Bowls selectors ring changes

Shropshire's bowls selectors have made three changes to their team for the Endsleigh Senior County Championship semi-final showdown with Greater Manchester.

It is the first time Shropshire have reached the last four since 2004 - and the selectors have not shied away from making changes to a team that won all three of their group games.

Ford ace Dave Hoffman's excellent record on the Greenfields green has seen him brought in for the home leg there on Sunday, August 3.

And Keith Wall of Castlefields has also got the nod for his experience of it, having played for Greenfields just last year.

Glyn Picknell of St Georges, joint top of the Furrows Shropshire Premier League averages, gets the call to return to county duty in the away at Crompton in Oldham.

The men to miss out are Adrian Rowe of Meole Brace, Chester Road's Martin Lloyd and Clay Flattley of Castlefields.

Rowe, without a win for Shropshire this season, has been named as a reserve at Greenfields, while Lloyd and Flattley will both be on stand-by at Crompton.

Shropshire were beaten by Greater Manchester in the semis four years ago, to have tough task in store next month if they are to reach the final.

But they will be buoyed by their track record this season, which includes a convincing victory over reigning champions Warwick & Worcester.