Week 12 Review

Bowring close gap on leaders, Bayley and Fields fire up, Meole earn fine away win

It was a night where the Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League really closed up with only 14 points separate the top 11 in the league after week 12. Bowring beat leaders St Georges 10-4 to close the gap to them to just 2 points. Captain Rich Lawson was “really pleased with the win, we got off to a very good start taking the first four winners which gave us something to hold on to, from then on we managed to maintain our advantage. Aaron King was outstanding for us (MVP and best winner 9) and Glyn Picknell likewise for them (winning 8 to be best winner and MVP). It was another good team performance.”

Two teams finally fired up with big home wins. Castlefields and Sir John Bayley produced their best home results of the season winning 12-2 against the Bylet and Ifton respectively. Mike Beer led the way for the Fields winning 1 to be best winner and MVP while for the visitors captain Mick Harries earned MVP and best win for his 21-15 card. For the Bayley Paul Reeves also posted a 1 win but Alex Jones earned MVP for his 9 win. For the visitors they won the last two cards, Keiron Roberts 16 and Craig Griffiths 17, the latter earning MVP. Bayley captain Spencer Clarke commented on “a very pleasing result against a dangerous side tipped by many to take the title. I think Ifton were, in fairness, missing a few players but all credit to the lads this is the perfect response after last week’s loss.”

Meole Brace earned a fine win away at Burway, to inflict the hosts’ first home defeat. They had 5 winners and took the aggregate which “could have been more” according to captain Mark Thomas “as we had 2 19 and 3 18 losers.” Will Tarrell was best winner and MVP for the away side winning 9, while Burway’s two county stars earned best win and MVP, Wayne Rogers 8 and Kiah Roberts 19 respectively. Chester Road moved into the top 6 as they hammered Hadley USC, who were thankful for Steve Homer winning 18 to be only winner and earn MVP. For the home side Chris Nicholson was best winner and MVP winning 3 in the corners. Captain Paul Fowles said it was “a good all round team performance as we bounced back well from the disappointing cup game (when they lost by 55 to Meole in the Alan Mayhew). We are on course for a top half finish which was our aim this season.”

Wem USC also earned a good home win beating Hanwood 11-3 to move above them and continue their charge up the table. Scott Thomas was best winner for the home side 8 while Derek Wright won 20 to earn MVP. For the away side Phil Lyttle was best winner 11 but MVP went to Ben Talbot for winning 17 to continue his good form. Newport recovered from being 3-1 down to beat Wrockwardine Wood 10-4. Mark Jones led the visitors winning 9 but Steve Roberts won MVP for his 17 win. But the  Champions roared back only dropping one more win, with Pete Farmer best winner 5 and captain Mark Selley gaining MVP for his 6 win.

St Georges remain top but only two points ahead of the Bowring with Meole Brace a further point behind. At the bottom Hadley USC are seven behind Wrockwardine Wood. Colin Beaman remains top of the League Averages ahead of three others on 11 wins. Stuart Rutter remains two ahead on 6 MVPs.