Town winger flies in to take title

He has become more accustomed to grabbing the headlines at football. But, amid soggy conditions, Shrewsbury Town's Steve Leslie has made a dramatic splash on the Shropshire bowls scene by claiming one of the most prestigious prizes on offer.

Just 48 hours after being part of the Shrewsbury Town 16 to grace Wembley in an ultimately unsuccessful League Two play-off final, Leslie made the Severnside complex in Shrewsbury his own bowling theatre of dreams by claiming the County Handicap.

With the 19-year-old also being offered a new contract by his home town club yesterday, it was a Bank Holiday to remember for Leslie - and his barn-storming bowls success gave him as much satisfaction as anything.

Receiving two shots as a member of the Reman team in the Tanners Shropshire League division two, Leslie crept quietly through to the final stages before claiming the scalp of Michael Beer in the final.

And the Town left-winger was happy to include himself amongst the large number of observers shocked by his success in what was a relatively strong field of 114 players.

"It was unbelievable really," he said. "I turned up just to take part and take each game as it comes.

"There was never any thought of winning it at the start but when you get to the last 16 you know anything can happen.

"There was a lot of Premier League bowlers there but I don't follow the sport too much - I just play as a hobby and that's how it will continue.

"For a lad of 19 to win the County Handicap takes some believing but I'm delighted. It's certainly as well as I have ever bowled in my life."

Leslie certainly had to claim the £150 first prize the hard way, coming up against three Premier League bowlers in his six game route to overall victory - including beating Castlefields and Shropshire ace Beer 21-6 in the final.

Beer defeated Greenfields' Keith Wall 21-18 in the semi-final while Leslie got the better of Ford's Anthony Gray 21-10.

By JAMES GARRISON