Bylet hope for historic return
Bylet made history as the first club to be relegated from the Shropshire Premier League. Now they want to set a new benchmark - as the first club to regain their place among the elite. And, make no mistake, the proud Bridgnorth club want it bad, to put the icing on a season that has seen them win both the Worthington Mid Shropshire and Mistral Highley league championships.
"We have got the full support of the club - they want us to win and go up," said Bylet skipper Mick Harries.
"Our second team have just finished second in division two of Mid Shropshire and have been promoted. So if we don't win Friday's play-off the club would have two teams in division one next year, just like two years ago, and that's a horrible scenario."
"And if we don't win we might not get the players who have expressed an interest in joining us, or be able to keep hold of players like Scott Harries.
"He's my son and I want to play in the same side as him, but I would never stand in his way of progressing in the game." Scott and Mick Harries are pictured.
It was all so very different in 2001 when a player-crisis meant Bylet, then led by Terry Phelps, finished bottom of the Premier and then lost in the play-off to Ford in front of a huge crowd at Donnington Wood.
But after two years in recovery, Bylet won the County Consolation Cup and Mid Shropshire League in 2004 - only to miss out on the Premier play-offs by losing to fellow top flight hopefuls Rhos at Ford.
"We didn't perform that night - it was our worst game of the season," said Harries, who feels how the two sides cope with the occasion on Friday will be vital.
"We have got a full squad to chose from and we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope that everybody performs on the night.
"Obviously there will be pressure and hopefully a big crowd, but all we can do is our best on the night and hope that that's enough."
Harries and his side know White Horse well from their battles in the Highley League, but the Telford club's Premier League wooden spoon side could be an altogether different proposition.
"I've got a lot of time for Graham Hollis and if we lose to them fair and square then that will be the end of it.
"What will be, will be. We just know that it's hard to win leagues and that these opportunities don't come along very often.
"And I think Bylet deserve at least a shot at the play-offs - and hopefully another crack at Premier bowls."
By Malcolm Fletcher
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