Big home win keeps Meole Brace clear at the top

Meole are four points clear at the top of the table after five single-figure victors helped them sweep aside Burway 11-3.

Craig Wilson led the way with a 21-3 beating of Duncan Pressley, Peter Bound was a big 21-5 winner against Roy Crowther while there were 21-8 triumphs for Darren Wellings, Colin Beaman and Mark Thomas.

Meole Brace skipper Pete Bound said: “It was a very good team performance as the green was difficult to play.

“Burway struggled with the green but started strongly winning the first two games. Good home performances are the key to staying in contention.”

Castlefields remain six points adrift in second spot following an 11-3 success over Hanwood at Queen Street.

Andrew Judson was the pick of the home winners, accounting for Ashley Wellings 21-10, while a 21-12 card for Andy Duckett at the expense of Phil Lyttle was next best. Hanwood claimed a matching pair of 21-12 victories for Mark Shore and Tony Hotchkiss over Mark Taylor and Rich Goddard respectively.

Gary Neal completed the away side’s points tally by beating Adrian Rowe 21-14.

Wem USC maintained their impressive start to the campaign by beating Bowring 9-5.

Chris Brettell was the stand-out performer with a 21-8 beating of John Cooke while Derek Wright saw off Reece Farr 21-12.

Chester Road kickstarted their season with a convincing 13-1 victory against Wrockwardine Wood in Whitchurch.

It included single-figure wins for Ian McDonald, 21-5 over Dale Downes, and Mark Holland, who beat Robert Jones.

It was nearly a full house for the Roaders as the only home man to taste defeat on the night, Dave Rogers, was edged out 21-19 by Stuart Clee.

Skipper Paul Fowles said: “We all played well and got a good advantage having the chance to swap the players around with more choice.

“Fair play to them, they played better than only getting one.”

A clean sweep of the middle four helped Hanmer defeat Ifton 11-3 and lift themselves off the foot of the table.

“The win was much needed on a green that was properly running for the first time this season,” said Hanmer skipper Dave Ellison.

Mike Gilpin was the home side’s best winner with a 21-2 success over Dicky Jones while Leighton Roberts was best winner for the Miners, beating Jonathan Scott 21-11.

Newport picked up an excellent away victory with a 10-4 success at Bylet.

Captain Mick Jones said: “It could have gone either way with some close cards, but we could have had a couple more with Mark Selley losing 20 from 20-19 up and Phil Emery 18-13 up.

“But it’s still a great result there to get a 10-4.”

Best winner for Bylet was Rob Fuller (21-3 over Alan Davidson) while the visitors’ best result went to John Roberts for his 21-10 win against Chris Chamberlain.

Defending champions Sir John Bayley bounced back from their whitewash against Burway the week before with a 10-4 win over St Georges, taking the whole of the back four.

St Georges battled well in the first four with Pete Grimston winning from 15-7 down and Glyn Picknell from 13-7 behind.

Chris Worthington was best winner for Bayley with a 21-1 success against Michael Wainwright with Ian Gaut’s 21-14 victory over Gary Cooper the best result for the visitors.