Shropshire bowlers represent county around the country

Three Shropshire teams with 72 bowlers will do battle on Sunday on British stages with very different goals.

Shropshire and North Shropshire open their campaigns in the British Ladies county championship while North Shropshire’s last gasp survival in the British Parks’ senior county championship is rewarded with a clash against East Midlands.

Allscott Heath No.2 and Penn host Shropshire Ladies’ qualifying section three match against South Staffs, who have Horsehay’s Sue Conneely playing at No.1 at the village club near Telford while Gill Owens (Albrighton) is on reserve for them.

Hopes of three titles in row were dashed by a 15 shot loss to Yorkshire in last year’s final and Shropshire Ladies president Pauline Wilson said: “We start the quest for a title again on Sunday and we'd really appreciate as many supporters as possible at both ends.”

It’s also a 2pm start for North Shropshire’s match against Cumbria with the away party trekking to King Alfred BC in Barrow for the 12-a-side away leg while Whitchurch’s Chester Road is the home venue.

Without a win in three years, North Shropshire find themselves back in the second tier President’s Cup but, with a new selection panel eager to introduce new talent, the mood in the camp is upbeat.

North Shropshire Parks only survived when Tim Jordan stepped in at the 11th hour to pick the teams and they play East Mids tomorrow in their section A opener.

Newport Np.2 is the home green as Adderley trio Josh Cotton and Tom and Joe Killen return to where they played for Shroshire against Lancashire earlier this month, while the away side is at Winshill in Burton.