Super Rhodes looks real driving force

Tony Rhodes enjoyed a perfect warm-up for today's All England bowls finals in Shrewsbury.

The St Georges joint captain won 21-3 at Meole Brace against Mark Thomas last night as the Dragons recovered from a poor start to get within four chalks of the home side in an 8-6 Furrows Shropshire Premier League result.

The only problem for impressive Rhodes was he was starting his British Merit campaign today on the other green at Meole .

Leaders Newport pulled 14 points clear with a fine whitewash of Bowring but second placed Chester Road were just as good in a stunning 12-2 away win at Ford.

Lowly Childs Ercall scored a vital home win over Wrockwardine Wood – by a single chalk – while Bylet slipped five points adrift at as they went down 10-4 at AWC in Whitchurch.

Full details

Newport 14 (+104, Russell Pegram 21-6), Bowring 0; Ford 2 (Bill Tarrel 21-13), Chester Road 12 (+52, Mark Holland 21-10); Castlefields 11 (+66, Keith Walton 21-3), SJ Bayley 3 (Dave Stamp 21-12); Meole Brace 8 (+4, Darren Wellings 21-7), St Georges 6 (Tony Rhodes 21-3).

AWC 10 (+60, Paul Smith 21-3), Bylet 4 (Russell Morris 21-13); Wem USC 9 (+28, (Mike Fielder 21-3), Ifton 5 (Lewis Scott 21-7); Childs Ercall 8 (+1, John Breeze, Roy Langford, Graham Wood 21-10), Wrockwardine Wood 6 (Stuart Rutter 21-7).