Premier Bowls: Big win for The Bayley extends lead at summit

A resounding win over Wrockwardine Wood helped keep Sir John Bayley top of the Taylor Support Shropshire Premier Bowling League.

The leaders took 12 points from the fixture to extend their advantage over closest challengers and defending champions, Castlefields.

Wrockwardine, who sit third, had been aiming to bounce back from a shock home defeat to Castlefields the previous week.

But The Bayley proved dominant on their own green, winning 10 out of 12 matches and claiming a 237-159 aggregate victory.

Scott Simpson, Scott Harries and Chris Worthington all had big wins for the home side.

That was enough to open the gap at the summit to four points, with Castlefields taking just 11 from their home fixture against Hanmer.

Lee Peate, Anthony Harper and Rhys Griffiths won matches to ensure the visitors left with something to show for their efforts, while Callum Wraight was in dominant form for the home side, beating Luke Ellison 21-8.

The closest match of the week was at Highley, where visitors Hanwood departed with six points to remain fourth in the table.

Both teams won six games each with the hosts just edging the aggregate score 211-207, to claim a two-point bonus.

Ifton pulled off arguably the biggest performance of the week by claiming 11 points away at Meole Brace.

Leighton Roberts, who recorded a 21-6 win over Jamie Brookes, was one of seven winners for the away side, helping them record a 217-207 aggregate victory.

Bylet are now 14 points adrift at the bottom of the table after losing at home to St Georges.

The visiting team won nine out of 12 games though two of those were tight, with Chris Ward and Ian Gaut just getting over the line against Chris Hayward and Chris Davis respectively.

A big win for Nigel Evans, meanwhile, helped St Georges claim a 214-184 aggregate victory and a 13-point haul, with the home side earning just three.

Bylet’s defeat allowed Adderley to pull away from the bottom of the table as they got the better of Burway on their own green.

Close wins for Richard Pullen and Dave Bamford proved crucial for the home side, who ended the night with eight winners and a 216-199 aggregate score to claim a 10-point haul and move just four points behind the visitors in the standings.