When Castlefields stormed 5-0 up against St Georges in the clash of the night in the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League, a landslide victory looked on the cards for the title favourites, writes Malcolm Fletcher.

But the reigning champions hit back by winning five of the last seven games in Shrewsbury to end up only losing 9-5.

And it could have been six points as Mick Jones of the Dragons was 17-16 up against Keith Walton in the battle of the captains before the Castlefields man ran out.

Last night’s result leaves Castlefields third, six points adrift of WemUSC, who marched on the top by winning a close game with visiting Wrockwardine Wood 10-4, the Telford side perhaps deserving more.

Chester Road are up into second after walloping Newport 13-1, the same score that was handed out by fired-up Ford to former leaders Archibald Worthington.

At the bottom Childs Ercall made a sound start at Sir John Bayley but then fell away to lose 11-3.

They are now three points adrift of Donnington Wood who lost by the same score at much-improved Bylet. Details:

Ford 13 (+104, G Middleton 21-4), AWC 1 (L Markham 21-18); Castlefields 9 (C Flattley 21-3), St Georges 5 (G Picknell 21-12); Chester Road 13(+83, A Bailey 21-1), Newport 1 (C Grocott 21-10).

Bylet 9 (+51, S Harries 21-6), Donnington Wood (D Birch 21-18); SJ Bayley 11 (+63, S Burroughs 21-4), Childs Ercall 3 (B Shore 21-13); Wem USC 10 (+42, S Bailey 21-6), Wrockwardine Wood 2 (D Taylor & A Jones 21-12).