Bowlers bid to recapture Cup

Shropshire's bowlers were today preparing for their date with destiny and the chance to end 35 years of hurt by becoming national champions.

The Crosfield Cup will be up for grabs tomorrow when Shropshire's top 24 bowlers do battle with Yorkshire in the Endseligh County Championship decider.

The home leg takes place at Meole Brace, while the away squad will be heading to the Waterloo green at Huddersfield.

The action at both venues gets underway at 2pm.

A bumper crowd of at least 600 is expected at Meole Brace as Shropshire's crop of 2009 aim to emulate the team of 1974 who defeated Cheshire to bring the sole previous success.It's also a huge day for Shropshire's 'gang of four' selectors - Dennis Lewis, Bob Moss, Mick Jones and John Nash - who took over in 2007 with the promise of delivering the national title within three years.The final opportunity to fulfil that pledge comes tomorrow, and Lewis insists the squad are in confident mood."It's a big chance for everyone and we are all looking forward to it," he said.Credit"I think this group of players deserve to win it. They are good enough to and the team spirit we have had all year has been fantastic."They have been a credit with the way they have performed and the way they have conducted themselves."To win it would mean a lot to us as a bowling county. I think we are becoming one of the strongest counties in the country and this is a chance for us to show just how strong we are - not only at senior level but also in the women and the juniors."To win Shropshire must overcome a strong Yorkshire side who won the 1998 final when the two teams also went head-to-head.But Lewis has been buoyed after witnessing an impressive performance from the home squad during a full scale practice match against Meole Brace's Furrows Shropshire Premier League team on Thursday."They bowled outstandingly well and it will have to be the same tomorrow because Yorkshire are very strong at home," he added."We need to fight for every single shot because it's going to be very tight."But I think we can win by at least 30 at home and hopefully lose by no more than 10 at Huddersfield and then we will all be smiling by 5pm."l Callum -ÊPage 54