Team 6: Donnington Wood

Donnington Wood joined the league from the start in 1994 and kindly donated the League trophy. After finishing a respectable eight in the inaugural season, they struggled for the next few years finishing bottom twice and then second bottom. But then there was an upturn in fortunes as in 1998 they finished 8th and then went up to 4th place in 2000, only 3 points off 2nd. 2001 was their most successful season in winning the Alan Mayhew Final against Castlefields at Allscott after having the first 6 winners, then the 4 a side Pool B at Greenfields, as well as finishing 5th in the league. They consistently finished mid-table in the next few seasons, reaching the Alan Mayhew Final again in 2003 and 2005, beating Wrockwardine Wood in 2003 on Bowring but then losing on the same green in 2005 against St Georges. They also finished runners up in the now 8 a side Pool B in 2003 and 2004. But in 2005 they started their decline, finishing 2nd bottom and then 3rd bottom in the next two seasons. In 2008 they narrowly finished bottom by 3 points and had to face Bowring in the Playoff up on St Georges top green, and it was Bowring who relegated Donnington Wood from the Premier League, comfortably winning by 30.

There was individual success for Donnington’s bowlers in the Individual Merit, with Ian Gaut (1998) and James Grimston (2000 and 2001) both lifting the trophy whilst at the club.

They are currently in Mid-Shropshire Division One, and after a few signings, mainly from Staffordshire club ECC, they entered the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, but lost to Hanwood and Hanmer respectively in the pre-playoff games.

Team History 1994-2008

League Competitions
Year Pos. Points Alan Mayhew Pool A/B
1994 8th 148
1995 13th 133
1996 13th 132
1997 12th 141
1998 8th 160
1999 9th 170 B R/U
2000 4th 215
2001 5th 194 WIN A WIN
2002 11th 159 B SF
2003 7th 189 WIN B R/U
2004 9th 177 1st B R/U
2005 12th 134 R/U B 1st
2006 12th 137 QF B SF
2007 12th 130 QF B 1st
2008 14th 110 1st

2016

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Donnington Wood. Back from left: Gavin Taylor, Reece Farr, Kane Beaman, Paul Evans, Tim Allen, Ash Gregory.

Front from left: Mark Worthington, Ayden Smith (captain), Chris Worthington, Dan Taylor, Dave Taylor, Kieran Buckley, Mick Wesley.

2008

2008 Playoff Final

The gallant losers, Donnington Wood.

Back from left: Ashley Hammond, Simon Gerrard, Tom Cooper, Alan Meredith (captain), John Cooper, Andy Newman:

Front: Jim Fletcher, Brian Jarvis, Mark Williams, Nigel Simpson, Fred Watkins, Mark Selley.

Team 7 has only competed in the playoffs once, losing in the final against a Premier League team.

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