Calverhall face D-day on appeal

One of the biggest disputes ever to hit Shropshire bowls will be resolved next week.

The British Crown Green Bowling Association will hear an appeal from Calverhall Bowling Club, and its chairman Alan Ratcliffe, on Tuesday over the decision to ban him from competitive action for 12 months.

Ratcliffe was banned from playing competitively for a year - and his club fined £250 - after a competition was staged on the day Shropshire won the Crosfield Cup.

A five-strong disciplinary panel will rule on the appeal at Winnington Park in Northwich.

The doubles knockout on September 6 was run in conjunction with Calverhall's Family Fun Day, as it has for the past 30-plus years.

But permission was refused by Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association chiefs due to rules saying no open competition can be staged on the same day as a county game.

Ratcliffe has stressed the competition was organised by the fun day committee and described his punishment as "very, very harsh."