The battle for survival in the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League is hotting up with nine points separating the bottom four teams after last night’s action.

In the battle of the bottom two, Childs Ercall boosted their cause with a 9-5 (agg +42) victory over table propping Bylet, who themselves would be relatively satisfied to return with five winners to stay in touch with the basement pack.

John Breeze swept to a 21-3 win for Childs Ercall, while Mick Harries (21-14) was the pick for the visitors.

Bowring slipped to second bottom following their 10-4 (agg +46) loss at Ford, while Archibald Worthington also look in danger after being beaten 12-2 (+agg 79) at home to leaders Castlefields, Clay Flattley leading the way with a 21-5 victory.

And Fields are now 18 points clear after the big game at the top saw second placed St Georges suffer a 10-4 (agg +25) defeat at Chester Road, who are now just jone point adrift in third spot.

Meole Brace 6 (Mark Thomas 21-13) Sir J Bayley 8 Agg +21 (Matt Owen21-6); Childs Ercall 9 Agg+42 (John Breeze 21-3) Bylet 5 (Mick Harries 21-14); Arch W’ton 2 (Les Markham 21-11) Castlefields 12 Agg +79 (Clay Flattley 21-5); Chester Road 10 Agg+25 (Kevin P Jones 21-8) St Georges 4 (Dave King 21-13)

Newport 11 Agg +72(Alan Davidson, Ian Whittington 21-6) Wem USC 3 (Derek Wright 21-14); Ford 10 Agg +46(Andrew Marshall 21-7) Bowring 4 (Richard Lawson 21-14); Ifton 11 Agg +46 (Nick Hughes 21-11) Wrock Wood 3 (Dale Downes21-8)