Week 24 Report

Newport virtually there, Bylet move off bottom

Newport virtually sealed the title last night as they scored a great 6 winners away at Ifton to gain another point on Meole Brace who scored 5 at St Georges. Vice-captain Dave Rhodes led the way with a best win of 8 to earn him MVP for the champions. Leighton Roberts was MVP and best winner for the hosts winning 6 with Ian Metcalf bringing home the aggregate winning 9 last on. At St Georges Meole gained 5 points, just dipping out on the aggregate by 6. Doug Edwards was best winner for them 10 and Pete Bound won MVP for winning 12. For the Dragons best winner was Andy James 9 with Matthew Rhodes winning MVP for running out from 20-14 down.

At the big game at the bottom Bylet moved two points clear of Archibald Worthington as they beat them 9-5. It could have been better for the Bylet as they had 2 2o losers. But Matthew Ealey was the best of their 7 winners winning 21-4 and Tom McGill won MVP for winning 17. For the visitors captain Dave Gourlay led the way with a 9 win with Steve Plant winning MVP for his 11 win. Just above the two clubs Chester Road sealed at least 11th place with a 9-5 victory but were given a scare by the team directly below them Hadley USC. Hadley vice-captain Rob Burroughs explains “our first four played exceptionally well to lead 3-1 which would have been 4-0 had John Newey not dipped out 20 against Mark Holland. Justin Pegram gained his first Premier league win for us winning 19 and fully deserved his MVP award. But credit to Chester Road who roared back with KP Jones plastering the corners to win 3 and the MVP award to help take all 4 winners in the middle. But we took 2 winners at the back, me 11 (for best win) and Nick Mullinder gained a fine win against Martin Lloyd last on.”

The fight for 3rd remains as tight as ever but Sir John Bayley moved into that position with a 12-2 home win over Wem USC. Home captain Tom Roden comments “it was a fantastic result for us after dipping out at Archie last week and given Wem’s impressive win over Newport it was nice to bounce back so strongly.” It was a closer match than the result suggested as there was only one single figure card in the game, Tom himself winning 9 and his second ever MVP award. For the visitors Chris Brettell was best winner 16 with Neil Boxall the other winning 18 and the MVP award. Wrockwardine Wood produced  the most remarkable result of the night when they won 10-4 at a previously unbeaten at home Burway, which keeps their hopes of a top 3 finish alive. Despite 7 and 9 wins for county players Wayne Rogers and Kiah Roberts respectively and a MVP for home captain Duncan Pressley winning 12 Wrockwardine still took the aggregate by 3 chalks, Steve Roberts leading the way winning 9 and the MVP award. Castlefields still have chances of a top three finish with their last two games at home as they got 5 winners at Bowring. Josh Bradburn was best winner 8 for the home side, with Rob Roden getting MVP winning 13. Paul Williams replied for the away side being best winner and MVP for winning 13.

So the gap at the top is 12 points between Newport and Meole Brace with two games left. Sir John Bayley are 3rd on aggregate from Ifton with St Georges a further point behind and Wrockwardine Wood a further 3. At the bottom Bylet are now two points above Archibald Worthington.

In the League Averages Rich Lawson leads Glyn Picknell on aggregate whilst Paul Williams from Castlefields has joined Rob Burroughs on 7 MVPs.