'One of our most famous wins' - Shropshire juniors create history in British Championship

They’ve done it . . . Shropshire’s super under-18 bowlers have finally beaten Yorkshire for the first time since 2008 in the British Junior County Championship.

A nerve-wracking one shot victory over the reigning champions on Sunday sentenced Yorkshire to their first defeat in the championship in 12 years.

And it was achieved thanks to a fantastic surge in the middle four of both 12-a-side legs and with four young debutants, three of them playing in the team’s historic first match on the artificial green at Allscott Heath.

“They were even 30 down off the front four, but one of the best fours Shropshire’s junior county history ever seen at home saw them win that by 64 chalks with four single-figure wins,” said a county association spokesperson.

“Ellis Griffiths won 21-2, Harry Grimston 21-4 (to earn him the player of the match award), and Emily Hotchkiss and Jack Peach both 21-7, while Holly Hotchkiss won 21-7 away (at Marsh Liberal Club in Huddersfield) to lead by 45 overall after eight blocks off.

“Into the back four and a 21-9 card by Logan Church helped keep the lead at home while the away side held Yorkshire to 62 chalks, leaving Salvatori Farruggio on the green 20-15 up and Harris Needham 20-19 down.

“Salvatori got the one he needed to win his game and seal the win (by 63 chalks at home) for Shropshire, their first over Yorkshire since 2008.

“Well done to our juniors on one of our most famous wins in our British Junior County history!

After an anxious wait for news away, there was plenty of singing on the bus home for Huddersfield and the stunning success means that victory over Wales in July would give Shropshire their first British junior title since 2006.