Juniors blow their big chance

It was there for the taking, but Shropshire's junior bowlers let national glory slip through their fingers.

They lost by 19 chalks overall to Warwick & Worcester in yesterday's Drakes Pride County Championship final, having been in the driving seat after the first four at both venues.

A super whitewash at the Prince of Wales BC in Shrewsbury had them 39 shots up there, while two early winners at the fearsome Forget Me Not green in Birmingham meant they were only 12 down - and thus 27 up overall.

But W & W, beaten in the last two finals, came on strong at both legs with four big winners at the Prince and a dominating display in the second city to get their hands on the Jim Grant Memorial Trophy.