Survival battle in bowls' relegation dogfight

It's going right down to the wire - that's the message from Shropshire Premier Bowling League supremo Mark Burroughs on the relegation dogfight.

Five clubs are still in trouble after last night's results and Burroughs admits he has rarely seen a season like it.

He said: "We usually have two or maybe three clubs fighting it out but we've never really had five.

"I think it's going down to the last game of the season - some clubs have got more home matches left which will be key and I know Bylet finish against Castlefields so that's obviously a difficult one for them."

Archibald Worthington are the side currently propping up the table and they were beaten10-4 by another side not yet safe in Childs Ercall last night.

Bylet are just a point better off after a heavy 12-2 defeat to Wrockwardine Wood, who now sit fourth.

Third bottom Bowring picked up seven valuable winners in their match with high-flying St Georges while Wem USC — another side still in trouble - were well beaten 10-4 at Ifton.

At the other end of the table leaders Castlefields were beaten 8-6 by Sir John Bayley but still have a healthy advantage over second placed St Georges heading into the final five games.

Results: Childs Ercall 10 (+32, John Breeze, Mark Shore & Dean Barrett 21-11), Archibald Worthington 4 (Alan Ball 21-10); Bowring 7 (Ayden Smith 21-12), St Georges 7 (+8, Dave King, Mark Picknell 21-10); Wrockwardine Wood 12 (+84, Rob Jones 21-3), Bylet 2 (Andy James 21-11); Ford 10 (+37, Dave Ellis 21-9), Newport 4 (Dave Rhodes 21-12.

Sir J Bayley 8 (+3, Paul Reeves 21-6), Castlefields 6 (Paul Williams 21-10); Meole Brace 10 (+27, Wayne Phillips, Colin Beaman 21-10), Chester Road 4; Ifton 10 (+52, Lewis Scott 21-4), Wem USC 4 (Graham Dulson 21-2).

By ALEX JAMES