Meredith takes the blame as Bell tolls

Dejected skipper Alan Meredith today shouldered the blame as Donnington Wood were confirmed as the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League wooden spoonists, declaring: "I've let the club down."

The Bell Boys were beaten 12-2 at Meole Brace last night, and that meant a reprieve for Childs Ercall - who were beaten by the same score at St Georges.

Donnington now face a play-off match next Friday - probably against Worthington Mid Shropshire League champions Bowring - in a straight shoot-out for a Premier place next season.

Meredith knows he faces a big task to get his side ready for that crunch clash, admitting: "It's going to be difficult to raise their heads.

"I feel as if I've let them down as well as myself - and it's not just the team, it's the whole club.

"We are allegedly a big club so this has hit me hard and I went into my own little world after the game last night and thought about what might have been.

"I can pinpoint exactly where we've lost out - with two bad home games against Meole Brace and Ford.

"We should have won both of them comfortably and didn't - if we had then we wouldn't have found ourselves in the position we are in now. We've only got ourselves to blame."

Donnington are due to play in the Premiership Pool KO on Wednesday, but Meredith is now considering arranging a friendly instead to get his whole side ready for the play-off.

By Chris Hudson