Bowlers refuse to lose

Shropshire's battling bowlers overcame everything that was thrown at them to score a second successive Endsleigh County Championship triumph.

Confronted by a sickness bug and heavy rain which delayed the start of the away leg, not to mention a good performance from qualifying group three rivals Cheshire, Shropshire still managed to win yesterday by 13 chalks overall.

That puts them top of the table and in pole position to make the semi-finals in August, elated selector John Nash commenting: "The performance and result made me feel proud to be associated with the squad.

"They all worked so hard and wanted to win so badly."

The two reserves that travelled to Nursery in Stockport both had to play due to Tony Rhodes and Dave Rhodes being ill.

And it was debutant Chris Grocott's 21-9 card that helped turn the tide after Cheshire had won the first six games, man of the match Spencer Clarke winning by the same score as Shropshire remarkably only lost by 23.

It was close at Pontesbury too until Castlefields pair Clay Flattley (21-5) and Callum Wraight (21-8) turned on the gas in the middle in a 36-shot win in front of a packed greenside.

Victory over Staffordshire next month will ensure super Shropshire's passage to the knockout stages.

Reflection, results and pictures in tomorrow's Star.

By Malcolm Fletcher