2025 Review: KGJ Insurance County Cup

Final:

Sir John Bayley won their third straight KGJ Insurance County Cup as they overcame a resilient Highley side by 16. They trailed by one after four games off, Danny Statham the best winner for Highley 21-7 at number one, but fought back to lead by 6 after a shared middle four, Joe Dicken earning the “Wishy Dodd” Player of the Match award winning 11. Scott Simpson then won 10 at number 9 for the Bayley to put them in the driving seat, but Bruno Heath won 14 for Highley to put them back in it at 10 down. The last two games had only just gone on so it was all to play for, but Spencer Clarke and Tom Roden brought it home comfortably for the Bayley.

Joint captain Paul Evans of Sir John Bayley said “Saturday saw us take on Highley in the Shropshire County Cup final at a great venue in Edgmond and thanks once again to to the club for preparing what is always an immaculate surface. The game did not let the neutral spectators down in what was always expected to be a good final. Front four showed this and with only 1 chalk in it after four jacks was all to play for. Again nothing in it going into the back four after a good performance from Joe Dicken and a great comeback from Dan Taylor kept the game close and in the back four we managed to pull away and probably showed our strength in depth right up to number 12. A good victory in a well contested match up and all the very best to Highley for the rest of the season.

2025 County Cup Final Programme

Well done to Sir John Bayley on their success.

Semi Final:

Sir John Bayley will meet Highley in the final of the KGJ Insurance County Cup after both teams won thrillers at St Georges.

Sir John Bayley beat Wrockwardine Wood by 18 after being level with 4 and 9 blocks off. Joint captain Scott Simpson says “it was always going to be a tight game against WW and it showed after being level with just 3 games on the green. We battled very well all night particularly Pete Grimston who battled to 18 after looking like he wasn’t going to get double figures and Stu Rutter who was brilliant against Scott Moseley (to be best winner 8) who didn’t do a great deal wrong. It was great game to be a part of and we are thrilled to make it 3 finals on the spin. All the best to WW for the rest of the season.” Best winner for Wrockwardine was Tom Killen 8.

Highley’s 7 chalk win over Hanwood went down to the last game. They were 9 and then 25 up off four and eight respectively after Danny Statham’s best win of 3. But Hanwood fought back with Shaun Bould winning 7 and Phil Lyttle winning 13 which left Highley 3 up with Jamie Taylor 18-16 up and Bruno Heath 18-10 down. Jamie ran out which left Bruno needing 13, which he got and then got 20 to earn Highley their first every County Cup final.

Quarter Final:

Sir John Bayley and Wrockwardine Wood defeated the two non Premier League teams comfortably in the Quarter Finals of the KGJ Insurance County Cup. The Bayley beat Shifnal by 81 at Maddocks, Owen Evans best winner 6, with the Shifnal winner being Paul Reeves 10. At Greenfields Wrockwardine Wood defeated Woore by 64, Clay Flattley best winner 6. Ben Hinton was best for Woore 9. Highley had the closest game with Meole Brace, coming from behind to win with Jamie Taylor and Danny Statham winning 5 and 9 in the back four. Chris Jones led the way for Meole 8. Hanwood and Hanmer shared the winners but Hanwood won by 31, Jon Mansell best winner 0. Lee Peate was best for Hanmer 14.

2nd Round:

There were two more shocks in the 2nd round of the KGJ Insurance County Cup. Shifnal defeated the Bylet by 23 on St Georges, while Woore beat Burway by 16 on Bowring. Shifnal captain Paul Beer says “a close game on a quick and tricky green where we went a few up and as expected Bylet, a good team, came back at us towards the end, we where happy to hang on for the win.” Best winner was Matt Farmer 8, with Lee Bowden best for Bylet 6. Woore skipper Gary Beff says “very pleased with the overall performance and result. We didn’t get off to the strongest of starts but remained solid and competitive all the way through, slowly clawing back the deficit to finish really strongly. Really good game on a good green played in the right spirit!” Best winner for them Chris Grocott 10 with Burway’s best being Ben Allen 9. Sinclair weren’t able to pull of another shock as they lost to Wrockwardine Wood by 37 on Maddocks. Wrockwardine’s best was Jamie King 7, and Sinclair’s best being Stuart Church 15. Prince of Wales Hotel lost to Meole Brace by 41, their best being Martin Middleton 12, with Meole’s best Andy Wigginton 21-1. Newport lost to Hanwood by 49, Phil Emery best winner 12, Hanwood’s best being Mark Shore 9.

Sir John Bayley edged out Castlefields in a thriller by 6. Joint skipper Scott Simpson says “very happy to win the cup game versus a very talented Castlefields side. There was never more than 10 shots in it either way, both sides had good winners and both sides had players that battled for every shot. A greatly entertaining game for the neutral and it deserved to go down to the wire. We wish Castlefields all the best for the rest of the season.” Best winner for them was Reece Farr 7, while Gary Neal was best for Fields 5. It was an even closer game at Archibald Worthington where Hanmer beat Adderley by 3. Captain Dave Ellison says “both sides missing a couple of players but as anticipated a close encounter all the same. We managed to get over the line by just the 6 shots and Lee Peate and Ian Howell were best winners for both sides (11 and 3 respectively). A special mention to Mike Townsend who stepped up to the plate for ourselves bowling extremely well to beat Connor Whitehall 15 on a green that was an absolute pleasure to bowl. Shammy (Paul Edgerton) you should be very pleased with yourself!” Highley had 12 winners against Horsehay to win by 88, Danny Statham the best of them 21-7.

1st Round:

Sinclair provided one of the biggest wins ever by a non Premier League side over a Premier League side as they defeated 2019 winners St Georges by 70. They had 11 out of the 12 winners at Edgmond to amaze captain Harry Church. “A great team performance from us in a game played in good spirit and very good atmosphere from both sides. Good luck to St Georges for the rest of the season.” Best winner for them was Simon Madeley 21-8 with Joe Killen the winner for the Dragons 21-20.

Castlefields hammered Wem USC by 111 at Donnington Wood. They had six single figure winners, led by Adam Jones 21-2 win. Wem did have two winners, Gareth Davies the best of them 12.

The draw for the second round will be taking place on Thursday 22nd May.