{"id":2904,"date":"2015-05-14T22:26:14","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T22:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thespbl.co.uk\/news\/?page_id=2904"},"modified":"2015-07-14T00:21:45","modified_gmt":"2015-07-14T00:21:45","slug":"donnington-wood","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thespbl.co.uk\/news\/?page_id=2904","title":{"rendered":"Donnington Wood"},"content":{"rendered":"

DONNINGTON WOOD (1994-2008)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Donnington Wood joined the league from the start in 1994 and kindly donated the League trophy. After finishing a respectable eight in the inaugural season, they struggled for the next few years finishing bottom twice and then second bottom. But then there was an upturn in fortunes as in 1998 they finished 8th and then went up to 4th place in 2000, only 3 points off 2nd. 2001 was their most successful season in winning the Alan Mayhew Final against Castlefields at Allscott after having the first 6 winners, then the 4 a side Pool B at Greenfields, as well as finishing 5th in the league. They consistently finished mid-table in the next few seasons, reaching the Alan Mayhew Final again in 2003 and 2005, beating Wrockwardine Wood in 2003 on Bowring but then losing on the same green in 2005 against St Georges. They also finished runners up in the now 8 a side Pool B in 2003 and 2004. But in 2005 they started their decline, finishing 2nd bottom and then 3rd bottom in the next two seasons. In 2008 they narrowly finished bottom by 3 points and had to face Bowring in the Playoff up on St Georges top green, and it was Bowring who relegated Donnington Wood from the Premier League, comfortably winning by 30.<\/p>\n

There was individual success for Donnington’s bowlers in the Individual Merit, with Ian Gaut (1998) and James Grimston (2000 and 2001) both lifting the trophy whilst at the club.<\/p>\n

They are currently in Mid-Shropshire Division One, and after a few signings, mainly from Staffordshire club ECC, they are hopeful of returning to the Premier League soon.<\/p>\n

Team Pictures<\/strong><\/h2>\n