2024 Merit

Callum Wraight added the SPBL Merit to his League Averages and Most Consecutive Wins awards this season at Tilstock. He had a tough final against Gary Whitehall, going 8-4 down from 4-0 up in the corners, and being in the game at 13-12 after Callum found his length on the shorter marks. But Callum upped his game, and despite Gary having a toucher and not counting as Callum had a toucher too, Callum ran out.

Callum had beaten Scott Harries in his Semi Final, going 9-0 up and winning 5, while Gary was 5-1 down to Joe Killen but then went 13-5 up in 2s in the corners. Joe couldn’t get back enough at him and won 11. The Quarter Finals saw Callum defeat Liam Stevens 9 after going 8-1 up, Gary hold off a fightback from Jamie King after he got back to 17-16 from 17-4 down to win 16, Joe race 12-2 up on Tom Roden and win 9, and Scott go 10-2 up on Rich Lawson and win 8.

Thank you to Tilstock bowling club for hosting tonight, 30 years after they hosted the first ever Merit. It was also great to see Neville Edwards present tonight, the reason why the Merit was there in the first season as he was Chairman of the league and Tilstock was his club. Neville is one of the reasons why we are playing in this competition and the Premier League!

Thank you to those who measured and marked tonight and to Dave Ellison for running the book and generating extra interest.

Callum also thanked Tilstock for their hospitality tonight, and said it was an honour to receive the trophy off Neville Edwards, a living legend of bowls. He also thanked Rob Burroughs and Martin Gaut for all the work they do for the league and bowls in general. It was a trophy he was desperate to get his hands on and hopefully will do so a few more times in the future!

Full scores are here.

Qualifying:

Find below a review and scores of the Friday Night Merit qualifiers.

Meole Brace

Joe Killen and Rich Lawson got through at Meole Brace. Joe beat Mark Taylor and then edged out Ash Wellings 20, while Rich got past Pete Grimston 18 and Sonya Lucas 15 to qualify.

1

Joseph Killen

Richard Lawson

1	Joseph Killen	21	20	Ashley Wellings
2	Richard Lawson	21	15	Sonya Lucas

1	Ashley Wellings	21	10	Nicky Jones
2	Joseph Killen	21	0	Mark Taylor
3	Sonya Lucas	21	15	Stuart Rutter
4	Richard Lawson	21	18	Peter Grimston

1

Nicky Jones

21

5

Jackie Rutter

Sir John Bayley

Former winner Liam Stevens qualified at the Bayley by squeezing past Will Tarrell 20 and Joe Dicken 19.

1

Liam Stevens

21

19

Joe Dicken

1	Joe Dicken	21	14	Phil Lyttle
2	Liam Stevens	21	20	Will Tarrell

1	Phil Lyttle	21	14	Dave Redge
2	Will Tarrell	21	15	Sam Millward
3	Joe Dicken	21	0	BYE
4	Liam Stevens	21	0	BYE

Wem USC

Another former winner qualified at Wem USC as Tom Roden got past Clay Flattley 14 and Phil Jones 13. Gary Whitehall also qualified again like he did in 2022, defeating Gary Neal 15, Robin Bennett 13 and Chris Stretch 19.

1

Gary Whitehall

Tom Roden

1	Gary Whitehall	21	19	Chris Stretch
2	Tom Roden	21	13	Philip Jones

1	Gary Whitehall	21	13	Robin Bennett
2	Chris Stretch	21	12	Spencer Clarke
3	Tom Roden	21	14	Clay Flattley
4	Philip Jones	21	2	Jamie Brookes

1	Gary Whitehall	21	15	Gary Neal
2	Robin Bennett	21	14	Rich Goddard
3	Chris Stretch	21	14	Mark Thomas
4	Spencer Clarke	21	18	Connor Whitehall
5	Tom Roden	21	0	BYE
6	Clay Flattley	21	0	BYE
7	Jamie Brookes	21	0	BYE
8	Philip Jones	21	0	BYE

Hanwood

Former finalist Jamie King qualified to try and go one better than last year as he beat Phil Wain 10 and John Cooke 20. Scott Harries also got through, getting past Will Childs 6, Josh Bradburn and Mike Beer 15.

1

Scott Harries

Jamie King

1	Scott Harries	21	15	Michael Beer
2	Jamie King	21	20	John Cooke

1	Scott Harries	21	15	Josh Bradburn
2	Michael Beer	21	9	Josh Cotton
3	John Cooke	21	6	Craig Baugh
4	Jamie King	21	10	Phil Wain

1	Scott Harries	21	6	Will Childs
2	Josh Bradburn	21	18	Adrian Rowe
3	Michael Beer	21	13	Thomas Killen
4	Josh Cotton	21	0	BYE
5	Craig Baugh	21	0	BYE
6	John Cooke	21	0	BYE
7	Jamie King	21	0	BYE
8	Phil Wain	21	0	BYE

Meole Brace

Callum Wraight is another former runner-up who is through to the finals for a second time. He beat Sarah Weaver 8, Wayne Rogers 18 and former winner Phil Jones 12.

1

Callum Wraight

21

12

Phil Jones

1	Phil Jones	21	19	Martin Gaut
2	Callum Wraight	21	18	Wayne Rogers

1	Phil Jones	21	0	BYE
2	Martin Gaut	21	0	BYE
3	Callum Wraight	21	8	Sarah Weaver
4	Wayne Rogers	21	7	John Newey