Fields dig in to turn up title heat

Castlefields look increasingly menacing in second spot in the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League after seeing off Chester Road 10-4 (+58) last night.

Victory against one of their main rivals saw the defending champions trim Newport's lead at the top to eight points.

Newport had to work hard to see off Ifton 9-5 (+21) to stay ahead of the pack.

Wem USC, meanwhile, moved off the foot of the table with a timely 11-3 verdict against Meole Brace, leaping above Bylet who slumped 12-2 at Ford.

RESULTS:?Castlefields 10 (+58, C Barker 21-6) Chester Road 4 (M Holland 21-11); Childs Ercall 14 (+86, S Lockley 21-6) Bowring 0 (R Lawson, M Selley 19-21); Ford 12 (+70, A Jones 21-7) Bylet 2 (R Fuller 21-11); Newport 21 (+21, S Rudrum 21-0) Ifton 5 (A Pierce 21-10);

Archibald Worthington 12 (+52, P Smith 21-6 St Georges 2 (G Picknell 21-12); Wem USC 11 (+41, M Thomas 21-8) Meole Brace 3 (S Thomas 21-9); Wrockwardine Wood 11 (+68, P Clee 21-7) Sir John Bayley 3 (P Evans 21-12).