Shropshire bowlers to receive big backing in cup final

But one loud and proud factor is missing from the Shropshire ranks for the home leg of the clash with Yorkshire on Greenfields No.2 in Shrewsbury as Glyn Herbert is unavailable for the crunch clash.

The Castlefields giant was home skipper when Shropshire beat Yorkshire to win the Crosfield Cup for only a second time in 2009 and his booming voice will be sorely missed tomorrow.

Sir John Bayley skipper Spencer Clarke switches to the home side to take Herbert's place, while Rob Roden (Bowring) and Phil Emery (Newport) return to the starting 12 at Elland, near Halifax, where Scott Harries hopes to be well enough to take his place.

That's where a coachload of supporters will need to make themselves heard, county selector Peter Bound stressing: "I think we will be well supported tomorrow – I think we would have been wherever the home leg was played."

The Gang of Four did it as promised in 2009 – can Shropshire's current trio of selectors do it tomorrow and deliver only Shropshire's third Crosfield Cup triumph?

That's been the burning question in the countdown to the eagerly-awaited Endsleigh British Senior County Championship final.

Memories of a stunning 44-chalk home and away victory over Yorkshire in the final seven years ago still burn bright for the hundreds who witnessed the home leg at Meole Brace in Shrewsbury.

But the proud White Rose county had their revenge in the 2011 final – and that was the last time Shropshire featured in the showpiece occasion.

It's the same opposition again tomorrow – and the other common denominator is selector Mick Jones.

He was part of the Gang of Four selectors along with the late Dennis Lewis, Bob Moss and John Nash in 2009, while tomorrow it is Jones, John Coxill and Peter Bound who have the chance to etch their names into the county's history books by marking the last game of their three-year tenure with the ultimate triumph.

And they have had a big helping hand from the players, who told them they wanted to play the home leg of the final on Greenfields No.2 despite the Shrewsbury green not having staged a county match in a while.

"It's a bit of a gamble because we have not played on it for five or six years," admitted Bound, before quickly adding: "But the players wanted to go there and it's back in good nick now. And it's always been a banker green for Shropshire in the past."

Spencer Clarke takes the place of the unavailable Glyn Herbert at home while the big worry for the away team at Elland will be whether Scott Harries is fit enough after his Bank Holiday health scare to be in the starting 12.

Young Aaron King, who was left out so that Bowring team-mate Rob Roden could return tomorrow, and Bylet's Rob Steventon are the reserves on standby at the Halifax venue.

Yorkshire, who hammered Staffordshire by 98 in their semi-final, have line-ups littered with talent, including former British No.1 Graeme Wilson, Bob Hitchen, Chris Mordue and former Shropshire star Ian Booth.

But Bound is sure Shropshire can cope with the big names, saying: "There's a lot of pressure playing in a Crosfield Cup final, even the senior players will feel it – and I am confident we can do the job."

Full final pairings – Shropshire v Yorkshire

At Greenfields No.2 – Rich Goddard (Castlefields) v Thomas Hanson, Paul Williams (Castlefields) v Jack Dyson, Darren Wellings (Meole Brace) v James Hanson, Colin Beaman (Meole Brace) v Scott Fisher, Spencer Clarke (Sir John Bayley) v Ian Booth, Clay Flattley (Castlefields) v Chris Mordue, Callum Wraight (Castlefields) v Stuart King, Wayne Phillips (Hanwood) v Nicky White, Michael Beer (Castlefields) v Kevin Burns, Kiah Roberts (Burway) v Phil Dowgill, Derek Wright (Wem USC) v James Davison, Wayne Rogers (Burway) v Liam Griffin.

At Elland Cricket & Bowling Club – Craig Newton v Andy Moss (Chester Road), Dave Fox v Rob Roden (Bowring), Graeme Wilson v Scott Harries (Bylet), Craig Grant v Glyn Picknell (St Georges), Gareth Coates v Alex Jones (Sir John Bayley), Simon Walder v Rich Lawson (Bowring), Ashley Tattersley v Jamie King (Bowring), John Spinks v Phil Emery (Newport), Kieran Smith v Rob Burroughs (Hadley USC), Gary Siswick v Tom Roden (Sir John Bayley), Bob Hitchen v Martin Lloyd (Chester Road), Ashley Daykin v Stuart Rutter (Wrockwardine Wood).

Everything else tomorrow pales in comparison to Shropshire's Crosfield Cup final, but there are three big league finals tonight to get bowls lovers in the mood.

Bayston Hill make their first appearance in a Tanners Shropshire League final when they take on Telepost for the Tanner Champagne Cup at Severnside St Julians (7pm); a handicap advantage of 23 shots gives Albrighton C plenty of hope going into their Ashton Cup final against Molson Coors Mid Shropshire League rivals Horsehay C at Hadley USC (6.30pm); and it's a 7pm start at Tilstock for the SPS Whitchurch League's Doubles finals.