There are three ties in the Ashton Shield over the next three Wednesdays. Tonight sees the holders Donnington Wood B take on Division 5 Hadley USC. Next week sees last year’s runner up Much Wenlock B play St Georges D of Division 6, and the following Wednesday has Division 5 side Sir John Bayley D try to upset Division 4 side Trench C.
All players must have played at least one league game.
The holders Newport overcame Wrockwardine Wood by 29 to keep their sights on retaining the title. They did lose at home by 3 though, Mick Jones best winner there 21-10, but won by 34 away, led by Ian Edwards 21-6. Sir John Bayley C edged out their D counterparts by just 4 chalks in the closest game of the night. The C team won both legs, winning by 4 at home, best winner Phil Griffiths 8, and by 16 away, Dave Dudley best winner 2. In the battle of the two St Georges’ teams, it was a comfortable win for the C team by 40. Best winner overall was Eddie Brown and Jean Roberts 8. Allscott Heath E shocked Highley by 12 shots. They won by 16 on Highley, Brian Jacques best winner 2, but lost by 24 at home, Angela Taylor best of two winners 14. Their C team also progressed by defeating Much Wenlock B by 19. They won by 47 at home, Laura White best winner 1, and lost by 21 away, Jeff Davies best winner 7. Horsehay B caused a shock against Donnington Wood B after beating them by 33. They had 5 winners at home to win by 43, Gregg Corbett and Phil Harris best winners 9. Away they lost by 22, Mick Davies and Neil Banks the two winners 19. Donnington Wood C also lost to Shifnal C. Shifnal won by 37 at home, John Simpson best winner 6, and by 6 away, Christopher Williams best winner 6. Sinclair defeated Madeley CC by just 4, winning by 9 at home, helped by Callum Corbett’s 11 win, and lost by 10 away, Maurice Wakeley best winner 16.
The 1st round of the Ashton Cup sees two teams from two clubs collide. Sir John Bayley C and D meet, with both teams playing on different greens at the club. But when the two St Georges’ teams meet, it will be all on the club’s bottom green. There is a tough tie for the holders Newport D as they meet Wrockwardine Wood C, who finished in 3rd in Division Four last season. Ashton Shield holders Donnington Wood B enter the competition and play Horsehay B, who lost to Newport in last year’s final. Donnington’s C team look to cause an upset against Shifnal C of Division 5. Allscott Heath E have the biggest handicap of all the teams, and aim to cause an upset against newly promoted Highley C. Allscott’s C team take on last year’s Ashton Shield runner-up Much Wenlock B. Two Division 5 teams meet as Sinclair C meet Madeley CC C.
A reminder a player must have played a league game in any team in any league for that club.
Newport D started their campaign to retain the Ashton Cup with a 59 shot win over Bylet B. They won by 48 at home, best winner being Kevin Edwards 4, and then by 32 away with Jarratt Cotterill best there 21-2. Shifnal C beat Shifnal D by 46 overall. They had three 21-6 winners in the match by Robert Hadden, John Simpson and Bernard Higgins. Wrockwardine Wood C beat Hadley USC C by 25 overall, winning by 52 at home, best winner being Rowan Fuller 3, and lost by 11 away, Timothy Trehearne best winner 18. Division 5 Sinclair C shocked Trench C by 16, winning by 1 away, best winner Callum Corbett 7, and by 9 at home, Christopher Pritchard winning 0. Madeley CC also caused a shock against Bowring C, winning by 13. They won by 3 at home, best winner Cyril Bright 10, and by 5 away, Simon Chater best winner 10.
The Ashton Cup starts tonight as there are 5 preliminary round ties to get us down to the last 16.
The holders Newport start their campaign to retain the title as they take on Bylet B, recently relegated into Division 6. There is an all Shifnal clash as the C team meet the D team. The other three ties see Division 5 teams looking to upset their Division 4 opponents. Wrockwardine Wood C will be looking to win this again and take on Hadley USC C, Bowring C meet Madeley CC C, who were relegated from Division 4 last season, and Trench C meet Sinclair C.
A reminder that each player needs to have played at least one league game before this game to be eligible.
The deadline for the entries to the Ashton Cup is end of this Friday.
The list of entries is below, we have 20 so far, the same as last season.
Entry costs £10.
Teams who lose their first match go into the Ashton Shield.
The dates for the competition are below.
Ashton Cup (Entries by 17th May)
Prelim 5th June
Last 16 26th June
Last 8 24th July
Last 4 21st August
Final 31st August
Ashton Shield
Prelim 10th July
Last 8 24th July
Last 4 21st August
Final 31st August
Allscott Heath C Allscott Heath E Bowring C Bylet B Donn Wood B Donn Wood C H U S C C Highley Horsehay B Madeley CC C Much Wenlock B Newport D Shifnal C Shifnal D Sinclair C St Georges C St Georges D SJ Bayley C SJ Bayley D Trench C
Please see below the dates for the Harris Cup, the new Harris Shield Competition and the Ashton Cup and Shield.
Teams can enter on their club page again for any club in the Mid Shropshire Leagues. Any teams from outside the league, any team registered with the SCGBA can enter this competition, should enter with Rob Burroughs on 07901 229623.
Harris Cup (Entries by 17th May)
Prelim 19th June (this can be moved if teams have players in the Isle of Man June Festival)
Last 16 10th July
Last 8 14th August
Last 4 28th August
Final 14th September
Harris Shield (Confirmation of Entries by 17th July)