County stars in Masters woe

Shropshire bowlers hit a brick wall in round three of the Midland Masters at Meole Brace - five of the county's 10 qualifiers bowing out at that stage.

And that left the way clear for brothers Andrew and and Gary Owen from the Potteries to contest Sunday's final.

In the end it was the older sibling Andrew, who has played for Woore in the past, who emerged as the pride of the Potteries with a 21-16 victory to take the £500 jackpot and Champion of Champions ticket.

Ian Gaut (St Georges), John Clarke (Wrockwardine Wood), Wayne Rogers (Burway), Andy Duckett (Chester Road) and homester Colin Beaman were the county quintet to fall with a place in the quarter-finals of the James Birks-backed event within reach.

And for Meole star Beaman his 21-19 loss to Carl Fielding of (Warwick & Worcester) was particularly hard to take as he led 19-16.

Duckett lost 21-11 to Gary Owen in round three, Rogers 21-13 against Stuart Perry (North Mids), Gaut 21-16 versus Dean Ferris and Clarke to another Potteries man, Geoff Boulton.

Shropshire bowlers who won one game before bowing out were Peter Farmer (St Georges), Paul Williams (Castlefields), Geoff Davies (Ford) and Glyn Wellings (Meole Brace), leaving a big crowd disappointed.

l Shropshire was represented in one way in the final, county president Barry Jennings being the referee as a tribute to the late Dave Card, the county's former Midland Masters delegate.