Hanmer are urged to handle the pressure
Whoever copes with the pressure will prevail – that’s Hanmer captain Dave Ellison’s verdict ahead of tonight’s Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier Bowls League play-off.
The Premier wooden spoonists take on Mid Shropshire League champions Highley on Old Shrewsbury No.1 from 7pm with the winners to feature among the county’s 14 elite bowls clubs next year. And Ellison knows all about pressure, having guided Hanmer to victory in the Premier play-offs just two short years ago when they beat Hadley USC by nine shots in the final at Bicton.
His cause tonight is not helped by the fact the club’s top player this season, Robin Bennett, who won 13 of his 18 games, is unavailable.
as the Welsh border club finished 31 points adrift of second from bottom Meole Brace.
“It’s a play-off match which seemed very unlikely a few weeks ago, but events on and off the green have given Highley their chance,” lamented Ellison, before quickly adding that they won’t be taking their south Shropshire opponents lightly. “They have won the Shropshire Cup so must be a decent side and we need to be on top of our game to retain our Premier place.
“This is one night which flies by – and whoever handles the noise and pressure will prevail,” he said. “We need to be on the top of our game to retain our Premier place.”
