Beer keeps head in thriller

Michael Beer was calmness personified as he became only the fourth youngster to retain the County Junior Merit championship.

The 17-year-old Castlefields starlet trailed in both his semi-final and the final at Reman Services (nee Perkins) on Thursday night.

But he still ended up beating brave 13-year-old Ben Talbot of Hanwood 21-15 in the final, turning on the style to surge home from 14-12 down and triumph again in the Shropshire Star-backed event.

And that means he follows in the footsteps of Rich Lawson (1985-86), Ian Booth (2000-01) and new clubmate Callum Wraight (2003-04) in holding on to the trophy.

It also means that Beer's burgeoning career is following a remarkably similar path to that of his father Dave.

He won the County Handicap aged just 16 and lost in the final of the County Merit - something Michael did last year at 16 - a year later, 21-19 to Wem's Tony Dowley on the same Perkins green.

Beer senior, who went on to win the County Doubles three times and 88 county caps, proudly marked his son's cards on Thursday.

And when asked about how Michael was progressing in the game, his reaction was: "He's all right isn't he."

Beer junior admitted to feeling calm all night on the green, starting with an 18-end flier against Bowring's Robert Roden.

"I didn't feel any pressure. Even when I was behind I just felt that if I stepped up my game I would be all right," he said.

Ben James of Craven Arms had his chance when 12-6 up on the champion in the semi-finals but there was no denying the junior No 1.

Talbot, who ended the hopes of Harlescott's well-supported Dan Williams in his semi, also gave it his all but could never get far enough ahead to worry Beer.

And Beer, who still relishes the under-18 events despite now being established on the senior scene - both in the Premier League and the Shropshire men's team - has another year left to try and make it an historic Junior Merit hat-trick.

All the scores

First round: Ben James (Craven Arms) 21 Kristian Lewis (Sir John Bayley) 17, Michael Beer (Castlefields) 21 Rob Roden (Bowring) 4, Jamie King (Hadley USC) 12 Ben Talbot (Hanwood) 21, Rob Burroughs (St Georges) 19 Dan Williams (Harlescott) 21.

Semi-finals: James 14, Beer 21, Talbot 21 Williams 14.

Final: Beer 21 Talbot 15

Referee: Dave Card.