Rob set to make Drake mark
One of the Shropshire juniors who stand on the brink of national glory is understandably more determined than most to seize the day on Sunday. Rob Roden has missed out twice during two seasons of success for the county's under-18s - and is determined to not to again in the Drakes Pride county championship final against Warwick & Worcester.
The Bowring 14-year-old was ruled out of last year's final defeat against Yorkshire after major kidney surgery in Birmingham, and was then devastated to miss last month's semi-final win over South Yorkshire due to being on holiday in New Zealand.
On Sunday Rob's back, playing in the first four of the home leg on the top green at Sir John Bayley (2pm), while the away side travel to Kings Norton.
And the Sutherland School pupil from Trench has been practising hard so that he can grab his big opportunity.
Proud father Peter, a county junior selector, said Rob was chuffed to be in the side and playing in his first major final for Shropshire.
"He was obviously very disappointed to have to just sit and watch last year's final from the side after his major operation.
"And when he went to New Zealand this year (to visit his uncle, former Donnington Wood star Ron Lawson) he sent his team-mates texts wishing them all the best," said Peter.
Rob spent 90 minutes practising on the difficult green on Tuesday - and that regime will go on for the rest of the week.
And victory on Sunday would be the icing on the cake of a glorious season for the youngster.
He and Peter won the County Father and Son championship at Perkins and Rob has just been selected for the Worthington Mid Shropshire League's division three representative side for the Dave Ellis Challenge against the Tanners Shropshire League.
Roden's club Bowring have their open singles, backed by Carling, on Saturday from 10.30am.
By MALCOLM FLETCHER
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