Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
County Cup Finalists meet as top two at home again, Bylet aim to move off bottom
The County Cup Finalists Meole Brace and Castlefields, who play on Saturday night, both meet each other in Week 20 of the Flowfit Shropshire Premier League the night before the big game. It will be a strange night for both, but Castlefields have experienced it before in 2008 when they got 4 at St Georges before beating them comfortably in the final the night after. Both captains know the game Saturday is the bigger one so are apprehensive about the game on Friday. Home captain Mark Thomas comments “that is is normally one of the biggest fixtures of the season, but with the County Cup Final being played the following night both teams will be approaching with caution. We will be looking to continue our winning home form.” Away skipper Keith Walton admits “it’s a strange situation Friday for both teams but we will do our best to get as many winners as we can.” Newport will hope Meole take their eyes off the league as they entertain Wrockwardine Wood. But Wrockwardine, despite their shock home loss to Wem USC, have been the form team over the last few weeks and have quietly moved up to 4th place. Captain Stuart Clee is “really pleased to be in 4th place and it just shows how far we have come this year. Really looking forward to putting our wits against the league leaders and they deserve massive respect as they have been the best Premier League side for 4 years now. In my opinion no one comes close to them. We will go into the game on the back of a good bounce back result against Bylet and with nothing to lose. It’s an extremely tough place to go but I have seen stranger things happen in bowls!”
At the bottom Bylet will be targeting the four points they need to move off bottom spot. But it won’t be easy travelling to Sir John Bayley who will be reeling from their 2 winners at Ifton on Wednesday. St Georges will be hoping to catch up with 3rd placed Ifton as they entertain Bowring. But Bowring have been playing well recently again and come off on the back of 5 at Ifton and Hadley USC, as well as good home wins. Captain Rich Lawson says “this will be one of our toughest games of the season, they are playing very well now. I always set a minimum of four winners away so if we achieve that I’ll be very pleased, anymore than that I feel will be a bonus!”
There is a battle of the Services Club as Wem entertain Hadley. Hadley don’t have the best of records at Wem, 4 and 2 winners the two times they’ve been there and with Wem still being unbeaten at home the home side will be eyeing up a good home win. Chester Road play Burway in the longest trip of the season, but Burway will be relishing the challenge given their current form. They won on their last visit to Whitchurch at Archibald Worthington but Chester Road’s home form improved when beating St Georges 10-4 last time out so will be a much tougher task.
Week 20 Fixtures:
Chester Road v Burway
Wem USC v Hadley USC
Newport v Wrockwardine Wood
Sir John Bayley v Bylet
St Georges v Bowring
Meole Brace v Castlefields
Archibald Worthington 4-10 Ifton (Played Saturday 1st August)