In 2010, Castlefields continued their run of success when they won the league for the third year running and for a record eighth time in all. St Georges finished a gallant second and with all their cup successes, including the County Cup I am sure they will be a strong contender for the 2011 title when the league will be starting its eighteenth season.

For the first time in our history we had five teams applying to join our league through the end of season playoffs. This is a remarkable number and could not have been envisaged when our league was set up or when Coddon played Sir John Bayley in 1997 at St Georges in the first ever play off match. I know that a number of proposals have been made for the forthcoming Annual General Meeting about eligibility etc and I hope that at the end of the day we are in a position where the fourteen best 12 a side teams in Shropshire can play each other, home and away over 26 matches and the League Champions that are crowned can boast that they are the best in Shropshire! The five teams that applied in 2010 included two former members in Craven Arms and Hanwood. We also had Hanmer, Abbey and Burway and after a series of matches, Burway proved to be too strong and rightfully took their place against Bylet at Meole Brace. Remarkably, Bylet had the joint best record against Castlefields following their 11-3 home success and 10-4 reverse away, but they were never able to play their best twelve consistently and with only 133 points finished 13 points adrift of the Bowring in thirteenth place.  Mick Harries was able to pick his strongest side for the match against Burway and with Burway missing their League Averages winner (Roy Crowther), Bylet proved too strong on the night and won by 15 chalks, but I am sure Burway will return even stronger in 2011.

Reigning champions Castlefields opened their league campaign with a 10-4 home win against Ifton and followed that with a crushing 11-3 away win against local rivals Ford. After five matches, Castlefields were 15 points clear of St Georges and although they suffered two defeats in three matches in May (Chester Road 9-5 and Wem USC 11-3) they were never knocked off the top spot and clinched the title with a week to spare when St Georges could only win 11-3 against Bylet. They finished 14 points clear of runners-up St Georges with Chester Road finishing third and Meole Brace fourth. The league’s most improved team in 2010 was Newport who finished in their best ever finishing position of fifth.

The Alan Mayhew Trophy went to St Georges for the fifth time with a 221-196 victory over Wem USC in the final played at Meole Brace. St Georges Mike Wainwright was the recipient of the “Mike Hinton Man of the Match” award following his impressive 21-13 win in the middle four.

On the individual front, the “Mike Hinton” pairs were held for the seventh year at Remans and were won by the Bowring’s Richard Lawson and Rob Roden when they beat a St Georges and Childs Ercall pairing of Chris Ball and Peter Farmer 21-19 in the final.  Only 14 pairs took part and this was a disappointing turnout despite enhanced prize money kindly donated by Mike Hinton and John Coxill, who also contributed extra monies to the Individual Merit. Darren Wellings won the John Coxill Trophy for the first time when he beat defending champion Peter Farmer, 21-19, in the final held at Reman.  Andrew Moss won 23 games to lift the Neville Edwards Trophy and St Georges’ Ian Gaut recorded 14 consecutive wins to take the other individual award.

The Premiership Play-Off’s format continued as an 8-a-side competition and St Georges beat Meole Brace in the final of the Pool A shield.  Bylet, who had never previously won a Pool B match, lifted the Pool B shield after defeating Sir John Bayley in the final at Prees.

2010 Hall of Fame

2010 Season Final Table