It promises to be another close battle between the George and the Greville Arms in the Premier Division of the Summit Garage Staffordshire Premier Bowls League. They have both made a signing apiece to try and make the difference, the George have Rob Carter from West Brom FSC and the Greville have signed Mitch Harvey. Willenhall Nordley finished third last season and will be expected to challenge the top two. St Georges and Dudley Dell overcame slow starts to finish top 5, so a good start could mean they can get into the top three. West Brom FSC will be hit by the loss of Rob Carter, while M&B Cheslyn Hay will be buoyed by the signings of Cliff Johnson and Kevin Keary, and Moor Lane have signed Dave Room. Moseley CC are back in the league after a long absence, and Castlefields after a season out. Moseley have added Adam Kirby, while the Fields seem to have more players available after struggling at times last season, and will also have players to call on from Warwick and Worcester for their away games.
Premier Division
Captain’s Previews
Club: Castlefields
Captain: Mark Taylor/Ade Rowe
Players Signed: Michael Beer, Andy Duckett, Doug Edwards and Andy Hughes all available on a full time basis with Jon & Tom Palmer, Steve Freer, Adam Jones, Kiah Roberts, Simon Bloomfield and Keith Knight also forming important parts of the squad.
Players Left: David Lloyd
Aim for your team? To start as strongly as we finished last season and like any Castlefields team in any league top spot is our aim!
Thoughts on your division? Tough league with quality teams and players throughout. We will concentrate on our own performances, beyond that I don’t think a lot will separate teams top to bottom.
Club: Dudley Dell
Captain: Jamie Wyer
Players signed: None
Players left: None
Aim for your team: I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be aiming for the top. I know the George and Greville are probably favourites but I’m hoping we can get off to a good start with our two home games and put up a real challenge.
Thoughts on the Division: Think if the George get their best 8 out most weeks they’ll be hard to beat. As for the bottom it wouldn’t surprise me who goes down. The strength of the division makes it possible for anyone to go down, as we saw with Castlefields a couple of years ago.
Club: Greville Arms
Captain: Andy Nuttall
Players signed: Mitch Harvey
Players left: None
Club: M&b Cheslyn Hay
Captain: Aaron Tapper
Players signed: Kevin Keary & Cliff Johnson
Players left: None
Aim for your team: We aim to be competitive enough to not be involved in the relegation battle we were in last season.
Thoughts on the Division: Greville Arms and The George will there about again but i think Nordley Libs are due a league win. I can’t predict the bottom of the league but good look to all sides competing in this year’s Summit league.
Club: Moor Lane BC
Captain: Jack Whitehead
Players signed: Dave Room
Aim for your team: To Improve on last year’s performance and to maintain our status in the premier league.
Thoughts on the division: The George and The Greville to battle out the top spot again.
Club – Moseley CC
Captain – Nick Peters
Players signed – Adam Kirby
Players left – none
Aim for your team – last year was a successful year winning division 1 having worked hard. Now in the Premier the standard is up again so it will be very difficult for us but we are all looking forward to it. The addition of Adam Kirby has made us stronger and meant more competition for places. Obviously we want to finish as high as we can but maintaining the Premier Division status is the priority.
Thoughts on the Division – Any team could win it but the Greville and The George will take some stopping.
Club: St Georges
Players signed: Barry Gilder & Mike Wainwright
Players left: Ian Gaut & Clay Flattley
Aim for your team: Team did well second half of the season so will be hoping for a better start. Some very good teams this year we will try and improve on last years position
Club: The George
Captain: Phil Clinton
Players Signed: Rob Carter
Players Left: N/A
Aim for your team? As champions will be attempting to retain title
Thoughts on your division? (i.e. top and bottom) such a tough league to call. So many quality sides in there. Consistency at home and competing well away and picking up vital points is the key to doing well.
Club: West Brom FSC
Captain: Jason Cooke
Players signed: None
Players left: Rob Carter
Club: Willenhall Nordley A
Players signed: None
Players left: None
Aim for your team: With a second and third in the last 2 years for us we will continue to challenge with the side we have.
Thoughts on the Division: The league will as always be tough to split between the George and the Greville.
