Bowls rivals battling at top of the table

Sir John Bayley made ground on Shropshire Premier Bowling League leaders Castlefields with their win at Adderley.

The visitors earned 13 points from their 9-3 win (216-181 on aggregate), with Stuart Rutter getting their best result with his 21-5 triumph over Austin Wilson.

Adderley’s Chris Stretch bettered that, however, with a 21-1 win against Chris Worthington.

Castlefields also won, beating Woore 8-4 (226-180 on aggregate), but only gained 12 points as Sir John Bayley slightly closed the gap to 10 points at the top of the table.

Callum Wraight impressed for the league leaders by beating Andrew Moss 21-5, while Woore’s Gary Beff beat Adrian Rowe 21-8.

Third-placed Wrockwardine Wood lost 7-5 at Ifton (227-188 on aggregate) as the two at the top of the table begin to open up a bigger gap to the rest of the league.

Ifton’s Ian Jones got his side’s best result with a 21-8 win over Joseph Killen, while for the visitors both Josh Cotton and Clay Flattley won 21-13 against Robin Bennett and Geraint Williams respectively.

St Georges also won 7-5 at home to Hanwood (233-214 on aggregate), as Ian Pessall beat Wayne Phillips 21-12, while Hanwood’s Matthew Parry won 21-13 against Chris Ward.

Burway won 8-4 at home to Hanmer (221-196 on aggregate), with Richard Lane getting their best result with a 21-9 victory over Mel Jenkins.

Despite being on the losing side, Hanmer’s Ian Formstone managed a 21-4 win over Peter Griffiths.

A mid-table clash saw Wem USC host Highley and pick up an 8-4 win (211-180 on aggregate) and there was a whitewash win for Wem’s Gareth Davies, who beat Stuart Gittings 21-0.

Highley’s Danny Statham also beat Darren Fitzpatrick 21-6 in their highlight game.

Bottom of the table Bylet lost again, falling to an 8-4 defeat at home to Meole Brace (233-180 on aggregate).

Meole Brace’s best result came in the form of Doug Edwards, who won 21-4 against Nathan Crocombe, while Bylet’s best win came from Camilla Parsonage, who won 21-14 against Tracey Bound.

Bylet are cast adrift at the bottom of the table having won just two and lost 14 of their 16 matches.

The teams next play again on Friday, as Castlefields host struggling Adderley in the hope of extending their lead at the top of the Shropshire Premier Bowling League, as rivals Sir John Bayley travel to mid-table Meole Brace.