Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Friday 3rd October
Newport have won the right to play in the Premier League next season when they overcame Battlefield by 27 chalks at British Sugar.
In another very well attended final playoff game, Newport were comfortable winners in the end but were 13 down when Colin Smith won 21-8 for the Premier League bottom placed side at Number 1, but this soon reduced to 3 when the youngest player for either side, Chris Grocott belied his years to win 21-11 and with the other two games giving a win to each side, Battlefield led by 5 chalks after 4 blocks off.
Newport won all the games in the middle four with Dave Westwood beating Kevin Perks 21-19, Wayne Lawrence 21-19, Dale Rudrum 21-17 and Geoff Round 21-15, and with Alan Davidson winning 21-4 at Number 9, Newport were 26 up.
When Greg Fordham won 21-12 at Number 10, the match was effectively over with Newport 36 up and now a Premier League side and Battlefield the inaugural winners of the Premier League in 1994 facing relegation.
Despite a fine 21-4 win for Alan Hartshorne , Paul Rudrum was the last match off and Newport had won by 27 chalks and had been promoted at the first attempt.
Full scorecard see below………..
Played on Friday 3rd October at British Sugar
Newport B.C. v Battlefield B.C.
| SCORE | PLAYERS NAME | NO. | PLAYERS NAME | SCORE |
| 8 | Cliff Emery | 1 | Colin Smith | 21 |
| 15 | Phil Emery | 2 | Pete Thomas | 21 |
| 21 | Brian Perry | 3 | John Tanner | 18 |
| 21 | Chris Grocott | 4 | Chris Greenway | 11 |
| 21 | Wayne Lawrence | 5 | Mick Rogers | 19 |
| 21 | Dale Rudrum | 6 | Neil Clarke | 17 |
| 21 | Geoff Round | 7 | Rob Morris | 15 |
| 21 | Dave Westwood | 8 | Kevin Perks | 19 |
| 21 | Alan Davidson | 9 | Terry Gray | 4 |
| 21 | Greg Fordham | 10 | Chris Brettell | 12 |
| 21 | Paul Rudrum | 11 | Harold Banks | 12 |
| 4 | Ian Whittington | 12 | Alan Hartshorne | 21 |
| 217 | 190 |
Newport, winners of tonight’s playoffs
Back (from left): Wayne Lawrence, Cliff Emery, Dave Westwood, Pauline Grocott, Brian Perry, Geoff Round, Dale Rudrum, Alan Davidson
Front (from left): Chris Grocott, Paul Rudrum, Phil Emery (Capt), Greg Fordham, Ian Whittington, Jeff Smith.
Battlefield, the inaugural champions who lost tonight.
Back from left: Rob Morris, Colin Smith, Kevin Perks, Peter Thomas, Alan Hartshorne, Harold Banks and Neil Clarke.
Front from left: John Tanner, Mick Rogers, Chris Brettell, Terry Gray and Chris Greenway.