Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowls League
Last two winner clash, Newport face tough trip, Hanwood trying to tame Wrockites
The last two winners of the Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowling League clash in Gameweek 8 with both teams trying to play catch up to the two teams above them. 2017 winners Castlefields host 2016 winner Sir John Bayley in an eagerly anticipated clash. Castlefields skipper Alan Peach knows it is a “tough game against tough opponents. We are at full strength and will need to be against a very good team. We give them the respect they deserve but we are hoping for a home win this time.” It ended 9-5 last year to the Fields but both teams know they need to get as many as they can to keep up the pressure on the top two, who both have tough games. Newport travel to Hanmer, but have good memories of going there last year when the green was quick, like it is at the moment. Captain Sam Millward knows “we won there last year and are a stronger side this year so are looking for a similar score line. Castlefields play SJB so looking to either match or better the winner of that game’s points tally to keep our nose in front. Hoping for not too much rain because it’ll suit us with the green having that run.” Hanmer skipper Dave Ellison knows that Newport are in decent form. “We welcome the in form team tomorrow night who are top on merit. We lost the corresponding fixture 10-4 last year so we really need to be on top of our game to get a result. The green is running as quick as it’s been for a long time so we are praying for no rain tomorrow.” Wrockwardine Wood are another in form team and will be fancying their chances of being top come 10 p.m. tomorrow night with a home game against Hanwood, who have struggled away so far, although have had a tough run of games. Joint captain Mark Shore knows it is a “tough trip tomorrow to an inform Wrockwardine Wood, made harder by the absence of three players from last week’s team. We welcome to the Hanwood fold Rob Carter from West Brom and Phil Lyttle back from holiday. Also we are bringing in Jon Mansell and Dave Payne for their first prem game of the season. We will hope to come away with a respectable points haul to give the captains some head scratching for the following week.”
St Georges will be looking to finally kick start their home form to match their away form as they entertain Meole Brace. Meole have been doing well but lost at home to Wrockwardine Wood last week, however they did win at Ifton already this season. Wem USC host Ifton hoping to keep up their good recent home form since their opening defeat against Wrockwardine Wood. Ifton though will be happier with their form of late after their poor start, with a remarkable record of either scoring 2 or 5 there every year since 2011! Bowring find themselves near the bottom but under the new leadership of former captain Rich Lawson will hope to move up the table starting with a good home win over Bylet. Bylet have had a tough run at home and have scored 3 or 4 away and will be aiming for a little more on a green they know well. Burway will look to get back to wining big at home as their last three home games have been no better than 9-5, and face a Chester Road side that has been inconsistent so far this season without their star man Andy Moss, but have got 3 or 4 on every away visit so far this season.
Gameweek 8 Fixtures:
Castlefields v Sir John Bayley
Wrockwardine Wood v Hanwood
Hanmer v Newport
Burway v Chester Road
St Georges v Meole Brace
Wem USC v Ifton
Bowring v Bylet