Meole Brace defiant after losing top spot

As expected, defending champions Newport cleaned up 10-4 at Bylet to regain pole position at the summit.

But Meole Brace didn't go lightly, toughing out an 8-6 victory at Bowring which leaves them just one point adrift, although Newport play their game in hand at Sir John Bayley tomorrow.

And vice-captain Bill Terrell, while conceding that Newport are favourites, indicated that the Shrewsbury outfit will chase them all the way.

Terrell's son Will's 21-7 victory at Bowring was key to a 10-shot aggregate success, in which the 12 games were shared.

He said: "It's very difficult to keep in touch with Newport. Their home wins are often massive. Twelve, 13 – even 14-0 sometimes.

"Our only chance of being in touch is getting big away results. We are reasonably happy with the away form we have shown this year.

"I think Newport's fixtures were harder at the start, which helped us build a lead. But we will try for second place and keep the pressure on them if we can."

Newport's first five into action were all successful at Bylet and Peter Grimston's 21-9 success all but saw them over the line.

Also winning on the road were Wem USC, 10-4 victors at Archibald Worthington with a 51-shot margin. That result kept the Archies bottom.

Their fellow Whitchurch club Chester Road had an even poorer result, beaten 13-1 at Castlefields – but the figures don't tell the story.

Gary Beff may have been the visitors' only winner – a resounding 21-7 at that – but Paul Griffiths, Andy Moss and KP Jones all reached 20.

Burway moved up to third with an emphatic 11-3 success over Ifton in which Kiah Roberts, Duncan Pressley and Roy Crowther all had single-figure victories, despite Richard Zolman's 21-4 triumph for the away side.

Sir John Bayley overhauled Ifton to go fifth with a 9-5 home win over Wrockwardine Wood.