Week 22 Review

Bayley and Castlefields earn payback, Chester Road get super seven, Hanwood secure five in derby

Sir John Bayley raced to the top of the league in week 22 of the Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League as they earned a 12-2 win over neighbours Bowring. Bowring beat the Bayley by the same score in the reverse fixture so it was payback for the Bayley. Stand in captain Paul Evans ackonowledges that “at SJB and Bowring this fixture is the most anticipated fixture of the season as both teams want the local bragging rights. Bowring taught us a lesson earlier in the season beating us 12-2 up the road. They are a much improved side performing very well this season and were on a high following their success in the county cup so we knew we needed to be on our metal from the off. We were already missing our captain Spencer Clarke and lost two more players on the day, so we were a changed team. Two good performances from Jamie King and Josh Bradburn of the Bowring meant we were 2-2 after the front four after Chris Ward won convincingly and Alex Jones in ruthless form against Rich Lawson. Every single Bayley player knew we had to give a performance here as it is the business end of the season, and what a reaction we had. Having taken all four cards in the middle we then took the next three in the back to move 9-2 up on the brink of a great performance. I have to make a special mention to debutant Ben Mellor, thrown in at the deep end last minute, having to borrow trousers and top to play and also use Aaron Tapper’s bowls, playing number 12 versus Glyn Hayward. Having been close through the first half of his game he found himself 17-11 down after Glyn strung a few ends together. But concentrating right to the end and supported all the way through came back and won his game 21-19 to give us a 12-2 victory and keep us in the hunt for the league and also to reverse that 12-2 from earlier in the season.” Gary Cooper was best winner 7 for the home side with Jamie King’s 17 win best for the away side. Will Plant got MVP for winning 20 while Stuart Clee did for the away side, despite only scoring 8!

Castlefields were another team fired up by comments as they got 6 up at St Georges. Joint captain Andy Judson said “the ammunition from T. Rhodes fired us up. You can’t be saying we hate each other so we’re glad we’ve finished their title hopes.” Clay Flattley lead the way on his return to his former club winning 9 to be best winner and MVP.  Dave King was MVP for the home side and best winner for his 5 win. On being asked of any lingering title hopes, Andy replied “no chance, we are too far behind the Bayley, they’re the favourites.” Chester Road are 7 behind the Bayley after gaining 7 winners at Burway, just losing the aggregate by 3. But captain Paul Fowles was “very happy after another bad start. We were 3-1 and 5-3 down but Chris Nicholson got the ball rolling coming back from 17-7 down in the front. Mark Holland was outstanding in the middle (to end Wayne Rogers’ 16 consecutive wins and win MVP for his 19 win). The back four held it together knowing any slip up could have finished our challenge for the title. We now have even home and away games left so we are still in the hunt.” Andy Moss was best winner 11 while for the home side Duncan Pressley and Len Lewis were best winners 12, with Duncan taking MVP.

Meole Brace suffered a setback in their title hopes after they only beat Hanwood 9-5 at home, which delighted visiting skipper Mark Shore. “Very proud of my team and the battling qualities they showed on and off the green Friday night. Off the first 4 we were disappointed to be 3-1 down as Peter Bound played some great bowls to edge out Danny Wornell 19 from 18-14 down. Tony Hotchkiss played really well to beat the luckless Julian Cooke (14 and best winner) who later went to play pool only for his opponent to clear the table from the break! In the middle (former player) Glyn Wellings and Will Tarrell had a close battle which Glyn edged twenty. Another of our returning ex Meole players Nick Davies played well to see off Mark Thomas. Ade Rowe bowled exceptional to beat Dave Burton (6 to be best winner). In the back and I beat Scott Moseley in a close tussle. The two MVP games came in the back with Andy Wigginton playing superb to beat the master Wayne Phillips 9 for the home side. In the other MVP performance Ben Talbot secured our final point of the night with a classy display against Nigel Bound 18. Delighted to get 3 more than some casual observers on the side thought we would get!” Ifton beat Wem USC 10-4 to move into the top 6. Rocky Jones had the only single figure card of the game, winning 4, with Craig Griffiths taking MVP for winning 18 for the home side. For the visitors Derek Wright was best winner 14 but Colin Smith won 17 to be MVP.

The other two games between Hadley USC and Newport and Bylet and Wrockwardine Wood were postponed, new dates to be announced soon.

So the Bayley are 2 above St Georges with a game in hand, and seven ahead of Chester Road. The bottom is the same with neither team playing. Andy Moss is still two wins ahead in the League Averages, and also drew level with Wayne Rogers on the most consecutive wins, a prize he will win if he wins next week. Stuart Rutter is still top of the MVPs, but Colin Smith has joined James Duce and Paul Evans on 1 behind him.