Playoffs 2025

Final:

Woore will become the 26th club to play in the Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowling League after beating Horsehay by 7 in another thrilling Play Off Final.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed at Monkmoor on a perfectly prepared green given the weather. Horsehay started well, with Gareth Jones 10-2 up on Gary Beff, and the other three holding their own or a few up. But Woore fought back. Chris Grocott edged out Olly Harris 19 in a close game, while Andy Moss was only about 14 across but won 14 versus John Roberts. Gary Beff fought back exceptionally well after coming back early from holiday to win 18 in a high quality game, and Ian MacDonald held off a fightback after being 16-8 up on Jack Clayton to win 16. So after four Woore led by 17.

But Horsehay bounced back. Gavin Bridge raced 13-0 up down an edge against Paul Smith, and won 11. Andy Garbett was about 14-8 up on Steve Rogers and despite Steve getting back to 18 across Andy won 18. Steve Reeves had a good game with Martin Lloyd with both pulling out some good bowls and won 20, while Rich Simmonds was 14-7 up on Laura Hallsworth but Laura fought back to get 16. This meant that Horsehay now led by 2.

The back four saw two games ahead of the others. Craig Baugh and Rob Clarke did lead by about a few chalks halfway through their games, but Carl Hinton and Derek Wright fought back to take the lead at about 13-12. These games ebbed and flowed, with Derek getting out 18 and Carl 20, which meant Woore led by 2 with two games left. At this stage Neil Harris was 17-11 up on Dan Hand playing exceptionally well, but Liam Jones had come back from 8-2 down to Garry Owen in the corners to lead 18-13. Liam got a single to go 19-13 up, and lay game on but Garry saved. Neil had gone 20-13 up but Dan then scored another to be 20-14 down. Liam led one over a yard away, and Garry beat it, but Liam then put his second just over a foot away. Garry played through and just missed, which meant Woore had won. Dan had got back to 16 at this time and came off the green which meant Woore won by 7.

Thank you to Monkmoor for being great hosts tonight.

Congratulations to Woore for winning tonight, and commiserations to Horsehay and we wish them all the best in their quest to come back into the league in the future.

Pictures and reactions to follow.

No	Horsehay	Score	Score	Woore
1	John Roberts Jnr	14	21	Andrew Moss
2	Jack Clayton	16	21	Ian Macdonald
3	Gareth Jones	18	21	Gary Beff
4	Oliver Harris	19	21	Chris Grocott
5	Gavin Bridge	21	11	Paul Smith
6	Andy Garbett	21	18	Steve Rogers
7	Steve Reeves	21	20	Martin Lloyd
8	Richard Simmonds	21	16	Laura Hallsworth
9	Craig Baugh	20	21	Carl Hinton
10	Rob Clarke	18	21	Derek Wright
11	Neil Harris	21	16	Daniel Hand
12	Garry Owen	11	21	Liam Jones
	Games	5	7	Games
	Aggregate	221	228	Aggregate

Competitions Secretary Rob Burroughs presents a bottle of champagne to Player of the Match Gary Beff.

The Woore team before the game. Back from left: Ben Hinton, Dan Hand, Derek Wright, Paul Smith, Martin Lloyd, Ian MacDonald, Janet Salmon, Andy Smith & Laura Hallsworth. Front from left: Carl Hinton, Chris Grocott, Liam Jones, Gary Beff Andy Moss & Steve Rogers.

The Horsehay team. Back from left: Gareth Jones, Rich Simmonds, Dave Clayton, John Roberts Snr, Phil Harris, Steve Reeves, Rob Clarke, Neil Harris & Pete Burd. Front from left: Garry Owen, Craig Baugh, Andy Garbett, Gavin Bridge, Beth Reeves, Olly Harris, Jack Clayton & Phil Wain.

Pre Play Off:

Woore won the Pre Play Off to earn the right to play Horsehay on Friday at Monkmoor.

They won by 26 on a great green at Shelton, but it was far from that easy! They trailed by 6 after the first four, Pete Farmer and Ash Gregory winning 11 and 14 respectively for Sinclair, with Andy Moss winning 16 and Ian MacDonald 13 for Woore. It turned in the middle as Paul Smith and Steve Rogers were both 19-5 up for Woore, and won 13 and 11 respectively. John Potter won 11 for Sinclair though and Stuart Church won 19 from 18-14 down to mean it was dead level. The back four though saw Woore fight back with Laura Hallsworth winning 18 from 8-0 down and Carl Hinton winning 13 after a slow start. Liam Jones also won 10 to seal the game, with Derek Wright winning 17 last on to put a gloss on the performance.

Well done to Woore on their win tonight.

Thank you to Shelton for doing a great job as hosts tonight!

The Woore team. Back from left: Martin Lloyd, Paul Smith, Andy Moss, Chris Grocott, Andy Smith, Derek Wright, Dan Hand & Ian MacDonald. Front from left: Janet Salmon, Laura Hallsworth, Carl Hinton, Ben Hinton, Steve Rogers & Liam Jones.

The Sinclair team. Back from left: Simon Madeley, Pete Spragg, Steve Handley, Darren Fielding, Pete Farmer & Dan Williams. Front from left: Ash Gregory, John Potter, Harry Church, Stuart Church, Conor Chamberlain & Jordan Millman.

No	Sinclair	Score	Score	Woore
1	Harry Church	16	21	Andrew Moss
2	Peter Farmer	21	11	Chris Grocott
3	Steve Handley	15	21	Ian Macdonald
4	Ashley Gregory	21	14	Martin Lloyd
5	Conor Chamberlain	11	21	Steve Rogers
6	Peter Spragg	13	21	Paul Smith
7	John Potter	21	11	Ben Hinton
8	Stuart Church	21	19	Daniel Hand
9	Jordan Millman	18	21	Laura Hallsworth
10	Dan Williams	13	21	Carl Hinton
11	Darren Fielding	10	21	Liam Jones
12	Simon Madeley	17	21	Derek Wright
	Games	4	8	Games
	Aggregate	197	223	Aggregate