Castlefields stretched their lead to nine points at the top of the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League after pulling off an 11-3 (agg 56) home victory over title rivals St Georges.

Having seen their advantage at summit trimmed to just four points before last night’s showdown, it was the perfect response from Keith Walton’s men in defence of their crown.

And it also proved sweet revenge after suffering a 42 shots defeat at the hands of the Dragons in the third round of the County Cup just 48 hours earlier.

Clay Flattley led the way for Fields with a fine 21-4 victory, while Tony Rhodes and Glyn Picknell both won 21-15 for St Georges.

Defeat saw the Dragons slip into third spot, with Chester Road taking over in second courtesy of their 10-4 success at Bowring, Andrew Duckett bagging the coppers with a 21-7 win.

Wem USC, who were going well in fourth, were downed 10-4 at Bylet while Meole Brace were 8-6 victors at Wrockwardine Wood.

Results: Sir J Bayley v Newport – Match postponed, new date to be announced; Bylet 10, (+17 Andy James 21-12) Wem USC 4 (Ian Dowley 21-12); Castlefields 11, (+ 56 Clay Flattley 21-4) St Georges 3 (Tony Rhodes, Glyn Picknell 21-15); Ford 10,(+ 71 Gavin Price 21-2) Childs Ercall 4 (Nick Newey 21-14);

Ifton 12 (+ 89 Nikki Jones 21-6) Arch Worthington 2 (Ged Ashley 21-14); Bowring 4 (Rich Lawson 21-11) Chester Road 10, agg (+ 38 Andrew Duckett 21-7); Wrock Wood 6 (Dale Downes 21-9) Meole Brace 8 (+ 17 Tony Dodd 21-3)