Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Two derbies, two giants clash, Road face long trip
It promises to be one of the best weeks of action the Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League has ever seen in week 22 of the 2016 season. There are two derbies, a game where the two most successful teams in the league clash and a long trip for one of the sides looking to win the league. The Bowring, fresh from their County Cup triumph last weekend, face a trip a few hundred yards down Haygate Road as they take on Sir John Bayley. Captain Rich Lawson is “expecting a very tough match as the Bayley are on a good run right now. We’re coming off the back of two good home wins and Saturday’s win so we’re in good from. Hopefully we can sneak 4/5 winners. As it’s a local derby it should be a good atmosphere with plenty of banter.” The Bayley gained an excellent eight winners last week at Wem USC and will be hoping for something similar this week, with the addition of the two aggregate points. Captain Spencer Clarke, who misses the game on holidays, started with saying that “SJB would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bowring on their fine County Cup success last week. They are a much improved side who play well as a unit however our home results have remained solid against the stronger teams, in recent weeks, so I am hopeful we can continue and get a result.” It will be undoubtedly a noisy game!
The other derby is in Shrewsbury, where 3rd placed Meole Brace play Hanwood. Home skipper Mark Thomas knows that they are in for a tough game, as “you would think that a new team coming to you at this stage of the season would be a straight forward fixture. But with the ex players returning it makes it slightly different! They have been good for our league and are very competitive. I see tomorrow’s game having quite a few close games with us prising out a win.” Hanwood have been excellent on their return to the league, and still have their sights on a top half finish. Joint captain Mark Shore says “tomorrow we travel to our close rivals Meole Brace. It’s well documented that the two clubs have former team mates within each other’s ranks but friendships and family ties will be put to one side and we will be looking to try and get as many as possible to avenge our only home defeat of the season. Meole have a chance of lifting the Premier League this season for the first time if they can hold their nerve in the run in. We will be looking to test that nerve led by a handful of quality ex Meole bowlers. Whatever happens it will be a good to catch up with the long serving Meole captain, friend to the eggs and all round party animal Mark Thomas!” The other Shrewsbury team in the league, Castlefields, are still on the fringes of the title race but face a tough task in visiting St Georges, some people’s favourites for the league now they have 3 out of their last 4 at home. Dragons skipper Tony Rhodes knows “it’s a big game. We need a big win to stay in the mix. Not a lot more to say really!” This is probably Castlefields’ toughest game left so they know a good haul up on the top green will set them up nicely. But a lot will depend on how quickly they recover from Saturday’s shock defeat to the Bowring.
Chester Road face a long and tough trip to Burway. Captain Paul Fowles admits “some of our players don’t normally travel there if there isn’t too much on the match, it’s a long way! But with everything to play for we have a strong team out and will be looking for six winners to keep us in the mix!” Burway aren’t pushovers though, and have enjoyed some good home results this season and will be looking to continue that as they still have an outside chance of a top half finish. Hadley USC know they are running out of time to move themselves off the bottom of the table but know they will still face a tough task in taking on champions Newport. Newport enjoyed a good home win on Wednesday to move them up to 9th and know they need an away win to give themselves a chance of a top half finish. Bylet will be looking to gain on Hadley with an easier game on paper at home to Wrockwardine Wood. Bylet have won their last two at home after a long winless streak but know that Wrockwardine have come into form, winning their last four games, including away at Hadley in their last trip. Ifton, despite being a few people’s favourites to win the league, know they need a great run to prove them right but will be trying to move into the title pack with a good home win over Wem USC. Wem got 3 at Newport on Wednesday and still have their sights on catching Wrockwardine Wood in 11th place.
Week 22 Fixtures:
Sir John Bayley v Bowring
Meole Brace v Hanwood
St Georges v Castlefields
Hadley USC v Newport
Bylet v Wrockwardine Wood
Ifton v Wem USC
Burway v Chester Road