Dragons dig deep to win tie

It was honours even as Ford tied with St Georges – a thrilling Furrows Shropshire Premier League match finishing level on aggregate and in terms of number of winners.

The Dragons had looked like slipping to defeat against the village side who led by eight with just two matches left on the green.

But Pete Farmer and Keith Anderson both secured 21-17 victories – against Bill Tarrel and Dave Ellis respectively – to leave it honours even after what had been a nip-and-tuck encounter all the way.

Ford skipper Nigel Bound admitted: "It was a good game played in a really good spirit and it went down to the wire.

"I won my match to 11 and when I came off the green I thought we were going to sneak it, but it wasn't to be.

"It was a good game and hopefully we can take that on to Friday, when we have another easy game away to Castlefields," he joked.

"I'm just glad with the way we responded after being whitewashed 14-0 away to Chester Road the week before."

Bound also admitted the tied game was the first he had been involved with in his his premier league career, and he had to rack his brains to recall another one in his bowling life.

"I certainly don't think I've been involved with a game that finished level in the premier league," he said.

"I think maybe there was one when I was with Greenfields in the Shrewsbury League, but that was many years ago."

Castlefields remain on top after their 8-6 victory away to Archibald Worthington in another close game that they edged with an aggregate of +7.

Wins to 10 and 12 for the two Keiths, Wall and Walton, proved instrumental for Fields as they remained on course for a second straight title. But the result was still enough to lift Archibald off the bottom. They leapfrogged Childs Ercall, who went down 11-3 to Wem USC.

Chester Road are up to second following their 8-6 verdict at Wrockwardine Wood. It was yet another tight affair on a night when small margins proved decisive across the county.

And it was Andy Moss' 21-4 win that ultimately proved decisive as the Roaders squeezed home with an aggregate of +6.

The Whitchurch side have gone above Meole Brace, who fell to a 12 -2 defeat at Newport – and elevated the Fishes into the top five.

Sir John Bayley made progress into the top half thanks to a useful 9-5 win at Bylet, while Ifton put distance between themselves and the bottom sides with a win by the same margin over Bowring.

By CHRIS HUDSON