they would be in the league this year. The Mid
Shropshire league will be interesting between Shifnal and Sinclair too.
Club: Wrockwardine Wood
Captain: Liam Stevens
Players Signed: Tom Killen, Nathan Lacey, Clay Flattley, Will Childs, Natalia Moseley & Steve Broome is back for a full season
Players Left: Chris Grocott – big loss for us, a great player and a top guy.
Aim for your team? We have a tough start and were miles off last year … but we’ve signed well. The ambition is to stay within touching distance of the top two as long as we can and look to give ourselves an outside chance of springing a surprise.
Thoughts on the top of the table: Castlefields or SJB, both brilliant sides with proper winning mentalities.
Dark Horses: Can’t see anyone breaking into the top four
Thoughts on the bottom of the table: Straight shootout between Horsehay and Bylet.
Who will be challenging for the playoffs from other leagues? Woore and Shifnal both look strong, with the former probably favourites to come up.