Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Top 2 clash, Bottom 4 at home, Top 6 battle intensifies
The top two clash in the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League as league leaders Castlefields take on main rivals Sir John Bayley. The gap is 8 points and Castlefields could strike the knockout blow with a big win on Queen Street. Vice-captain Keith Walton comments “I think each team has a get out of jail card in a season and we played ours against the Bowring who were the better team by a long way on Wednesday. So we need to play at a better standard altogether if we want to stay in the race for the league. Should be a decent crowd to watch the 2 best teams in the league go head to head.” Castlefields were indeed fortunate to beat the Bowring 9-5 but this was down to their determination not to lose their unbeaten home status. Bayley would love to be able to take advantage of this dip in form but vice-captain Rob Burroughs says “we know that Castlefields will have a better team out against us and will definitely be upping their game from Wednesday. Bowring should have really won but the Fields dug deep when they needed to with some pressure bowls delivered. We go into the match on some good form and know that we have to perform to get close to them in order to keep the title race going into the final three games.”
At the bottom of the table and the bottom four are all at home as they look to get clear of trouble. Wem USC are 6 points adrift and know they need a big home win over Wrockwardine Wood in order to stay in touch with those above. But Wrockwardine Wood still harbour hopes of a top half finish and will hope to take advantage of Wem’s poor form in order to give themselves a good chance. Bylet and Ifton are just above them and they entertain Chester Road and Burway, with both looking for good home wins to stay clear of Wem. Chester Road though will want to make sure they aren’t dragged into the battle to avoid bottom spot, while Burway also can make the top half if they have a good finish, and will want to build on there good home win last week. Hanmer are 10 clear of Wem as they aim to extend their stay in the league and will fancy a big win over Hanwood, with most not having seen the green. But some of their players would have played it in the Whitchurch League and they will believe a 4th place finish is on after their great home result last week.
The battle for 4th place intensifies with two of the main contenders battling it out. Meole Brace and St Georges will have wanted more from their season but can still get a good league finish. Meole have hit form again and captain Pete Bound knows it is a “difficult match for us. St Georges are a team we respect and they are all playing well at the moment. We will have to be on top of our game, should be a good match for any neutrals to watch. Top 4 place to play for so all the players should be up for it.” St Georges will want to try and build on their County Cup Success and make sure they don’t suffer their lowest finish in the league. Bowring are in fine form, having come so close to winning at the League leaders on Wednesday, and will want to achieve their first ever top 6 finish in the league. They face a Newport side that are clear in 3rd but still need to make sure they finish there. Skipper Mick Jones comments “tricky game against a decent side with some capable youngsters. We’ll be happy with 4 winners on a difficult green.”
Gameweek 23 Fixtures:
Castlefields v Sir John Bayley
Bowring v Newport
Meole Brace v St Georges
Hanmer v Hanwood
Bylet v Chester Road
Ifton v Burway
Wem USC v Wrockwardine Wood