Bowls round-up: Two out of three as longest-running league gets a boost
Another strong winter showing took Scott Harries to a second success in the last three Bandit Bowls one-day competitions to go ahead, writes Malcolm Fletcher.
The Sir John Bayley star repeated his success at Allscott Heath on December 21 with a string of wins on Saturday at the same venue as 19 bowlers competed.
County man Harries beat Dave James of Mid Shropshire League champions Shifnal 21-14 in the final, having once again accounted for ShropshireNo.1 Callum Wraight on the day.
Winner of the Newport Open in September, Harries beat Nick Pollard 21-6 in the semi-finals en route to the top prize from a £133 pot while James defeated Bylet’s Joe Dicken by the same score in his semi.
Quarter-final scores – Harries 21 Wraight 16; Pollard 21 Tim Killen 20; James 21 John Lea 15; Dicken 21 Matt Beeston 17.
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It’s already starting to look like being a good year for the longest-running veterans bowls league in Shropshire.
Two more teams want to compete in the Peter Morris Cars Mid Shropshire Senior Citizens League in 2025 – and they will be considered at its AGM on Thursday, February 13, at the Sinclair club in Telford (1.30pm start).
“Applications have been received asking to enter new teams in the league from Albrighton and the Squirrel (Alveley),” said a spokesman for the over-60 league.
The problem officials have is that the league’s four divisions were full with 14 teams each last year and, if there are no withdrawals, a new format would be need to accommodate the new sides.
“The current league format of four divisions each of 14 teams doesn't allow any expansion,” confirmed the spokesman.
“The only way to do so would be to add a fifth division and reduce the divisions to 12 teams.
“This re-organisation would necessarily mean that normal promotion/relegation would not be possible.
“Once the number of teams entered is known, the officers will put forward options to the AGM.”
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Five bowlers with Shropshire connections will be chasing record prize money in this year’s Potteries Panel.
Last year’s winner Callum Wraight will lead the five into battle for slices of a £4,000-plus fund for 10 weeks from Thursday, January 30, starting on the artificial green at Biddulph.
He will be joined by Sam Millward of Wrockwardine Wood, who also competed last year, plus newcomers Andy Armstrong of Ifton, Sinclair’s Danny Williams and Alex Hassall.
Shock winner of the Midland Masters crown in 2022 as a Shropshire qualifier, Hassall is now playing for Shaving in Whitchurch League first division.
The Panel, with a new ‘Champions League’ format,will boast a £1,000 first prize on finals night on April 10 – but the programme starts with two Thursday nights of cash challenge matches from January 16.
