Dragons' towel not being thrown in yet

St Georges are refusing to give up lightly in their bid for a third consecutive Furrows Shropshire Premier League title.

The Dragons are eight points adrift of current front-runners Castlefields, and have a tough assignment at Meole Brace on the cards tomorrow as they bid to bridge that gap.

It's all looking good for the Shrewsbury side, but St Georges skipper Mick Jones insists their defence of the crown is alive-and-kicking.

"I've got to say they're favourites now, but we're not out of it and they've still got to come to us," said a defiant Jones.

"Last year we beat them 12-2 so we gained 10 points in one game and if we did that again then you never know.

"We think we've done very well this year. We lost three players - John Breeze, Chris Grocott and Dave Rhodes - at the end of last season.

"You can replace one good player, and maybe even two, but when you get to three then it becomes a difficult job."

Jones accepts his side have their work cut out tomorrow though, as they travel to a Meole Brace green that has hardly proved happy hunting ground over the years.

They lost 10-4 last year, and Jones admitted: "It's another Wrockwardine Wood for us. We've got a terrible record there, and it's the same at Meole."

Castlefields are at home to Newport, and will be hoping for a repeat of last year's 12-2 success in order to protect their lead.

But the Fishes are a much-improved force this time around, and can be expected to put up a strong fight.

At the bottom, the two protagonists in the scrap to avoid the wooden spoon both have daunting away trips.

Childs Ercall head across north Shropshire to face a Wem USC side who still harbour slim hopes of muscling into the title race.

And Donnington Wood have their shortest trip of the season, travelling two miles up the road for a derby with high-flying Wrockwardine Wood.

The scrap for fourth place is intensifying and current incumbents Chester Road are far from safe, so they will look to capitalise at home to Bylet.

Should the Roaders slip up then Ford and Ifton are both poised to pounce, so their clash at theCross Gates could prove significant.

Sir John Bayley entertain Archibald Worthington, with the visitors still needing more points to ensure their safety beyond all doubt.