Shropshire romp to victory over neighbours in the British Championship

A super start at home and fine finish away took Shropshire to an impressive victory over Staffordshire in the British Senior County Championship.

Eight winners on the artificial bowling green at Allscott Heath delivered a 62-shot winning margin while three winners in the back four at Stafford BC earned a surprise eight-chalk win there.

Sunday’s success was the perfect way to erase the haunting memory of the 2023 semi-final loss to Staffs and puts Shropshire in pole position to finish top of qualifying section three to make the knockout stages or the first time since then.

“Shropshire have one foot in the semi-final after beating Staffordshire home and away to win by 70 overall,” said a county association spokesperson. “They flew out the traps at home to lead by 51, Jamie King winning 21-3, Callum Wraight 21-7, Scott Harries 21-9 and Sam Millward 21-15.

“Away at Stafford they did trail by 26 after four games off, Nick Wyer the only winner 21-17, but three winners in the middle changed things with Mike Beer the best of them with a 21-8 card.

“The back four at home extended the lead to 62 despite just two winners, while the away side completed the comeback to win by eight there.

“Andy Armstrong added a single-figure win 21-9 at No.12 while Spencer Clarke won 21-11 and Wayne Rogers 21-20.”

Former County Merit winners Clarke and Martin Lloyd were both away winners on their returns to the side while selector Phil King was a proud man at Allscott after his son Jamie was name man of the match for his quickfire romp against former Shropshire man Paul Evans.

The last group game for the Salopians is against North Lancs & Fylde next month – and they lost home and away by 46 to Lancashire on Sunday and are winless and bottom of the table.

British Park Ladies Merit

A bowler who helped Woore achieve their Shropshire Premier League dream is the new British Park Ladies Merit champion.

Laura Hallsworth, who played in last autumn’s play-offs and is now established in Woore’s Premier side, claimed the crown at Edgmond on Sunday when 32 qualifiers contested it in front of British parks president Darren Clutton.

Hallsworth, representing North Staffordshire, beat Lynsey Gorman from the Wirral 21-16 in the final, having edged past Tina Ralph of host association North Shropshire 21-18 in the semi-finals.

Gorman defeated another past winner of the title, former Shropshire junior star Susie Lawson (Yorkshire), 21-6 in her last four tie while North Shropshire’s Sally Webb was a quarter-finalist.

Shropshire Cup

Close calls, late starts and a no-show – the first round of the Shropshire Cup had it all.

Sinclair, favourites to win the 10-a-side knockout for non-Premier bowlers, and Trench won their ties by just three shots while Mid Shropshire rivals Shifnal had a walkover and Bridgewater had to wait for neutral hosts club Atcham Malthouse to open up for their win over Wrockwardine Wood.

John Potter’s 21-4 card was key to Mayhew Trophy winners Sinclair beating Tanners Shropshire League big guns Prince Hotel at Wem Albion and Pete Millington was a 21-5 star of Trench’s squeak against Meole Brace at District.

Also through to the quarter-finals are Newport, Horsehay, Castlefields and Greenfields, a county association spokesperson adding: “Shifnal got a walkover against Wem USC who didn’t turn up (at Bicton).”