Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Mike Potter has very kindly written a report and posted his pictures from the Playoff final which you can see below.
Shropshire Premier Bowling League – 2015 Playoff Final – played on the green of Allscott BC – Fri. 2nd Oct. 2015
Archibald Worthington Club v Hanwood
After recently defeating both Hanmer and Donnington Wood in pre playoff matches, Hanwood hoped for better luck in the pursuit of securing a much desired place in the elite league of the county at the expense of their north Shropshire opponents, AWC who were determined not to give up that place without a fight as the two teams and a 300+ crowd gathered at Allscott BC on a cool early October evening
Highlights of the match
Hanwood knew they needed to start well and were quick off the mark and dominate the first four games with the exception of AWC’s Greg Fordham 21-12 win helping to reduce Hanwood’s advantage to +20.
Mark Parsons from having a 9-2 lead over Les Markham had to endure a fight back to see his lead cut to 12-9 before again pulling away to 19-11 and soon finished 21-12. Early exchanges between Greg Smith and John Digby were even before Greg from 4-3 made a 10 shot run to race to 14-3 and it was only a couple of double score ends by John that punctuated that run as Greg ended the game 21-7. Greg Fordham was in blistering form on a 21 metre mark as he went 11-1 & 18-3 until Wayne Phillips eventually wrestled the jack and stretched into the corners and clawed his way into double figures before Greg eventually got out 21-12. Tony Hotchkiss saw his 8-1 lead turn into a deficit of 9-12 by Rob Adams until Tony regained control and from 15-15 ran out winning 21-15.
AWC 55 – 75 Hanwood +20
Hanwood pushed on in the middle by taking three games and extend their lead to +28
Ashley Wellings started strongly to go 8-1 up and maintained his lead to 13-6 before John Paddington hit back and near tie the score only for Ashley from 17-16 run out to win 21-16. AWC’s Alan Ball took control against a luckless Russ Wellings as Alan went from 9-1 to 15-4 and despite a mini Raleigh to more than double his score Alan secured his team’s second winner 21-9From even beginnings of 3-3 and 7-7 Dave Burton gained the upper hand over Ian McDonald to edge in front and from 13-11 nearly completed a run out as he fininshed 21-12 In another evenly matched game, Nick Davies & Dave Gourley went down the card 6-6, 11-11 and 14-14 until Nick seized his chance to and finished the game 21-15.
AWC 119 – 147 Hanwood +28
Firmly with the bit between their teeth, Hanwood were soon on the brink and with the back four still on the green and all holding their own, the result and their subsequent victory was soon confirmed winning 10 of the games and by +46
Dan Wornell saw an early 7-4 lead wiped out as Dave Ridgeway took 14-10 before Dan hit back to level at 16-16 and then went on to almost runout recording a 21-17card. Mark Shore led Matt Benbow throughout as he went from 7-3 to 11-4 and from 15-5 managed to maintain his 10 shot advantage to 19-9 before eventual finishing 21-13 After trailing 5-8, Carl Bowers ran into a 14-9 lead only to lose it again as Jack Hewitt responded to take the scores on to 16-14 and the lead changed yet again before Jack levelled at 19-19 only for Carl to win 21-19. Phil Price turned an 8-7 lead over Steve Heath into 15-8 and 18-12 but then Steve hit back to almost level at 18-17 before Phil ended the game 21-17.
AWC 185 – 231 Hanwood +46
Winning Hanwood Team
Back from left: Phil Talbot, Phil J Price, Mark Parsons (joint captain) , Dave Burton, Nick Davies, Dan Wornell, Wayne Phillips & Tony Hotchkiss.
Front from left: Mark Shore and Ash Wellings (joint captains), Kian Parsons, Rhys Marshall, Russ Wellings, Dave Payne, Greg Smith & Carl Bowers.
Archibald Worthington
Back from left: Dave Ridgway, Matt Benbow, Les Markham, Jack Hewitt, John Paddington, John Digby & Ian MacDonald.
Front from left: Rob Adams, Greg Fordham, Dave Gourlay (captain), Steve Heath & Alan Ball.
Captains Mark Shore from Hanwood and Dave Gourlay from Archie shake hands before the game.
Joint Hanwood captains Mark Shore, Mark Parsons and Ash Wellings are all smiles after the game, pictured with league president Tom Roden.