Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
The first team winners of 2015 were champions and current holders Newport of the Alan Mayhew Trophy. Here’s the story of how the won it.
1st round vs. Bylet
Newport comfortably beat Bylet by 65 in the 1st round, having 10 winners out of the 12. Alan Davidson was the best at home winning 5 whilst Dave Rhodes 11 was best away.
| Newport | Score | Bylet | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Keary | 21 | Tom Mcgill | 9 |
| Philip Emery | 21 | Kevin Brazier | 17 |
| Alan Davidson | 21 | Brian Walters | 5 |
| Stephen Handley | 21 | Michael Harries | 19 |
| Chris Grocott | 21 | Chris Chamberlain | 6 |
| Peter Farmer | 21 | Rob Steventon | 14 |
| Games | 6 | Games | 0 |
| Aggregate | 126 | Aggregate | 70 |
| Bylet | Score | Newport | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Powner | 21 | Peter Grimston | 12 |
| Tim Ealey | 20 | Scott Harries | 21 |
| John Coxill | 11 | Dave Rhodes | 21 |
| Rob Renke | 17 | Dale Rudrum | 21 |
| Greg Wale | 21 | Jamie King | 20 |
| Matthew Ealey | 17 | Mark Selley | 21 |
| Games | 2 | Games | 4 |
| Aggregate | 107 | Aggregate | 116 |
Quarter Finals vs. St Georges
Newport faced their closest rivals in the next round in St Georges, and it proved to be a close game. Both teams produced good away results but it was Newport only losing by three away at St Georges that proved vital. Pete Farmer and Scott Harries both won on their return to their old green, Farmer 9 and Harries 16. At home they had 5 winners but only won by 11, Mick Jones 21-9 win the main difference.
| St George’s | Score | Newport | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew James | 21 | Peter Grimston | 15 |
| Jim Kellett | 21 | Alan Davidson | 17 |
| Michael Wainwright | 16 | Scott Harries | 21 |
| Simon Madeley | 9 | Peter Farmer | 21 |
| Ian Gaut | 21 | Russell Pegram | 17 |
| Dave King | 21 | Dave Rhodes | 15 |
| Games | 4 | Games | 2 |
| Aggregate | 109 | Aggregate | 106 |
| Newport | Score | St George’s | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Millward | 21 | Glyn Picknell | 20 |
| Kevin Keary | 21 | Nigel Evans | 18 |
| Philip Emery | 21 | Matthew Rhodes | 18 |
| Mark Selley | 21 | Alan Palin | 20 |
| Mick Jones | 21 | Tony Rhodes | 9 |
| Jamie King | 12 | Simon Rhodes | 21 |
| Games | 5 | Games | 1 |
| Aggregate | 117 | Aggregate | 106 |
Semi Finals vs. Meole Brace
In a repeat of last year’s final Newport turned in an accomplished home win of 52 whist the away team did their job away losing by 8. At home Chris Grocott was immaculate winning 1 whilst Scott Harries won 8 and Alan Davidson 10 to produce a super home performance. I’ve not got the away matchcard but Sam Millward winning 11 was the best card for Newport in limiting Meole to only an 8 shot win despite a 21-2 win for Gary Neal.
| Newport | Score | Meole Brace | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Harries | 21 | Glyn Wellings | 8 |
| Alan Davidson | 21 | Darren Wellings | 10 |
| Philip Emery | 21 | Will Tarrell | 17 |
| Chris Grocott | 21 | Andy Wigginton | 1 |
| Mark Selley | 20 | Nigel Bound | 21 |
| Mick Jones | 21 | Mark Thomas | 16 |
| Games | 5 | Games | 1 |
| Aggregate | 125 | Aggregate | 73 |
Final vs. Burway
Newport won a thriller of a Mayhew Final tonight as they edged out Burway by a single shot on a tricky and patchy green at Pontesbury. It was nip and tuck all the way through and was settled by the the very last game on the green.
Winning Captain Dale Rudrum (left) receives the trophy off donor Alan Mayhew.
First four and the games were all nip and tuck until the middle of their games before players had a run towards the end of their matches. Wayne Rogers had a good start against Sam Millward but Sam got down the edge to get back into his game before Wayne used a mark over the middle with the weight changes to win 13. Josh Partridge led Pete Grimston 14-11 before Pete found a straight mark which he ran out on. Kiah Roberts and Chris Grocott looked the best game of the night and it didn’t disappoint, with Kiah from 16-14 up Kiah played playing three good ends to get out. Scott Harries always had the edge over Ben Allen but Ben’s 5 chalks from 20-12 down manage to give Burway a lead of 4.
In the middle and Alan Davidson, fired up by a shout first end, produced the best card of the night playing really well using a long straight mark to win 6. But Duncan Pressley played some good stuff on longer marks as well to beat Phil Emery 10 to draw the match level. Mark Selley was also 18-10 up on Roy Crowther on a round peg before Roy got back to 17. Len Lewis and Dave Rhodes was the game of the night which ebbed and flow all night with Dave using the shorter marks to his advantage and Len the longer ones before Len managed to run out from 20-17 down with Dave being unlucky with a fire one end. This meant that Burway trailed by 3 shots going into the back four.
Kevin Dovey was 14-2 up on Russ Pegram, who had earlier beaten Greg Smith on West Brom, on 30m marks. Russ though got back into his game playing some good stuff over the middle to get back to 15, but this did give Burway a 3 shot lead. Jolyon Partridge was 20-8 up on Dale Rudrum on a round peg too but Chris Dovey trailed Pete Farmer 18-10 with Pete playing some good stuff over the middle. Dale managed to get two before Jolyon got out and this gave Burway a 14 shot lead. Chris Dovey then played some good stuff down the edge and got back to 18-13 before Pete hit a good fire and then won 14. So Burway were 7 up but Russ Davies was trailing Mick Jones 11-1 down an edge. Russ then hit two good fires to get back in and slowly worked his way back into the game to get back to 13-8, knowing he needed to get 15 to win the game for Burway. At 15-12 he looked to have the momentum before Mick got back in and went back to get back on his straight mark down the edge. Russ was unlucky to run into the back of Mick next end to leave Mick 18-12 up and both needing three to secure victory. Mick then got a single after leading a good wood 8 inches away and Russ being unlucky when flicking the block rather than hitting it full. Mick then led a foot bowl next end but Russ ran the block with his first and got one. Russ led one a yard short on a 25m mark over the crown and Mick played one a foot away. Russ was too high with his second but left it two foot away meaning Mick still had to play a good bowl to get game, which he managed to do to win the game for the holders by a single shot. This great win under such intense pressure earned Mick Jones the man of the match award, adjudicated by County President Mike Potter and League Treasurer and Organiser tonight Rob Burroughs, who he is pictured with below.
Newport before the final…
Winners Newport, back from left: Mick Jones, Pete Grimston, Scott Harries, Chris Grocott, Alan Davidson, Dave Rhodes.
Front from left: Dale Rudrum (Captain), Sam Millward, Phil Emery, Mark Selley
and after.
Newport celebrate their success.
From left: Russ Pegram, Mark Selley, Mick Jones, Dave Rhodes, Scott Harries, Dale Rudrum, Chris Grocott, Phil Emery, Sam Millward, Alan Davidson, Pete Grimston & Pete Farmer.