Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Sir John Bayley have won the 2016 Flowfit Shropshire Premier Bowling League trophy for the first time. They got 4 points at Ifton which earned them the league by 5 points, the second smallest winning margin after St Georges won it in 2002. Coincidentally that is the only other time a team winning the league has lost a game at home, and also the lowest total that has won the league, apart from Battlefield’s 184 in the 22 game season in 1994, but the Bayley won’t care how they’ve done it!
Castlefields edged out St Georges to earn their highest finish since winning the title in 2010, Craig Elson running out from 20-16 down against Rob Steventon to win the chalks by 2 and earn them the 9-5 win they needed to pip St Georges. St Georges beat Bowring 10-4 to gain 3rd, with Chester Road behind in 4th after being 42 points improved from last season. Hanwood sealed a remarkable season winning 11-3 at home to Wem USC to overtake Meole Brace and get 5th place after Meole lost at home to Burway 9-5. Ifton just pipped Bowring to 7th to finish in the top half.
Hadley USC finished bottom and will face the dreaded playoff on Friday 7th October. They lost 8-6 at home to Chester Road and finished 9 points behind Bylet.
Congratulations to Andy Moss who has won the League Averages and Most Consecutive Wins and to Stuart Rutter won his 8th MVP tonight to claim that award. Well done to Matthew Rhodes on winning the Fantasy Bowls League and Jamie King on the Predictions League.
Full reports will be produced over the next few days.
Captain Spencer Clarke receives the trophy off League Treasurer and Webmaster Rob Burroughs.
Sir John Bayley with the League Trophy. From left: Steve Burroughs, Ben Mellor, Paul Reeves, Spencer Clarke (captain), Scott Simpson, Paul Evans (vice-captain), Aaron Tapper, Alex Jones, Tom Roden & Will Plant.
Sir John Bayley’s team at Ifton. Back from left: Gordon Hawkins, Gary Cooper, Ben Mellor, Chris Ward, Will Plant, Paul Evans, Spencer Clarke (captain), Norman Harvey, Scott Simpson, Steve Burroughs.
Front from left: Aaron Tapper, Alex Jones, Paul Reeves, Tom Roden.