Fields favourites for title
It hurts him to admit it, but St Georges skipper Mick Jones makes arch rivals Castlefields favourites to win the Furrows Shropshire Bowls League now. And that admission is based on one thing - the respective run-ins of the top two now that they have just three games left to play.
St Georges may have pulled one point further clear at the top on Friday as they lost 8-6 at Newport while the Fields went down 9-5 at Ifton, but Jones knows the 10 point advantage may not be enough.For Castlefields have home games against the bottom two sides, Childs Ercall and White Horse, to come - with a winnable away game at Ford sandwiched in between.
The Dragons on the other hand will be wary of a home game against the side that beat them in the County Cup final, Sir John Bayley, which is followed by a tricky test at Wrockwardine Wood and a last game tussle with visiting Ifton two nights later.
What is even more galling for Jones is that his Telford giants were 5-0 up at Newport, having seemingly beaten the best the Fishes club had to offer.
"We did not play that well after that," admitted Jones.
"And I think Castlefields must be favourites now because they have got three easier games left than us.
"They could easily win their two homes games 14-0.
"All we know is that it is going to go down to the wire - and that they would sooner be 10 points ahead of us than 10 behind.
"We've just got to try to keep smiling and let them worry about us."
Greg Fordham, Dan Hand and Neil Hallett led the Newport recovery in the middle and, once Paul Rudrum had beaten Kevin Keary 21-9, the writing was on the wall for St Georges.
And Ian Gaut's near miss for St Georges when he got 20 after being 11-3 down to Ian Whittington sort of summed it up for Jones.
Up at Ifton home skipper Terry Williams was jubilant with seven winners against a Castlefields side he reckons will win the league.
It took 21-19 wins for Geoff Samuel against Rich Goddard and Carl Roberts over Callum Wraight to tip the balance - while averages trophy chaser Clay Flatley lost 15 against reigning title holder Rocky Jones.
Chester Road go third after their stunning win at the Bayley, Whitchurch rivals AWC also won on the road - 10-4 at Wem - and White Horse scored their third victory of the season at the expense of Meole Brace.
By MALCOLM FLETCHER
