A new-look title race is starting to take shape in the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League – with Archibald Worthington leading the way.They are five points ahead of Wem USC and six of Ifton after making it three wins out of three last night with a 12-2 pounding of Wrockwardine Wood.

Wem’s six winners at Ifton kept both them and the in-the-news St Martins club in the early picture.

Chester Road saw off visiting title favourites Castlefields 10-4 in the big game of the night and both are now locked on 24 points – seven adrift of the sole unbeaten side AWC.

And reigning champions St Georges are next after ominously returning to form with a 13-1 hammering of the Bayley for their first win of the season.

Bylet and Newport followed suit with their first successes, the Bridgnorth club having just a three chalk advantage at home to Meole Brace.

Childs Ercall are bottom and the only side not to have won a game after going down 10-4 at battling Donnington Wood.

Results:

Archibald Worthington 12 (+63, J Tew 21-6), Wrockwardine Wood 2 (A Stevens 21-14); Bylet 9 (+3, C Chamberlain 21-11), Meole Brace 5 (M Thomas 21-11); Chester Road 10 (+24, M Holland & P Griffiths 21-9), Castlefields 4 (R Goddard 21-9).

Donnington Wood 10 (+17, B Jarvis 21-7), Childs Ercall 4 (I Harvey & S Edwards 21-13); Ifton 8 (+23, A Davies 21-6), Wem USC 6 (C Smith 21-11); Newport 10 (+44, A Davidson & M France 21-6), Ford 4 (W Tarrel 21-11); St Georges 13 (+74, D King 21-4), Sir John Bayley 1 (S Clarke 21-18).