Shropshire stun the leaders with a win

The county darters produced the shock of the weekend to defeat the table-toppers, who remain at the summit despite the result.

Girl power proved the difference as both ladies' sides won their encounters, which offset a draw and a defeat for the men's line-ups.

Play began at Wotton Hall in Barnwood with the ladies' B affairs, where the visitors emphatically came out on top 5-1.

Two teenagers played their part as Sophie Fawcett, 15, made it two wins from three since her county debut, averaging 14.87 in a 3-2 success over Emma Clutterbuck (14.76).

Grace Angell, 14, took star billing in only her second Shropshire game, notching 18.65 and hitting a 180 to prevail from a high-quality last leg battle with Karen Brown (18.71).

Brown and Clutterbuck's tallies were the first and second highest in the hosts' response even in defeat, while Kirsty Dixon was third with 14.35 in a 3-2 victory over Kirsty Jenks (12.79).

The men's B teams played out a 6-6 draw, with Shropshire levelling in the last game. Matt Williams had racked up 22.25 for a 3-1 result over Keith Philburn (22.25).

Gloucestershire's John King replied for the same verdict with 27.28 to overcome Louis Burley (22.31). Andre Knox (20.54) restored parity in the 12th game, 3-1 over Ian Beasley (20.38).

The ladies A clashes put the visitors into what proved to be an unassailable lead, emerging with the spoils 4-2.

Mandy Morgan (21.17) shone for Shropshire with a 3-0 whitewash of Louise Bayliss (16.50). Vicky Fairbrother (20.04) pulled one back at the end with a shut-out of Julie Griffiths (16.94).

Even a 8-4 defeat in the men's A encounters, where play was upgraded to the best-of-seven format, couldn't derail Shropshire after they'd gone 15-9 up.

Their only loss of the four meetings was despite the best efforts of Richard Parker (26.58), who saw off Ben Fishwick (25.01) in the last leg 4-3.

Kieran Smith produced the highest average of the weekend with 29.37 for Gloucestershire, to ensure a 4-2 win over Andrew Chatter (26.10), but it was damage limitation.

Victory for Shropshire by 19-17, with three extra points for the winning county, puts them clear of the bottom two and ready to climb the table again.

They return to their home venue of Castle Hall in Bridgnorth to welcome Breconshire in their next fixture, on the weekend commencing March 5.