Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
1st meets 3rd, Bayley & Hanwood in big double header
First meets third in week 22 of the Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowling League. League leaders Castlefields host third placed Wrockwardine Wood knowing a good home win is needed. Vice-captain Ash Wellings is “expecting a tough game against a strong Wrockwardine Wood side, hoping we can keep the pressure on at the top of the league.” Wrockwardine skipper Liam Stevens says it is a “very tough ask tonight against the best side in the league. They absolutely battered us on there last year and we were lucky to come away with a winner – hoping to be much more competitive tomorrow and make it 3/3 tight games this year against one another.” Sir John Bayley sandwich the two teams and have two games in 36 hours as they look to gain on the league leaders. They entertain St Georges who come off a good win against Woore last week and looking for a top 10 placing. They then travel to Hanwood on Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. knowing a win is needed to close the gap on the Fields. Hanwood though are targeting a top 5 spot, and travel down the road to neighbours Meole Brace on Friday first. Skipper Jon Mansell says “this week we have Meole Brace who in my opinion have under acheived this year, they have good experienced players but lack the Hanwood team spirit which will lead us to 5th position after losing 5 players and bringing in 4 novice premier league bowlers who have done well. We haven’t played for 2 weeks and our boys will be fired up to get going again especially Matt Parry who, after a shaky start, has been exceptional the last 5 games and is beginning to show why so many people told me he should be in our team. So overall I expect 7 winners against Meole Brace especially as their best player Russell Pugh has only played 5 games and will be surely regretting not joining Hanwood at the start of the season. Sunday morning will see us host Sir John Bayley which means no Sunday church for the Bayley but they will be praying for an away win. I believe whichever team has the best start will win the game and man for man we have a better front 4 than them so we will come out on top with our blend of youth, experience, leadership and silliness.” Meole need a decent home win in order to try and break into the top five.
Highley will also look for a good home win over Hanmer as they look for a top five finish themselves, while Hanmer are looking at a top ten finish, a place they currently occupy. Woore also will want a good home win over Burway to move into 5th place, with Burway making the long trip looking to move into 10th place with a good away result. Bylet host Wem USC still trying to make sure they break White Horse’s 100 points record low points total. Wem know they have to win there to have a good chance of finishing top half, and they have had a good record there recently. Adderley host Ifton knowing they could do with a win to try and finish in the top ten, while Ifton are locked in 4th now barring a terrible or superb end to the season.
Week 22 Fixtures:
Castlefields v Wrockwardine Wood
Sir John Bayley v St Georges
Adderley v Ifton
Meole Brace v Hanwood
Woore v Burway
Highley v Hanmer
Bylet v Wem USC
Hanwood v Sir John Bayley (Sunday at 10.30 a.m.)