Hadley set up Wem Playoff Final

Hadley USC set up a playoff final with fellow United Services Club Wem after beating Bridgewater by 34 chalks at Battlefield. They didn’t have it all their own way though in the first four, with Stuart Bailey leading 19-8 over the middle and Greg Fordham 14-6 against Staffordshire county players Simon Homer and Jamie Wyer respectively. But Simon got into the corners and played very well to come back and win 20. Jamie scrambled 17 from 19-10 down and with John Newey winning 16 after being pegged back at 15 across, and Dave Price winning 18, although he was 12-6 up in the corners, it meant Hadley led by 5.

Into the middle and Matt Blackhurst raced 7-0 up in the corners before being pegged back by Nick Wyer and then won 12 up to the crown and back. Phil King won 16 after always being up, and then once Jim Fletcher ran out from 8-7 down on a round peg just off the middle of the crown it put Hadley in control despite Tom Cooper winning 15 after a fightback in the corners by Ash Gregory. This meant Hadley led by 25 and looked like they were virtually there. There were no mishaps for them in the back, and once Ray Gregory got one at 19-17 down it was all over. Nick Mullinder played well on the shorter marks to win 16, the same as John Potter who got home 15. Steve Homer was a few down after a good start but battled back to get 20.

So Hadley go on to face Wem in the final at Meole Brace tonight at 7. Commiserations to Bridgewater who showed they are more than capable in their two games and I’m sure they’ll be back next season for another go and a year wiser.

The league would like to thank Battlefield for hosting and to Will Hare for refereeing.