Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Bayley look for last home hurrah, Chester Road face tough trip, Castlefields need win
Sir John Bayley have their last home game of the Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League season and will be looking for one last big win to take pressure off them for their last two away games. Captain Spencer Clarke says “a special mention to Arthur Morris, our groundsman, who has done such an amazing job with our green, which has been excellent all year. As for the game itself, then we need to continue playing as we have been in recent weeks and try to get as many points as possible. It’s going down to the wire so every point will be crucial.” Burway are the visitors and will be looking to bounce back from their 3 down the road at Bowring last week. They’ve averaged 4 there the three seasons they’ve been so will be looking for something similar. Chester Road in second will be trying to minimise their loss to the Bayley as they travel to Meole Brace. “It’s going to be a tough game as we don’t do well there normally but it is on the other green this time,” says captain Paul Fowles. “We will need 6 points to remain in the hunt for the title so that will be our aim.” Meole are realising their title dream is over for another year unless they have an inspired run in, and with two home games then maybe that could happen. Castlefields in 3rd have two out of their three away, but those are at two of the bottom three. However they haven’t won away this season so this would have to change that if they are to win the league again for a record 9th time. But Wrockwardine Wood have picked up recently, edging home close games against St Georges and Meole Brace, and skipper Tom Langford is looking forward to “a tasty game. Castlefields are looking to push their way up the table and looking for a win but with us being back to full strength and the green a pace not suited to the Fields we will be looking for a win.”
The battle for the top 6 and the last Pool A spot is hotting up with three teams in with a good chance. Hanwood sit out this week with their game with St Georges rearranged for Wednesday 14th September, so Bowring and Ifton will look to take advantage. Ifton take on Champions Newport who are reeling from their first home loss since 2009, knowing a couple of good home wins could snatch 6th. Newport do have a game in hand on those teams so a good away result could still salvage a top 6 spot. Bowring have two away out of the last three so know they need to get a good result away at bottom placed Hadley USC to keep them in with a chance. Bowring got a good 11-3 home win last week, and captain Rich Lawson says his team “go to Hadley on the back of a good home win last week. They will be fighting for every point as they are in a precarious position so we will be expecting a tough game. Having said that if we play like we did last week then I’m confident of a positive result and hopefully gain our first away win and maintain our push for our best ever Premier League finish.” Hadley know they are in last chance saloon, and only 3 home wins out of their last 4 will give them a chance. But Bylet will be looking for a big home win over Wem USC to keep them clear of the bottom, while Wem are fighting Wrockwardine Wood for 11th spot. Wem did get 7 winners there last season and will be looking for something similar while Bylet will be looking to maintain their good run at home, however their last home game was the 29th July!
Week 24 Fixtures:
Hadley USC v Bowring
Bylet v Wem USC
Wrockwardine Wood v Castlefields
Ifton v Newport
Meole Brace v Chester Road
Sir John Bayley v Burway
St Georges P-P Hanwood (to be played Wednesday 14th September)