County bowlers proved their points
Two Shropshire bowlers with points to prove did just that in the £1,110 Candlin Open Doubles at Sinclair. Two Shropshire bowlers with points to prove did just that in the £1,110 Candlin Open Doubles at Sinclair. Chester Road pair Martin Lloyd and Paul Latham were left out of the county team for Sunday's Endsleigh County Championship opener against the Potteries, which was won by 24 chalks. But 24 hours later Lloyd & Latham were triumphing in Telford, beating fellow county reserve Dave Rhodes (Newport) & James Grimston (Sir John Bayley) 21-18 in the final. They took an early lead in Monday's race to a £350 first prize. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Two Shropshire bowlers with points to prove did just that in the £1,110 Candlin Open Doubles at Sinclair.
Chester Road pair Martin Lloyd and Paul Latham were left out of the county team for Sunday's Endsleigh County Championship opener against the Potteries, which was won by 24 chalks.
But 24 hours later Lloyd & Latham were triumphing in Telford, beating fellow county reserve Dave Rhodes (Newport) & James Grimston (Sir John Bayley) 21-18 in the final.
They took an early lead in Monday's race to a £350 first prize.
Sinclair spokesman Maurice Wakeley takes up the story: "Grimston & Rhodes pegged them back to within one chalk at 12-11, but Lloyd &Latham then had another run to lead 19-12.
"They then managed to hold on to win 21-18 thanks to some precision firing by Martin Lloyd," said Wakeley.
In the semi-finals Lloyd & Latham roared past Lee Carvell & Mick Bardsley (Windmill) 21-7 while the hopes of another Roaders' duo, past winners Andy Duckett & Charlie Weaver, were ended 21-19 by Grimston & Rhodes.
Quarter-final scores
Keith Walton & Rich Goddard (Castlefields) 17, Lloyd & Latham 21; Emlyn Jones & Daryl Edwards (Pontesbury) 14, Carvell & Bardsley 21; Gary Beaman (Royal Mail) & Sean Feeney (Frankwell) 16, Duckett & Weaver 21; Simon Rhodes & Andy James (Bylet) 8, Grimston & Rhodes 21.
Winners of the £25 best ladies prize were Alison Cotton (St Georges) & Lisa Pessall (Trench).
Apart from missing out against the Potteries, it was a good weekend for Lloyd.
For he also qualified for the May 16 finals of the Minsterley Open, his victims including homester and former county team man Daryl Edwards.
Jess James of Castlefields also got through but had to work hard with two 21-20 finishes against Wendy Jones of POW and Sonya Lucas of St Georges.
Mark Evans from Bishop's Castle and Lucas's clubmate Alison Cotton made the final 16 on the Saturday.
Monday saw an early exit by last year's winner Glyn Wellings with Dave Jones of Oxon, Darren Wellings of Meole Brace, late entries Will Tyler of Unison and Ben Talbot qualifying.
There are limited places available for this weekend's qualifiers (Saturday-Sunday at 10am, 12 noon, 2 and 4pm), entry £5, book with Jane Hoofe on 01743462942 or 07735-425514.
By MALCOLM FLETCHER
