Gut-wrenching and devastating – they were the emotions of St Georges captain Alan Palin after his side’s heart-breaking one chalk Midlands Super League defeat at Chadsmoor.

One of the Dragons’ best displays of the season produced five of the eight winners as they pushed the premier division champions of 2008 and 2009 to the brink on their own green.

But they had nothing to show for their efforts on Monday night after slipping to a deflating 138-137 defeat, leaving them still searching for the second away victory they believe will make them red-hot favourites to lift the title.

“We still have a good chance but I think if we had won at Chadsmoor, we would have won the league,” said Palin.

“It was a fantastic performance and it was just so disappointing to get nothing.”

The St Georges front four was packed with supreme displays.

Pete Farmer set the tone with a 21-13 success over former Dragon Dave Rhodes, now of Newport, and he was backed up by impressive victories to 20 and 19 by Scott Harries and Colin Beaman respectively.

A 21-9 defeat for county man Glyn Picknell gave Chadsmoor a one shot lead at the halfway stage, but St Georges were back in control when Chris Ball strolled to a 21-12 success.

Spencer Clarke carried on the momentum with a 21-11 triumph and while Andy Jones was beaten 21-10, Palin was left on the green requiring 14 for a draw and 15 for a famous victory in his clash of the captains with Cliff Johnson at No 6.

Frustrating

But despite a late rally from 17-4 and 19-7 behind, Palin could only manage 13.

“The frustrating thing is that we win six out of eight at home against Chadsmoor last week and five out of eight on Monday night and yet we both got two points,” he added.

Wrockwardine Wood remain second in division two after a 160-133 home win over Amery at Maddocks.

“It was solid rather than spectacular but all you can do is win your home games,” said captain Stuart Rutter.

Much of the damage was done in the first four where Wrockwardine led by 28 thanks to a 21-7 win for Rich Morris and 21-13 and 21-14 verdicts for John Clarke and Andy Stevens respectively.

Bowring were soundly beaten 166-85 at Moor Lane, the visitors only win of the night coming from Aiden Smith — a 21-19 victor having been 18-12 down.

“They are unbeatable on that green so we were up against it when we got there,” said captain Roy Bradburn.