Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Thank you to Steve Burmingham for the below report.
This past Saturday saw the annual Burway Open take place at Burway Bowling Club. The competition is now a reserve competition for the qualifying for the end of season Champion of Champions and saw a very competitive field of entries with competitors travelling from as far away as Merseyside, Yorkshire and the Isle of Man to try and win the £500 first prize.
Some surprising results in the early stages saw some of the Shropshire County players failing to make it past the second round and defending champion Callum Wraight was defeated in the third round to county team mate Spencer Clarke. The quality of the players in the quarter finals were of a high standard though and produced some very good games.
Semi final number one saw Dan Taylor, representing Sir John Bayley, taking on Matt Gilmore who represents Merseyside. Gilmore was soon 4- 0 up but then found himself 10 – 4 down as Taylor found his form. The scores were level at 10 – 10 within five ends and the game was nip and tuck throughout until Gilmore took a lead of 17 – 13. Taylor battled back hard and got it back to be behind 18 – 16 and 20 – 19 but Gilmore scored the winning shot he needed to win 21 – 19 and edge out a cracking game.
Semi final number two saw reigning Yorkshire Merit champion Gareth Coates take on Josh Hale who plays for Castlefields in the Shropshire Premier League. Hale came out absolutely flying and within nine ends was 13 – 1 up and looking in total control. You can never write Coates off though and from 18 – 7 down he got the score back to 18 – 15 and looked to have got back into the game. Hale kicked it up a gear though and scored the three shots he needed to win a great game 21 – 15.
The final looked a cracker between Gilmore and Hale and was level in the early stages with Gilmore taking a 6 – 5 lead after nine ends. Hale won the jack back and dominated the next eight ends and had a commanding 17 – 6 lead. Gilmore just couldn’t get the block back and scored one more shot but Hale saw it through to win 21 – 7 in a dominant fashion and win the competition for the first time where hopefully he can play in the Champion of Champions competition as a result of.
The organisers of the Burway Open would like to thank all its participants for playing and to all who came down to support the competition throughout the day including those who marked cards and taped ends. Special thanks also to the sponsors of the competition which were Ludlow Motors, Prestige Plumbing and Heating and Ludlow Brewery who’s generous sponsorship allowed the fantastic prize money that was on offer.
Full results are here.
