Shropshire’s bowls stars literally stormed into the semi-finals of the Endsleigh County Championship for the first time in four years.

They shrugged off heavy rain, thunder and lightning to beat Staffordshire home and away yesterday by 47 chalks overall.

It meant they finished top of qualifying group three, with three wins out of three, to earn a crack at Greater Manchester in the last four on Sunday, August 3.

Delighted selector Dennis Lewis said: “The whole squad has got a tremendous spirit about it and self belief.

“Now we need to find a suitable green for the semi-final – and we will be consulting the players to get their views again.”

Heavy rain in Whitchurch took the sting out of the District green, but man of the match Glyn Herbert (21-8) and Charlie Weaver (21-6) produced first four wins that set up a 31 shot success. Callum Wraight celebrated his £1,200 triumph in the John Smith’s Classic at Cleckheaton the night before by adding a 21-7 card at No 7 as the 12 games were shared.

A thunderstorm at Hammerwich reduced Shropshire’s practice time away, but it did not affect No 1 Peter Farmer who, from 7-1 down, won the man of the match award with a 21-11 win over former St Georges man Craig Barker.

Spencer Clarke (21-6) and Colin Beaman (21-4) always kept the visitors ahead as they won by 16.

By Malcolm Fletcher