Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Castlefields look to extend lead, Hanwood look for improvement, Hanmer look to use home advantage
Castlefields will look to extend their lead at the top of the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League as they entertain Wrockwardine Wood in Gameweek 10. They currently have a lead of 7 over Meole Brace and will look to continue their good home record over the Wrockites, as well as their blistering start to the season. Captain Keith Walton says “we are playing a lot better this year, especially at home. Our home form was sub-standard last season but it has improved a lot this time.” Wrockwardine though come off the back of a draw at Bylet and a whitewash last game against Wem USC, but this leaves skipper Rob Jones with a selection dilemma, as Stuart Rutter and Dan Taylor are both back available after last week. “It’s a nice problem to have and it’s a game we are looking forward to” comments Rob. “They are a good side with depth all the way through but we will go and pick up what we can.” Meole Brace are second and face an indifferent Chester Road side who after losing at home 11-3 then won by the same score last week. On their last travels they got just 1 at Hanwood and after getting just 2 at Meole last season they will need to improve. Meole only beat Newport with 5 winners last home game and then got 2 at St Georges, so will be looking to get back to the form that took them top of the table before those two games. Sir John Bayley will want to keep up with the Fields and will hope they start better at the Bylet after trailing 6-0 at home last week before getting the win. They know they could do with winning at the Bylet to keep their hopes alive and have done the last few seasons. But Bylet are a different team this year however their last two home games have suffered disappointments with a loss and a draw, sandwiching that amazing win at St Georges.
Hanmer will be buoyed by their 4 at Hanwood last week and will be looking for a good home win over a St Georges side that for the majority of would not have seen the green. Skipper Tony Rhodes admits “it’s a step into the unknown at the Premier League new boys. Probably only Clay Flattley and Tom Langford of our side have experience there but we will play it as we find it. We had two bad weeks but you don’t become a bad side overnight and if we can play how we did against Meole Brace last week then hopefully we can get a positive result.”
Ifton are only four points above the bottom of the table and captain Dickie Jones admits “we need a good win to try and kick-start our season. We have been a hit and miss and not as good at home as last year. We could be dragged into a relegation battle so we need a win to set us up. We have been unfortunate on the last two occasions to be playing at home on evenings where it has been raining. That’s been reflected in the scoreline so we are hoping for a dry night and see if we can get a decent result. It’s a tight league and we are only 10 points off fifth. But you know during a run of away games you will drop a bit, so we are desperate for a good win to get us up the league.” Ifton would love a repeat of last year’s 14-0 win over Hanwood, but Dickie comments “they have adjusted well in the season and a bit since they came up. They won’t want a repeat of what happened last time.” Hanwood skipper Mark Shore remembers that game well. “We go to Ifton where last year we had a baptism of fire into the premier league with resounding 14-0 defeat. Obviously 1 would be an improvement on last season but we will be going to try and take as many points as we can. Going in June rather than late March must improve our chances. Also following Hanmer’s fine display against us last week and Bylets fine result at St George’s go to show anything can happen in the premier league!”
Bowring will welcome a home fixture after two successive away games, but after getting 5 in both it means they are still in 5th place at the top end of the table. They entertain a Burway side not doing to well away, getting 2 at Hanmer and Bylet and 3 at Meole Brace and Castlefields. They have had good home form and will want some good away results to go with it and push on up the table. Wem USC host Newport with both teams locked on 61 points. Wem have had a good start at home while Newport have had 15 winners from their last two away games at Bylet and Meole Brace and Newport captain Mick Jones is hoping for “four or five winners with a full strength side out.” Wem skipper Graham Dulson says “we always have a good game with Newport. Our lads are confident playing at home so i won’t be to bothered about the draw. We have a good team spirit, and I am keen the green craft and information from the side gets better as the season progresses.”
Gameweek 10 Fixtures:
Bylet v Sir John Bayley
Castlefields v Wrockwardine Wood
Ifton v Hanwood
Meole Brace v Chester Road
Bowring v Burway
Wem USC v Newport
Hanmer v St Georges