Pontesbury target Newport

Newport, having suffered the ignominy of finishing bottom of the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League, look certain to face a relegation play-off.And the team bidding to take their place in the top flight on October 5 is set to be Tanners Shropshire League champions elect Pontesbury.

After years of resisting a move into the elite, Premier chief Mark Burroughs received a phone call at 11pm last night from Pontesbury stalwart Emlyn Jones confirming their big change of heart.

Jones & Co had just completed a 13-1 home win over Ludlow Castle and need just a couple of points from next Friday's game at Hanwood to sew up the Tanners division one title.

Pontesbury's about-turn only compounded the bad news for Newport who were 9-0 down at Wrockwardine Wood before Dan Hand, Martyn France and Brian Perry managed late wins.

But Bylet's surge from 4-4 at home to Ifton to a 10-4 win meant they climbed off the bottom to finish four points above the Fishes in the final table.

Full scores: Castlefields (8) v Ford (6) Castlefields won by 20, Meole Brace (9) v Childs Ercall (5) Meole Brace won by 21,Chester Road (11) v St Georges (3) Chester Road won by 48, Arch Worthington (10) v S J Bayley (4) Arch Worthington won by 16, Bylet (10) v Ifton (4) Bylet won by 50, Donnington Wood (5) v Wem USC (9) Wem USC won by 9, Wrockardine Wood (11) v Newport (3) Wrockardine Wood won by 66.

* The Premiership Competition quarter -final draw is as follows:

Pool A: Castlefields v Ford (Meole Brace), Chester Road v Wem (Archibald Worthington), Meole Brace & St Georges Bye

Pool B: Sir J Bayley v Newport (Wrockardine Wood, Wrockardine Wood v Donnington Wood (Newport), Ifton v Childs Ercall (Chester Road), Archibald Worthington v Bylet (Castlefields.

Matches to be played on Wednesday, September 26.

By Malcolm Fletcher