Week 21 Preview

Top two face tough away trips, Dragons and Fields look to capitalise

The top two of the Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League face tough away trips in week 21. League leaders Chester Road travel to Bowring 2 points clear of Sir John Bayley, who go to Wem USC. Chester Road have two away games on the bounce, with a visit to Burway next week to come. Captain Paul Fowles is targeting “at least 12 points from the two next games. We won at Bowring a couple of years ago but they are much improved now so will be hard for us to do that again.” A lot will depend on how much of an eye Bowring will have on their momentous night tomorrow in the County Cup Final. The Bayley have an easier task but will still be hard pressed to beat a Wem side only beaten twice at home so far this season. Wem smashed the Bowring 12 2 last home game too, and captain Mike Dulson will be looking for something similar. “SJB will be a tough task tomorrow night as they have on paper one, if not the best, squad in the league. We need to mirror our last home game against Bowring and get another win in! With a bit of luck we might get a day without rain for a home game!”

St Georges in 3rd place will be hoping to gain well on the two teams at the top as they host Bylet at home with another home game to come next week too. They got a good 11 points this week from two tough away games so will be hoping to bang in some big home wins again like the start of the season. Castlefields are at home against Ifton also looking for a big home over them to close the gap on the top three. Ifton haven’t got the best of records at Queen Street but captain Dickie Jones will be looking for a good 4/5 winners. “We have been scoring 4 &5 recently away so something along them lines we would settle for. But with Castlefields still with an outside chance of the league it will be difficult.”

Meole Brace are in 4th and may fancy their chances of an away win at Wrockwardine Wood as they aim to stay at the top end of the table. Captain Mark Thomas knows there is “everything to play for at the top of the league, I can’t call it! But St Georges have got more home games left and what looks like a good fixture tomorrow. We need a win or a close loss at Wrockwardine to keep in it.” The Wrockites played their “Get out of Jail free card against St Georges” according to skipper Tom Langford. “But going into tonight it’s another tough game but we are looking forward to it. Green’s got some pace in it so we need to play the green as we know we can.”

Hadley USC will be looking to try and build on their win last night against the Bylet but face a tough trip to Hanwood. Hanwood are playing very well at home, they beat the Bayley 11-3 the last home game and will be looking for more of the same as they look for a top half finish. Newport find themselves in an unfamiliar position in 11th place, although have as many as two games in hand. They will be looking for a big home win over Burway to move up the table although Burway also have ambitions of a top half finish as well, but do struggle at Newport for points.

Week 21 Fixtures:
Bowring v Chester Road
Castlefields v Ifton
Hanwood v Hadley USC
Newport v Burway
St Georges v Bylet
Wem USC v Sir John Bayley
Wrockwardine Wood v Meole Brace