Mixed news for ladies in opener

A 'fantastic start' - that was the Shropshire reaction to a thrilling six shot victory over Coventry in their British Ladies county championship opener.

It went right down to the wire but Shropshire, beaten semi-finalists last year, stood firm to score a vital qualifying group three success.

But while they were celebrating, neighbours North Shropshire were lamenting a fine away performance going to waste in a 38 chalk defeat against their group two rivals Greater Manchester.

Shropshire looked on course for a comfortable win on Sunday as their first eight on the infamous Dunlop No 1 green kept the deficit down to just 10 while the home 12 at Hadley USC built up a big lead, Lisa Pessall a 21-8 ace.

But Coventry's formidable last four came on strong at Dunlop and news of their 46 shot success came with Shirley Jones and Sonya Lucas left on at Hadley.

Jones was 13-8 down to Jackie Burdett but won to 19 and the reliable Lucas kept cool as usual to win 21-16 and seal the overall win.

"What a fantastic start," said county secretary Angela Gaut. "Our next opponents Staffordshire beat South Yorkshire by 32 on Sunday so we will need to be on tip top form to beat them."

North Shropshire had a super seven winners away and lost by only 16, but they had only four at home at Bridgewater - and only two in the last eight - as their hopes were dashed.

SHROPSHIRE

v COVENTRY

AT HADLEY USC - Marie Rhodes (Wrock Wd) 21 E Murphy 10, Gwen Wilkes (Broseley) 18 D Carran 21, Lisa Pessall (Wrock Wd) 21 T Davidson 8, Karen Smith (Sinclair) 21 S Cole 17, Alison Cotton (St Georges) 21 J Faulkner 13, Holly Bishton (Sinclair) 21 J Hallam 13, Helen Clee (Wrock Wd) 20 R Taylor 21, Rachel Lawrence (Woodpeckers) 19 D Wilkinson 21, Sue Parker (Bowring) 21 J Edgington 19, Doris Nuttall (St Georges) 21 J Thompson 16, Shirley Jones (Wrock Wd) 21 J Burdett 19, Sonya Lucas (St Georges) 21 M Barnes 16. Shropshire won by 52, 246-194.

AT DUNLOP No 1 - Jane Archer (Old Shrewsbury) 17 G Greenbank 21, Claire Williams (Wrock Wd) 21 J Skidmore 12, Julie Bradley (Wrock Wd) 21 C Blakey 17, Emma Broad (St Georges) 8 J Shepherd 21, Jade Jones (Telepost) 17 J Smith 21, Lesley Winwood (Broseley) 21 D Young 12, Margery Deakin (SJ Bayley) 8 L Wood 21, Jackie Rutter (Wrock Wd) 21 E Wooding 19, Lorna Williams (Woodpeckers) 4 J Adams 21, Angela Gaut (Wrock Wd) 21 H Evans 18, Cheryl Walton (Old Shrewsbury) 10 C Verdon 21, Tracy Ryan (Wrock Wd) 10 L Clarke 21. Shropshire lost by 46, 225-179.

l Overall: Shropshire won by 6.

NORTH SHROPSHIRE v

GT MANCHESTER

AT BRIDGEWATER - Joan Groom (Prees) 9 M Thomas 21, Mo Corley (Wem USC) 21 D Jackson 8, Janet Powell (Wem Albion) 21 A Tickle 18, Sue Mottershead (Hanmer) 7 H Wildgoose 21, Doris Stokes (Bridgewater) 13 L Lees 21, Daisy Weaver (Audlem) 16 J Horton 21, Dot Jones (AWC) 14 S Parkinson 21, Colleen Harding (Wem USC) 21 K Wall 18, Sarah Weaver (Audlem) 18 C Kewley 21, Christine Ridgway (AWC) 20 R Fish 21, Caroline Wynn (Ash) 21 S Berry 11, Carol Beddows (AWC) 20 E Dawson 21. North lost by 22, 223-201.

AT LORD NELSON - Alison Pennington (Woore) 7 J Ramsdale 21, Irene Bloor (Childs Ercall) 21 E Parkinson 19, Ann Owen (Malpas Farmers) 20 J Keymer 21, Isobel Jones (Woore) 21 A Scott 14, Christine Sayers (Bridgewater) 21 J Givens 16, June Hand (Malpas) 21 H Silvester 16, Jan Haycox (Childs Ercall) 4 M Callaghan 21, Joyce Griffiths (Adderley) 21 S Swindells 19, Gill Edge (Malpas) 21 S Speed 13, Wendy Mathews (Childs Ercall) 11 J Gallichan 21, Tina Ralph (Nantwich Park Rd) 21 P Roscoe 15, Wendy Icke (Adderley) 12 L Hall 21. North lost by 16, 217-201.

l Overall: North Shropshire lost by 38.