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Meole face Bayley test, Dragons fear champions backlash
Flowfit Shropshire Premier League leaders Meole Brace face maybe their toughest test of the season against Sir John Bayley, a team that has won there 3 out of the last 4 years. But Bayley captain Tom Roden isn’t taking anything for granted, knowing that “a lot depends on the order, if we’ve got it right we’ve won there but the one year we didn’t we ended up with 2, so we need the draw to go our way.” Home captain Mark Thomas knows this is “another game where our opponents are keen to knock us off top spot, which is how it should be. We look forward to the challenge and will do our best to maintain the form that has been good this season.”
3rd placed champions Newport face 2nd place St Georges with a point separating the two teams, albeit with Newport having a game in hand. Newport suffered a blow this week losing in the County Cup to Castlefields by 46, and St Georges captain Tony Rhodes is “expecting a backlash but even without that it’s a test. We have proven previously that we can pinch points there however so let’s hope we get that Fagin mentaility.”
Two teams who have been impressive this season play the two Whitchurch teams this week. Ifton will be looking for a home win and performance that they produced last week against Meole Brace when they face Chester Road at home. Chester Road have been steady away and have got 7 or more points on their last 6 visits to Ifton so may fancy their chances of a good haul. Burway have been very impressive at home this season and they will want to repeat their last away performance, 6 at Wrockwardine Wood, again away at Archibald Worthington, to try and match their 10-4 win there last year. Archibald Worthington have had contrasting home performances, beating Meole 10-4 as well as losing 8-6 to the Bylet last home game. But their 5 at St Georges should give them real encouragement in getting a good result tomorrow. They will be hoping to put some distance between them and Bylet a point below, who visit Hadley USC. Hadley USC’s home performances have also been inconsistent, losing at home to both Mid-Shropshire teams they have faced this season, so will be hoping it will be third time lucky against another Mid-Shropshire team. But Bylet will be looking for a repeat performance they put up against Archie last time they were away when they won 8-6.
The final game of the night sees two teams who have been up and down this season. Wem USC were as high as 4th a month or so ago but now find themselves down in 11th, whilst Bowring have picked up after dipping since their decent start. Wem though with their home green will fancy a good result, but Bowring have scored 5 or 6 in the last four seasons theyve visited Leek Street so may fancy matching that haul again.
Wrockwardine Wood’s game with Castlefields has been postponed due to Wrockwardine using their concession. A new date has yet to be arranged.
Week 12 Fixtures:
Hadley USC v Bylet
Archibald Worthington v Burway
Ifton v Chester Road
Newport v St Georges
Meole Brace v Sir John Bayley
Wem USC v Bowring
Wrockwardine Wood P-P Castlefields (New date TBA)