Monday Night Merit Finals Preview

The finals of the Monday Night Merit takes place tonight at Wrockwardine Wood at 7.15 p.m with 8 players looking to put their name on the trophy for the first time.

Former County President Mick Jones will look to add this trophy to his collection, and last year’s Division Four Averages winner takes on Stuart James from the Bowring first game. Bowring have three players in the field, with Abi Helliwell taking on Eric Reynolds from Sir John Bayley and Stefan Whitehouse taking on the only other qualifier from last year’s finals, Michael Furness of Shifnal. The other game sees the Bayley’s Steve Watkins play Des Connelly from Horsehay.

Dress code applies tonight.

There will be limited copies of a programme available tonight as well as a raffle. There will also be a small buffet afterwards in the clubhouse.

1Steve Watkins  Des Conneely
2Eric Reynolds  Abi Helliwell
3Stuart James  Mick Jones
4Stefan Whitehouse  Michael Furness

Junior Doubles Tomorrow

The Fletcher Junior Doubles take place tomorrow at Wrockwardine Wood at 10 a.m. on the old green.

Entries are free.

Any Junior, under the age of 18 on 1st January this year, can play who is registered with the league.

We can also match up juniors if they do not have a partner to bring.

Wrockwardine Wood are planning on doing cakes and the usual snacks as well as refreshments.

Monday Night Merit Finals Draw

The draw for the finals of the Monday Night Merit at Wrockwardine Wood Old Green at 7.15 p.m. is as follows:

1Steve Watkins  Des Conneely
2Eric Reynolds  Abi Helliwell
3Stuart James  Mick Jones
4Stefan Whitehouse  Michael Furness

Ashton Shield Clubs & Draw Details

The draw for the Ashton Shield will take place tonight at the July meeting. There will be three preliminary round ties on Wednesday 24th July.

The teams that are in the competition are as follows:

  1. Bylet B
  2. HUSC C
  3. Trench C
  4. Bowring C
  5. Shifnal D
  6. Donn Wood C
  7. Donn Wood B
  8. SJB D
  9. Highley
  10. St Georges D
  11. Much Wenlock B

Ashton Cup 1st Round Review

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.

Click on round for full result

1Newport D863289Wrock Wood C(+2)AtNewport D
1Wrock Wood C(+2)6914103Newport DAtWrock Wood C
Combined Result with handicapNewport D18973160Wrock Wood C(+2)  
2Sinclair C(+15)933284Madeley CC C(+10)AtSinclair C
2Madeley CC C(+10)983288Sinclair C(+15)AtMadeley CC C
Combined Result with handicapSinclair C(+15)19655192Madeley CC C(+10)  
3Shifnal C(+11)984161Donn Wood C(+28)AtShifnal C
3Donn Wood C(+28)822388Shifnal C(+11)AtDonn Wood C
Combined Result with handicapShifnal C(+11)19773171Donn Wood C(+28)  
4Donn Wood B(+4)1013279Horsehay B(+16)AtDonn Wood B
4Horsehay B(+16)1055062Donn Wood B(+4)AtHorsehay B
Combined Result with handicapHorsehay B(+16)20073167Donn Wood B(+4)  
5SJ Bayley C(+3)923288SJ Bayley D(+19)AtSJ Bayley C
5SJ Bayley D(+19)792395SJ Bayley C(+3)AtSJ Bayley D
Combined Result with handicapSJ Bayley C(+3)19064186SJ Bayley D(+19)  
6Allscott Heath E(+32)712395Highley(+12)AtAllscott Heath E
6Highley(+12)791495Allscott Heath E(+32)AtHighley
Combined Result with handicapAllscott Heath E(+32)19864186Highley(+12)  
7St. George’s D(+27)721496St Georges C(+1)AtSt. George’s D
7St Georges C(+1)1055063St. George’s D(+27)AtSt Georges C
Combined Result with handicapSt Georges C(+1)20291162St. George’s D(+27)  
8Allscott Heath C(+6)1024155Much Wenlock B(+13)AtAllscott Heath C
8Much Wenlock B(+13)903269Allscott Heath C(+6)AtMuch Wenlock B
Combined Result with handicapAllscott Heath C(+6)17764158Much Wenlock B(+13)  

Monday Night Merit Finals Details

The Monday Night Merit finals will take place on Saturday 6th July on Wrockwardine Wood Old Green at 7.15 p.m. after the England game at 5 p.m. If there is extra time then potentially we could delay till 7.30 p.m. but am wary of a late night if we go any later!

The 8 qualifiers are:
Des Conneely Horsehay
Michael Furness Shifnal
Abi Helliwell Bowring
Stuart James Bowring
Mick Jones Newport
Eric Reynolds SJ Bayley
Steve Watkins SJ Bayley
Stefan Whitehouse Bowring

The draw will take place after the meeting on Tuesday 2nd July at Sir John Bayley.

Dress code will apply.

There will be a small buffet afterwards in the clubhouse.

Shropshire Verti-Drain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Senior Merit Report

John Breeze retained the Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Senior Merit with a clinical display of bowling in the final against the Over 60s Merit winner Paul Beer. He raced 17-2 up in the final after losing the first end, and despite Paul getting back in he couldn’t get a run going and John won 9. In the Semi Finals John beat Chris Lodge 14 after going 9-4 and 16-7 up. Paul had defeated Simon Madeley 18 in a close game, trailing 8-4 early on and then 16-15.

Please find a report below of the other games tonight.

Thank you to Broseley for hosting tonight.

Well done to John on retaining the trophy, only the fourth person to do so behind Jack Driscoll, Andy Stevens and Jamie King.

Full scores are here.

