Big winners not enough in British Parks opener
Two stunning 21-1 winners in the home leg at Hadnall were not enough to prevent North Shropshire losing their British Parks senior county championship opener.
Tim Jordan and Connor Whitehall were red hot against Yorkshire at Hadnall on Sunday afternoon, but a total of five winners out of 12 only added up to an 18-shot success.
And that was not enough to secure overall victory in the qualifying section C clash as Yorkshire won their home leg at Littlemoor in Pudsey by 48 chalks to seal a 20-11 triumph on points with a plus aggregate of 30. Jordan was the only home win in a tough first four on the tight confines of Hadnall, but Derek Wright (21-14) and young Whitehall kept North Shropshire just in front before Colin Smith (21-18) and Adrian Smout (21-20) won at the back.
Ian MacDonald scored a fine 21-16 away win over Meole Brace Open finalist Josh Mordue and Dave Gourlay matched that score in a shared first four as the visitors made an encouraging start.
But Nantwich veteran Jock Timlett (21-19) was the only North Shropshire winner in the middle before Jack Hewitt’s superb man-of-the-match 21-18 win over Stuart King – conqueror of Callum Wraight in the Crosfield Cup final at Greenfields in September – at the back.
Two single-figure defeats cost the visitors dear, but North Shropshire Parks chairman Phil Scott was happy with a battling display at Littlemoor.
“The away side did the job but it was at home where the damage was done,” said Scott. “Some of the home players were not happy with the green the selected and we have got to learn from our mistakes. Picking up 11 points means it is not the end of the world, but we have East Midlands next and, as they lost to reigning champions Greater Manchester in their first game, they are bound to take us to one of their banker greens at Stretton (Burton).
“As we have said all along, this is very tough group with Yorkshire, the holders and East Midlands, who were semi-finalists last year.”
