Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Top three at home, Whitchurch Derby, Big game at Bayley
All of the top three are at home again this week with leaders Meole Brace having the toughest task at home to Wem USC. Wem are fourth in the table after improving or matching in every game this season compared to last apart from last week’s 4 at Hadley USC, and will give Meole a good test. But Meole are on song again after their 8 winners at Castlefields and 11 winners at home to Hadley the week before, and know they need to get a good result in order to keep their place at the top. St Georges perhaps have the easiest task in hosting bottom place Bylet, who will be facing two former players in Andy James and Simon Madeley. St Georges have made a great start only losing one game, which was still a decent 6 at the Bayley, and will look to catch up with Meole. But Bylet were unlucky to dip out against the Bayley last week, putting up a spirited fightback to nearly snatch it from 36 down off 7, and will need the same fight to get points up at the Dragons. Newport will also fancy their chances of a good home win against Hadley, who have made a steady start to the season. Former Huskie Jamie King comes up against his old club and Newport also have West Brom Open Winner Russ Pegram back in the side. Both will be hoping to help the Fishes gain on the top two after losing ground last week with their defeat at Wrockwardine Wood. Hadley though will be looking for something similar like the three last year they got there, and the 5s they got in good away performances at Castlefields and Wrockwardine Wood. But not so much the 1 they got at Meole Brace.
Two teams who people thought would be pushing near the top this season after making decent signings meet at Haygate Road, where Sir John Bayley take on Castlefields. Both teams have struggled to kick on this season but will hoping tomorrow night is the springboard. Home skipper Tom Roden says “his team will have to perform better than their previous 6 to beat this Castlefields team” and “is hoping everyone steps up this week to produce a good result.” Paul Reeves unfortunately is missing the rest of the season through injury but Tom is hoping that the returning Gordon Hawkins and debutant winner Jamie Fletcher will inspire his team to a good win. But Castlefields have won on there in the past, and are hoping that they click again like they did opening game of the season at Chester Road to kick start their season.
There is a Whitchurch Derby at Chester Road where Archibald Worthington visit. Home Captain Martin Lloyd comments “this is always one of our toughest games as the Archie boys and our lads are always up for this match. Every game won will be earned and the atmosphere as usual will be pretty noisy!” Archie have struggled away with only 1 at Hadley and Newport but will hoping their green knowledge will pay off, but Chester Road at home have been getting stronger since their opening defeat.
Two teams who have improved this season meet at Ifton where Wrockwardine Wood visit. Relations between the two have improved over time and I’m sure it will be a loud game down St Martins. Ifton have got stronger at home too, beating Castlefields 11-3 at home last time but Wrockwardine will be hoping there’s no after the Lord Mayor’s Show after their fine 10-4 win last week over the champions at home. Burway are another team having decent results at home, winning 12-2 and 11-3 in their last two, but Bowring are playing well away getting 5 at the Bayley in their last away game, although they’d like to bounce back after their home defeat against St Georges last week.
Friday 15th May Fixtures:
Meole Brace v Wem USC
St Georges v Bylet
Newport v Hadley USC
Sir John Bayley v Castlefields
Burway v Bowring
Ifton v Wrockwardine Wood
Chester Road v Archibald Worthington