Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League crown thrown wide open

Chester Road are now breathing down the necks of the leaders after the race for the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League crown was thrown wide open following last night's action.

High flying Newport were left looking anxiously over their shoulders after slumping 10-4 (agg 28) at defending champions Castlefields, whose Daryl Edwards led the way with a 21-7 success.

And the second placed Roaders cashed in with a 12-2 (agg 112) hammering of lowly Wem USC, Peter Griffiths a 21-1 winner, as they closed the gap to just two points on the pacesetters.

Ifton suffered another heavy defeat, this time crashing 12-2 at Sir John Bayley while St Georges consolidated fourth spot with a 11-3 win at basement side Bylet.

Last night's results: Sir John Bayley 12 (+66, Spencer Clarke 21-7) Ifton 2 (Dave "Dicky"Jones 21-10); Bylet 3 (Mick Harries 21-8) St Georges 11 (+58, Dave King 21-1); Bowring 7 (+3, Rich Lawson 21-8) Meole Brace 7 (Darren Wellings 21-5); Chester Road 12 (+112, Pete Griffiths 21-1) Wem USC 2 (Fred Bailey 21-10); Wrockwardine Wood 10 (+9, Andy Stevens 21-6) Archibald Worthington 4 (John Digby 21-4); Castlefields 10 (+28, Daryl Edwards 21-7) Newport 4 (Dan Hand 21-8); Childs Ercall 9 (+13, John Breeze, Graham Farmer 21-13) Ford 5 (Phil Price 21-12).