Quarter Finals:

Chris Lodge was 10-2 down to Roy Bradburn but Chris got back in and went 19-13 ahead. Roy pulled it back to 20 across but Chris beat two one yard bowls in the corners to win the game.

John Breeze was 10-7 down on Sian Skelton but went 14-11 up. Sian got back to lead 17-15 and 20-17 but John came back to run out.

Paul Beer was 13-5 down to Les Mumford but then went 19-13 up on a straight mark and held on to win 15.

Simon Madeley was 9-4 up on Darrell Handley then 13-9 down. He got back to lead 18-17 and won 20.

Last 16:

Chris Lodge went 15-8 up on Kate Wainwright and kept this lead to win 15.

Roy Bradburn was 7-0 up and 17-7 ahead of Rob Clarke and won 9.

John Breeze was 9-5 down early to Dave Price and then 12-10 but went 16-12 up and won 15.

Sian Skelton was 7-3 down to Carleen Doody-Millington but then went 10-7 up. She went 16-10 ahead and then 20-14 before winning 15.

Les Mumford went 11-3 up on Nick Mullinder and then 16-9. Nick got back to 16-14 down but Les kicked on again to win 17.

Paul Beer was 9-4 down to Stuart Church but then 11-9 up. He went 19-14 up before Stuart got back to 19 across, however Paul got out in the next two ends.

Darrell Handley from 5-4 up went 14-4 up and beat Johnny Davies 8.

Simon Madeley was 7-3 down against Harry Church but then went 14-9 up. Harry got back to 20 across but Simon got the one he needed.

Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services Mid Shropshire Merit Preview

The 2024 Shropshire Vertidrain & Turf Services finals today at Broseley has a quality line-up of 16 of our best players, 5 of them previous winners. Reigning champion John Breeze looks to regain the title he won 12 months ago, and faces Dave Price of Hadley USC first game. Former winner, and sponsor of this competition, Paul Beer aims to win it again but has a tough opener against another former champion in Stuart Church. Stuart’s son Harry won the Division One Averages in 2022, and has team mate Simon Madeley first game. Les Mumford is another former winner in the field, and will have some extra green knowledge from playing on Broseley in the Highley league. Les takes on Hadley USCs former County Junior Merit winner Nick Mullinder first game, while his team mate Chris Lodge is against former finalist Kate Wainwright at the top of the draw. Roy Bradburn is yet another former winner in the field, and has Wrockwardine Wood stalwart Rob Clarke first up. There is an all female clash as we look for the first female winner of this competition, with Carleen Doody-Millington taking on Sian Skelton, who was runner up in the Mixed Doubles last Sunday. Two other team mates collide as Staffordshire’s Darrell Handley takes on John Davies, both playing this year at Shifnal.

It promises to be a cracking night at Broseley with a 6.30 start, the first 5 games going on to speed up the night. There will be scores updated here.

Dress code applies tonight.

There will be food after the finals have finished.

The full draw is below.

1Chris Lodge  Kate Wainwright
2Roy Bradburn  Rob Clarke
3John Breeze  Dave Price
4Carleen Doody – Millington  Sian Skelton
5Les Mumford  Nick Mullinder
6Paul Beer  Stuart Church
7Jonathan Davies  Darrell Handley
8Harry Church  Simon Madeley

Ashton Cup 1st Round Preview

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.

1Newport D    Wrock Wood C(+2)AtNewport D
1Wrock Wood C(+2)    Newport DAtWrock Wood C
2Sinclair C(+15)    Madeley CC C(+10)AtSinclair C
2Madeley CC C(+10)    Sinclair C(+15)AtMadeley CC C
3Shifnal C(+11)    Donn Wood C(+28)AtShifnal C
3Donn Wood C(+28)    Shifnal C(+11)AtDonn Wood C
4Donn Wood B(+4)    Horsehay B(+16)AtDonn Wood B
4Horsehay B(+16)    Donn Wood B(+4)AtHorsehay B
5SJ Bayley C(+3)    SJ Bayley D(+19)AtSJ Bayley C
5SJ Bayley D(+19)    SJ Bayley C(+3)AtSJ Bayley D
6Allscott Heath E(+32)    Highley(+12)AtAllscott Heath E
6Highley(+12)    Allscott Heath E(+32)AtHighley
7St. George’s D(+27)    St Georges C(+1)AtSt. George’s D
7St Georges C(+1)    St. George’s D(+27)AtSt Georges C
8Allscott Heath C(+6)    Much Wenlock B(+13)AtAllscott Heath C
8Much Wenlock B(+13)    Allscott Heath C(+6)AtMuch Wenlock B

Monday Night Merit Qualifying Review

We now have our 8 finalists for the 2024 Monday Night Merit on Saturday 6th July.

At the Bowring it was Division 4 Averages Winner Mick Jones who got through by beating Chris Pritchard 18 and Chris Taylor 15. Two Sir John Bayley players got through. Steve Watkins beat Tim Childs 6 and Jamie Pritchard 5, while Eric Reynolds defeated Laura White 17 and Ann Grocott 11. The other qualifier was Des Connelly who got past Gregg Corbett 13 and Lee Taylor 9.

Over at Maddocks it was three Bowring players who qualified. Abi Helliwell beat got past Kevin Edwards 3 and then came through a great game with Emma Chetwood 20, holding off a fightback from Emma from 15-9 down. Stefan Whitehouse defeated Yvonne Kendall 6 and Chelsea Mills 5, while Stuart James beat Brian Jacques 10 and Roger Jones 19, from 17-8 down. The other qualifier was Michael Furness who overcame last year’s runner-up Steve Hendy 9 and Robert Carter 8.

The details for the finals will be released later this week.

Scores from Bowring are here.

Scores from Maddocks are here.