Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
St Georges and Meole face tough tests, Ifton look for form, Bowring look to take advantage
Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League leaders St Georges face a tough test in week 10 as they travel to a Hanwood team that are now in a bit of form. St Georges captain Tony Rhodes admits his team won’t know too much about the green being so long since they played there (apart from an Alan Mayhew Trophy game there in 2012). “As a team it’s been that long since we’ve played there that it is truly a trip into the unknown. Our immediate rivals have Tanners and Wem League experience there but we have little to pull on. We need to get on the green as in County games and simply play it as we find it. I’ve got quality in my team so am hopeful of an acceptable return.” Hanwood joint captain Mark Shore looks likely to be back in the team after missing out last week, when they produced their first away win of the season beating Bylet 10-4. “The team are on a high after the win away at Bylet last week and rightly so as reports from the island suggested they didn’t bowl bad but we just clicked. We are looking forward to taking on the table toppers St Georges tomorrow the good weather has turned Hanwood’s green from a nippy pace to an electric one which we hope will play into our hands. All that said we won’t be taking Tony Rhodes’ men lightly as they are top of the table for a very good reason. My only message to visitors and spectators is to expect a top contest and a late finish.”
Ifton sit in 2nd despite a dip in form but won’t find it any easier with a trip to Newport, a green they don’t do well on. Since scoring 5 there in 2011, they have only scored 7 points in 4 seasons there. Captain Dickie Jones knows “Newport are still a force at home so 4 would be good for us as our form has not been so good recently.” Newport have enjoyed a quiet start to the season, but have had tough games at home with a 11-3 win over Bowring the highlight. But after a 6 at Sir John Bayley last week they will be hoping to build on that. Sir John Bayley face a tough task as they travel to Burway. Burway have had some good results lately including a 11-3 home win over Newport and 6 at Chester Road, but did only beat Bowring 8-6 last week. But captain Chris Dovey comments “Bowring gave us a great game last Friday, I’m sure they are going to be pushing for the league this year with a very talented young side. We will try to keep our good home record going this Friday.” Bayley have struggled in recent weeks, just 2 at Bowring and only beat Newport 8-6 last week, so will be looking to get some form and stay at the top of the table. Bowring in 3rd are the only team in the top 5 at home, and will be looking for a big win over Hadley USC to take advantage. Hadley have a poor record there, but did get 4 there last season and will be hoping their battling performance last week against Castlefields will be replicated again.
Meole Brace, sitting handily in 5th with a game in hand, face a trip to Chester Road with the home side having picked up since their opening home defeat, will still be hard pressed to find a win there like last year when they edged home with 5 winners. Chester Road picked up a great 5 at Ifton last week and captain Paul Fowles is “hoping to build on that result as we have a strong side out as they usually play our green well but are confident we can do well.” Wrockwardine Wood surprisingly sit bottom of the league and will do well not to remain there after a trip to Castlefields. Castlefields have struggled to really get going at home, with only 8-6 wins against St Georges and Sir John Bayley, but will be looking to take advantage of a Wrockites side with no win in their last three. Wem USC are second bottom with a game in hand but will be wary of a Bylet side who have been up and down this season. Two home losses sandwich an excellent win at Wrockwardine Wood, but they have a good record at Wem, winning there 10-4 in 2013. Wem have got better each game at home, hammering Burway 11-3 and Ifton 12-2 the last two home games.
Week 10 Fixtures:
Hanwood v St Georges
Newport v Ifton
Chester Road v Meole Brace
Burway v Sir John Bayley
Bowring v Hadley USC
Wem USC v Bylet
Castlefields v Wrockwardine Wood