Ladies get cup bid off to flying start
The smiles are back for North Shropshire Ladies after a winning start to their campaign in the new President’s Cup, writes Malcolm Fletcher.
They scored a nine-shot victory overall against Cheshire in what is effectively division two of the British Ladies county championship after a close-season restructuring.
But the level of the competition was not the issue on Sunday afternoon, it was the winning after four straight – if narrow – defeats last year.
North Shropshire enjoyed nine winners in their home leg on the back green at Whitchurch’s District Club to win by 43 chalks, Isobel Jones marking her 100th county cap with a 21-8 success.
That score was matched by Tracey Bostock, but it was Amanda Hare who took the home coppers with a 21-6 card.
Away at Knutsford, Pat Davies (21-10) and Anne Speake (21-11) gave the visitors a flying start, and Jane Peak and Gillian Edge won later on to give North Shropshire four winners to keep the deficit down to 34.
Sadly Colleen Harding lost 21-14 on her 100th appearance but, otherwise, it was a good day for association chairperson Chris Sayers and her team-mates.
“We were delighted to beat next door neighbours Cheshire overall by nine in a match that was played on greens that were like chalk and cheese,” said Sayers.
“The away leg at Knutsford was played on one of the biggest greens that we have ever played on – compared to the back green at the District, which could have fitted into one corner of the one in Knutsford!
“Some excellent bowling in both legs saw us make a winning start to the season.
“And not only did we have two people making their 100th appearance, but the returning Mo Corley won (21-14 at home) and that was her 99th win for the county – so quite a day all round.”
But Sayers was quick to warn against any complacency setting in.
“This is just the start that North Shropshire Ladies needed and I’m sure it has instilled some confidence in the team after the disappointing results last year.
“We won’t be resting on our laurels, however, as our next match is against South Staffordshire, who also made a winning start to their season (beating Merseyside by 40 shots).”
