Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Meole face another Derby, Hanmer look to build on good start, Teams look for first win
Meole Brace have already faced one derby but face another in Gameweek 2 of the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League. They beat Castlefields 9-5 on Wednesday but now face a buoyant Hanwood side coming off a great 11-3 win over St Georges in their first game. Joint captain for the visitors, Mark Shore, says “Friday’s game is like any other but there will obviously be extra spice as we finished above them last season so I am sure they will want to get a big result against us. I believe going to Meole early in the season is always a massive challenge as their early season form can be a notch up on their end of season. We will go into the game looking to get as many points as possible.” Hanwood got 5 there last year and will be happy with something similar. Castlefields move from that 5 to looking for their first win against Ifton, who had a good home win against Newport first game. Ifton don’t have a great record at the Fields so captain Dickie Jones knows “it’s a tough game but all away games in the league are, we will try to get as many points as we can.”
Hanmer are top of the league and face their first trip of the league to Wrockwardine Wood. Skipper Dave Ellison acknowledges that “being top of the league feels good but we also feel like an elephant stuck in a tree knowing we will soon fall out of it. But at least until Friday we are still in the tree!” Hanmer have played on Wrockwardine Wood before in a pre-playoff game against Burway in 2012 but Dave says “tomorrow’s game will be a real test for us because of our lack of knowledge of the green but we go there full of confidence after Wednesday’s result and maybe looking to pinch 3-4 winners if we can.” Wrockwardine opened up with a solid 4 winners at Burway but know they want to get back to their best at home after a couple of defeats on there last season. St Georges look for a big win to start their season against Wem USC, although despite Wem’s poor record up there they did get 4 winners last season and will look for the same. Bylet know they have to beat Burway to get their season started after being bottom of the table from Wednesday’s result. Burway have a good record up there and enjoyed a solid start on Wednesday, so it should be a close game on there.
Champions Sir John Bayley face previous champions Newport at home looking to build on their five from the Bowring. Newport struggled to get a team out for Wednesday but did get 3 winners and will be looking for those more established players to help get them a decent score on the Bayley. They do enjoy a good record up there, getting 6 there last year and winning in previous visits, but the Bayley know big home wins are needed in their quest to defend the title and will feel its an opportunity to do so. Chester Road got a very good 6 up on Wem USC and will look for a better home start against the Bowring than they did last year, losing at home to St Georges. The Bowring didn’t win away last season and know if they are to break into the top half they will need to do so. But they got a good 5 on there last season and will want the same again. Chester Road have more strength in depth this season and that may help if they wish to make any changes from Wednesday.
Gameweek 2 Fixtures:
Meole Brace v Hanwood
Sir John Bayley v Newport
Castlefields v Ifton
Wrockwardine Wood v Hanmer
St Georges v Wem USC
Bylet v Burway
Chester Road v Bowring