Play-off talk on back burner
The title race in the Worthington Mid Shropshire Bowls League is the key to White Horse's survival chances in the county's premier flight. That has been the long held belief of Furrows Shropshire Premier League supremo Mark Burroughs.
And he has no reason to change that opinion as he surveys a cracking championship chase in the Telford-based league.
Bylet, the Bridgnorth club who lost their Premier place when beaten by Ford in the 2001 play-off, are in the driving seat with just three games to play.
But their skipper Mick Harries is taking nothing for granted as they lead by just 11 points from good friends Hadley USC, and still have some tough games left.
White Horse, who came into the Premier as 2005 Highley League champions, look to have barred that potential route to the plays-off for Bylet.
But they could do nothing to stop Bylet winning 14-1 at the Horse in a Mid Shropshire division one game a couple of weeks ago, a result that put Harries & Co in pole position.
Harries does not deny Bylet have been pondering the Premier play-off picture, but he is anxious to stress they will do nothing about applying until the title race is settled.
"Obviously if we can win it we will go for the Premier League play-offs," confirmed Harries.
"But I firmly believe in not doing anything until that Fat Lady has sung.
"Even if we were 30 points ahead I wouldn't think it was over - out of respect for the other sides."
Both Bylet and Hadley are away tomorrow, but the crunch game may be Bylet's last match on September 15 at Bowring - another club with Premier aspirations.
"I think it's going to go down to the wire but I think it's critical we keep the lead intact, because we don't want to be going to Bowring on the last night needing a boatload of points," said Harries, who is without the experienced Graham Morris for two weeks now.
Rivals Bylet and Hadley have been firm friends since their 2004 County Consolation Cup final ended with mass handshakes of admiration on the green at Maddocks after Bylet's narrow win.
"If Hadley go on and win the league I understand they will go for the Premier play-offs too," said Harries.
"We have been close since the cup final and if we can't win the league I would love to see Hadley do it - and I would be supporting them in the play-off too."
By Malcolm Fletcher
