Castlefields retain bowls title

Castlefields retained the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League title last night - without having to bowl a wood in anger.

Despite having no action, the Shrewsbury high fliers were again crowned champions after nearest rivals St Georges could only win 11-3 at relegation haunted Bylet.

With one match remaining for the top sides, Fields cannot be caught as they are 15 points clear of the second placed Dragons. It is the eighth time that they have been crowned champions, sparking celebrations for Keith Walton and his team.

Defeat means that Bylet look doomed to battling it out in the end of season play-offs as they now find themselves nine points adrift at the bottom of the table, with their final game at Castlefields next week.

In only three games played last night, Sir John Bayley leapfrogged mid-table rivals Wem USC after reeling off a 12-2 win, Spencer Clarke leading the way with a 21-3 victory. Scores:

Bowring 7 Agg +8 (Rich Lawson 21-4) Newport 7 (Mick Jones, Mark Selley, Chris Grocott 21-12); Bylet 3 (Simon Homer 21-8) St Georges 11 Agg +41 (Tony Rhodes 21-6); Sir John Bayley 12 Agg +68 (Spencer Clarke 21-3) Wem USC 2 ( Derek Wright 21-15).