Gameweek 4 Review

St Georges win again on Road, Wem hammer Hanmer, Champs remain top

St Georges roared back to life with a great win over Chester Road in Gameweek 4 of the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League, just like they did last season. They won there 9-5 with captain Tony Rhodes describing it as a “great team result on a very difficult different Chester Road green to last year. It was 2-2 and 4-4 until we had three winners in the back as well as Paul Beer getting 12 off Andy Moss from 14-1 down, as important a score as the 3 wins in the back. We’re not quite firing on all cylinders but after setting a target of 24 points after the first 4 games and already having visited Hanwood, a stronger than Friday night Newport, and Chester Road, I can only be pleased.” It was Tom Langford’s 21-3 win which helped seal the aggregate by just 7 chalks, with K P Jones the best winner for the Road 21-10, who slip down the table after this loss. Wem USC were the other eyecatching winners beating Hanmer 13-1 at home to move up to 3rd in the table. Captain Graham Dulson commented on a “good start to the season, which gives our players a bit of confidence. Now we have to improve our away games, but I think we can, and it’s good to have a team of local North Shropshire Players!” Only Robin Bennett got a win for the league newcomers, 17, who have dropped down to bottom after two bad results. Connor Whitehall and Fred Bailey were best winners for the home side, both winning 6.

Champions Sir John Bayley remain top after beating Hanwood 11-3 in a game that finished by quarter past 9. There was 8 single figure cards in the game, with Alex Jones and Paul Evans 21-3 cards the best of the 6 for the home side, while Ash Wellings was superb on one mark to lead 17-1 and win 8 to be Hanwood’s best winner. Castlefields remain in arms length with an 11-3 win over Burway in a game of no single figure cards. Glyn Herbert was best winner for the home side 11 while Peter Griffiths was for the away team 14. Meole Brace are second though after beating Bowring 10-4 at home. Andy Wigginton was best winner for Meole winning 3 while last year’s League Merit Champion Josh Bradburn won 9 to be best for the visitors. Wrockwardine Wood also won 10-4 to continue their solid start, with Martin Williams the best for them 8, while debutant Simon Trotman was best for the 5 times champions 21-11. Ifton got a good 5 at Bylet after last week’s home defeat with Keiron Roberts their best winning 6, while returnee Rob Fuller won 4 for the home side, who find themselves safely in mid table at the moment.

Sir John Bayley lead the table by 2 points to Meole Brace with Wem USC and Castlefields a further point behind. At the bottom Hanmer are there on aggregate from Newport. Andy Wigginton of Meole Brace now leads the averages by one point to Derek Wright.