Ladies under pressure on a big weekend of bowls action

It’s not often that Shropshire’s bowlers come under pressure to perform in British Ladies County Championship group matches – but they will tomorrow.

While North Shropshire Ladies and their Parks counterparts face fixtures against sides representing Greater Manchester, Shropshire's women are counting down to a crunch clash with Wales.

The overall winners after the 12-a-side legs at Hanwood and Denbigh BC (2pm start) will finish top of qualifying section one and march on to August’s semi-finals.

Both have won their first two games and Wales boast players well known on the local scene, including last weekend’s British Ladies Merit runner-up Jess Lacey and Malpas Sports duo Donna Bennett and Gaynor Jones.

Their change of county this year has made North Shropshire’s bid to end their long winless run even harder – and tomorrow at Wem USC and North Chadderton they face a side poised to win the President’s Cup as unbeaten table toppers.

An 18-3 victory on points over South Yorkshire in June means North Shropshire Parks are in the ideal mood to take on Greater Manchester in their British county appointment.

The back green at Whitchurch’s District Club and Heywood BC will stage the legs and North Shropshire need to win to be runners-up to East Midlands in section A and book a semi-final ticket.

Weekend action

League titles up for grabs and big money prizes, plus yet another junior open competition make up the Shropshire bowls scene this weekend.

Another record entry of 76 has produced a last 16 for finals night of the Molson Coors Mid Shropshire League’s Monday Merit at Edgmond tonight from 5.30pm.

The qualifiers include four from Bowring and three under-18 players, some of whom will contest tomorrow’s Albrighton Junior Open (10am start).

It’s a double date for the Oswestry League at Llangollen tomorrow with ladies and junior singles to run from 10am with league president John Hughes sponsoring the under-18 knockout, which has a guaranteed £30 first prize.

The Bridgewater Open 64 in Whitchurch is the big local comp today - there’s also the second qualifier in the Sinclair Open tonight - but the finals of the £4,000 Castle Classic in Northwich sees Craig Wilson, Josh Cotton and Ian Howell in last 16 action from 4pm.