Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Market Drayton League Champions enter their first ever Playoff Final but are no strangers to the playoffs, having contested every one since 2010. In 2010 they lost to Craven Arms by 19 on the Bowring, before losing to Hanwood by 44 on Hadley USC after having the first nine losers the year after. In 2012 they led Burway by 4 after nine cards at Wrockwardine Wood but lost the last three cards and the match. The next season they finally won a pre-playoff game by beating Hanwood by 5 at the Bowring, but after Paul Hallett had been deemed an ineligible player, they lost the game by 21. Into 2014 and they lost to Hanwood on Donnington Wood by 15, before narrowly losing to the same team last season, by 9 on St Georges. But this season they finally made their break through by beating Donnington Wood by 13 on Meole Brace, and will be hoping their first playoff final will be a successful one.
Hanmer spokesman Dave Ellison comments “we are going into tomorrow’s game as the underdogs because of the historical record of non Premier League teams falling to defeat to their Premier League rivals (10 wins vs. 5), although Hanwood did break the mould last year. We are against a very good Hadley team who though they have struggled this season have some quality players in their ranks.We have had a tremendous season and a win tomorrow would put the icing on the cake and it promises to be a very close encounter. I would like to thank all my players for their commitment in helping Hanmer get to the final and wish Hadley the best of luck whatever the result tomorrow.”
They have got some experienced and competitive players in their ranks, including Welsh Merit Winner Graham Bennett and Junior Individual Merit Winner Andrew Armstrong. Lee Peate has previous Premier League experience with Archibald Worthington, as well as Marcus Hughes and Graham Rogers with Ifton and Chester Road. Jack Butler has Shropshire Junior County experience as well as finishing runner up in last year’s Shropshire Junior Merit.
Below are the League Average from the Market Drayton League. The players in bold are those who have been selected to play.
| Player | Play | Won | Lost | Agg | |
| 1 | Jack Butler | 22 | 19 | 3 | 182 |
| 2 | Lee Peate | 21 | 19 | 2 | 161 |
| 3 | Alan Faulkner | 25 | 15 | 10 | 81 |
| 4 | Andrew Armstrong | 23 | 14 | 9 | 63 |
| 5 | Dave Ellison | 22 | 13 | 9 | 69 |
| 6 | Mike Gilpin | 18 | 11 | 7 | 44 |
| 7 | Robin Bennett | 12 | 9 | 3 | 55 |
| 8 | Marcus Hughes | 8 | 7 | 1 | 52 |
| 9 | Gaz Jones | 10 | 7 | 3 | 46 |
| 10 | Joey Williams | 9 | 7 | 2 | 35 |
| 11 | Mathew Scott | 11 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| 12 | Graham Bennett | 11 | 6 | 5 | 37 |
| 13 | Chris Probert | 7 | 5 | 2 | 44 |
| 14 | Graham Rogers | 7 | 5 | 2 | 34 |
| 15 | Graham Faulkner | 10 | 5 | 5 | 28 |