'Champion' Jones in switch

Wrockwardine Wood have made a stunning champion signing to launch the countdown to a new Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League season, writes Malcolm Fletcher.

The Wrockites have captured Andy Jones from reigning league champions St Georges - and skipper Rob Jones couldn't be happier.

"Andy is a superb signing for us and I'm chuffed to bits," said Jones, who is up for re-election as captain on Monday.

"We have been after him for a couple of years because he's a champion, and we don't have many of them in our squad."Jones, who emerged as a class player at Bowring, never felt truly at home on the big, heavy top green at St Georges - and that was a key factor in him moving down the road in Telford.

"Andy wants a new challenge and I would be lying if I said the fact that he will now be playing on the best touch green in Shropshire did not come into it.

"He's a touch player, not a chucker," said skipper Jones, who is resigned to losing former county coach Steve Broome to Premier rivals Sir John Bayley.

Simon Rhodes may follow the same path, but Wrockwardine have not given up on trying to persuade him to stay.

Jones won 12 out of his 18 games for St Georges last year as they won the Premier title and reached the County Cup final, having won 15 from 21 in 2005. He has played once for Shropshire.