Junior bowlers join the elite

The latest crop of talented young Shropshire bowlers have joined an elite group as British junior county champions.

They became only the third team of under-18s representing the county to win the ultimate prize, joining the classes of 1999 and 2006, with a stunning sunshine success in the title decider against Wales.

Victory by 128 shots overall, with 17 winners from the 24 games in the legs played at Trench in Telford and Min-y-Don in Colwyn Bay, was a resounding follow up to the one chalk win over Yorkshire in May that made Sunday possible.

Sadly, the official trophy was not at either venue to be properly presented, but the county’s selectors – Phil Scott, Brenda Slingo, Richard Carr, Simon Fullard, Cheryl Caswell and Spencer Clarke – are now set to organise an official presentation to honour the achievement later in the season.

“Congratulations to our juniors on winning our first county championship in 20 years,” said county association official Rob Burroughs, a member of the triumphant team in 2006. “It’s a great achievement and they should be very proud of themselves.

“They’ve joined the teams of 1999 and 2006 in winning this, two teams that have nearly all gone onto play at the highest level and won plenty between them.

“And there’s no reason that any of this team can’t go on to do the same.

“Enjoy the celebrations as it’s a day that will live with the players forever.”

A difficult start in North Wales was negated by Jack Peach’s 21-11 card that meant the first four finished level, before the in-form Ellis Griffiths (21-7) and Myles Fisher (21-8) led a surge of nine winners in total and a superb win margin of 53.

There was also a shared first four on a rapid Trench surface, but the next five games saw wins by Luke Morris (21-3), Harry Grimston (21-6), Harris Needham (21-2) and Thomas Clarke (21-6) and it ended up as a 75-shot rout to start the celebrations.

Sinclair Open qualifying

Premier League men dominated the first qualifying session in the Sinclair Open, which boasts a £500 first prize on the August 15 finals night.

Sir John Bayley pair Stuart Rutter and Dan Taylor, county team-mate Callum Wraight (Castlefields) and Hanwood’s Hayden Lewis took the four places up for grabs in Saturday night.

It was a day of mixed emotions for Wraight’s clubmate and new Shropshire bowler Andrew Armstrong as he headed north for a double appointment on the open competitions circuit, staring in Manchester.

He lost 21-16 in the last 16 on finals day in the Metro Sports Classic to Darren Plenderleith, but then made the short trip over to Huddersfield and reeled off three wins in the £4,000 Lindley Open to make finals night on Friday, July 31.

Heatwave

The heatwave may not be over but the chief of the Shrewsbury Senior Citizens League has called for a return to the scheduled match programme.

Fixtures secretary Chris Kershaw said: “The forecasted temperatures for this week will be back to normal and all matches are expected to be played.

“However, any team who still want to postpone their match can obviously do so, but will suffer a three point penalty deduction from their accumulated score to date

“It is hoped that previously postponed matches will be played during this cooler week.”