Job done, now let’s get down to the nitty gritty – Shropshire’s victory in the game they couldn’t dare lose has set them up for another assault on the Endsleigh County Championship.

A 24 shot success over the Potteries in their group two opener on Sunday was not as convincing as many expected, but results elsewhere put it all into perspective.

For Derbyshire’s defeat of reigning champions Greater Manchester in a re-run of last year’s final has thrown the qualifying group wide open.

But when Shropshire’s ‘Band of Four’ selectors meet next week to pick the side to take on the Mancunians on June 7 they will have plenty to pick over from the Potteries carcass.

Six winners at Silverdale – three at the front and three at the back – in a two shot defeat were what’s come to be expected from the consistently solid away team.

But sharing the 12 games at Wem USC was below expectations, though selector in charge John Nash was quick to offer explanations.

“The Potteries were a good side with good players and they played the green quite well, which wasn’t as quick as it has been for us in the past,” said Nash.

Shropshire were eight up away after four, Andy Moss showing his class in a county shirt with good timing with a 21-10 and Paul Williams – who had played the tricky green before – running out from 19-14 down.

But they were eight down at home, only birthday boy Charlie Weaver winning early on, and it stared to look a bit dodgy in the middle.

It took big home wins by man of the match Wayne Phillips and Keith Wall to turn the tide as Shropshire won four of the last five games to win by 26.

The Potteries played really well to win all the middle four at Silverdale to be 11 up, but the recalled Alan Palin, Ian Gaut and away skipper Derek Wright got to grips with them at the back, the Wem man immaculate in winning 21-6 to take both man of the match awards.

“The lads at home stuck at it to get the result, and Wayne Rogers did really well to finish his game at No 12 when his dad was taken ill.

“The away side must have played really well again. We seem to have found the right balance and are winning games we would have lost in the past,” said Nash.”

By MALCOLM FLETCHER

Shropshire V The Potteries

At WEM USC – Glyn Herbert (captain, Castlefields) 20, Dean Ferris 21; Rich Goddard (Castlefields) 14, Andrew Owen 21; Charlie Weaver (Chester Road) 21, Martin Hallam 17; Simon Parsonage (Castlefields) 17, Barry Booth 21; Wayne Phillips (Meole Brace) 21, Roy Price 4; Mike Beer (Castlefields) 14, Anthony Shaw 21; Clay Flattley (Castlefields) 19, Chris Jenkins 21; Dave Hoffman (Castlefields) 21, Lee Brown 15; Keith Wall (Castlefields) 21, Alan France 5; Colin Beaman (Meole Brace) 21, Lee Dale 13; Andy Duckett (Chester Rd) 21, Mark Ferris 16; Wayne Rogers (Burway) 12, Paul Phillips 21. Shropshre won by 26, 222-196.

AT SILVERDALE – Kerry Morris 21, Callum Wraight (Castlefields) 9; Joe Melvin 14, Peter Farmer (St Georges) 21; Nick Tideswell 10, Andy Moss (Chester Road) 21; John Mountford 19, Paul Williams (Castlefields) 21; Gary Owen 21, Chris Grocott (Newport) 20; Phil Burndred 21, Spencer Clarke (SJ Bayley) 15; Richard Burgess 21, Glyn Picknell (St Georges) 15; Fred Donaldson 21, Alan Davidson (Newport) 15; Joe Williamson 21, John Breeze (Childs Ercall) 10; Phil Owen 18, Alan Palin (St Georges) 21; Andy Ferris 19, Ian Gaut (St Georges) 21; Mark Melvin 6, Derek Wright (captain, Wem USC) 21. Shropshire lost by 2, 212-210.

• OVERALL: Shropshire won by 24.