Bowls: Troubled Bylet hit by fine

Troubled Bylet have been hit with a fine as they battle for their bowls future in the Furrows Shropshire Premier League.

The Bridgnorth-based club have been forced to postpone Friday's third-last game of the season at home to Bowring because of a shortage of available players.

Bylet have been given an undisclosed fine, but the bottom club have avoided the seven point deduction which could have been imposed by the league's management committee.

Each team in the league is allowed to postpone one match per season – a concession – but that game must be requested before the end of May.

"Bylet told us that they may have a problem for this week back in June but that was too late for their concession," explained league secretary Mark Burroughs.

"I think they have six players out but they gave us that warning which is why there is no points deduction."

Bylet are 10 points adrift of their nearest rivals Wem USC at the bottom, and are starring down the barrel at having to survive a second successive Premier League play-off to preserve their place in the top flight.