Newport take fifth place in bowls table

Newport are keeping their feet on the ground after an eye-catching weekend that has seen them leap to fifth in the Furrows Shropshire Premier League table.

The Fishes started with an 11-3 victory at home to Bowring on Friday, then followed up by getting seven winners at Sir John Bayley on Sunday evening, in a game put back from the previous week.

They are now on the coat-tails of a group of teams behind leaders Castlefields, though winter signing Mick Jones says they will not be getting too excited.

"We are aware that we have played an extra home game," said former St Georges skipper Mick Jones.

"We're not getting carried away but I think we should be able to stay up around the top six — that's where we should be."

Bowring were easily dispatched with father and son Roy and Josh Bradburn single figure losers for the visitors against Martyn France and Ian Whittington respectively. County man Rich Lawson managed 19 against selector Jones.

Sunday afternoon's heavy rain certainly played into Newport's hands at the Bayley, and they might even have had more than the seven winners they got.

Failed

Alan Davidson was 17-12 up against the in-form Paul Reeves but failed to score again, while Jones lost 21-19 to Norman Harvey.

Elsewhere, home sides dominated on a Friday night of few surprises.

Castlefields opened their lead up to more than 10 points once again, seeing off Wrockwardine Wood 12-2.

Rich Goddard's 21-5 best helped Fields to an 80 shot win, though star man Callum Wraight was beaten 21-15 by Simon Rhodes.

Wem USC are up to second place, though they and Bowring have played a game more than everyone else.

The north Shropshire side ensured it was a weekend to forget for Steve Burroughs' Bayley, scoring a 12-2 Friday win. The 116 aggregate was another clue to Wem's dominance, Steve Allmark starring with a 21-3 win over Dave Stamp.

There were six other single-figure winners, while Peter Grimston and Simon Gerrard were the only winners for the Bayley.

Just a point separates big guns Chester Road and St Georges in third and fourth places after the latest round of matches.

Record

The Roaders maintained their strong home form, though Ifton gave them their usual test and went away with four winners from the Whitchurch club.

Andy Moss continued his 100 per cent record, beating Rocky Jones 21-12 to take his record to 10 wins out of 10.

And St Georges were able to close in thanks to their own home win, 12-2 against bottom club Bylet.

Andrew Jones and Dave King were the only Dragons to be slain — though Chris Chamberlain did get 20 for Bylet against Chris Ball and Nick Powner got 19 versus Glyn Picknell.

Scott Harries was playing against father Mick's Blet team for the first time, beating Greg Wale 21-10.

By CHRIS HUDSON