Newport one big win away from fifth title

An excellent six winners at Ifton – where they only missed out on the aggregate by five shots – chiselled out another one-point advantage over Meole Brace to stretch their lead to 12.

Meole did well themselves to take five victories at St Georges and get within six chalks of an aggregate success, but the defending champions remain very much in charge of proceedings.

With two matches remaining, a heavy home win against third-placed Sir John Bayley this Friday, coupled with any slip-up by Meole, who host Ifton in fourth, would decide the title.

However, Dale Rudrum's men will take nothing for granted and may have to travel to St Georges on the last night of the campaign before sealing the silverware.

Dave Rhodes led the way for them at Ifton with a 21-8 card, while Leighton Roberts was best for the home side, triumphing 21-6.

Meole Brace were spearheaded by Doug Edwards' 21-10 card at St Georges and on top of their five winners had a 20 and two 19s in a titanic struggle.

Elsewhere, the Bayley's big home win against Wem USC hauled them up to level third with Ifton.

Best performance on the road came from Wrockwardine Wood, who won eight of the 12 ties at Burway.

But while the home side had only four successes, they were all wide margin wins and the Wrockites only bagged the aggregate by three chalks.

Bylet got off the bottom with their 9-5 home win over Archibald Worthington, who replace them.

Hadley USC had three winners and a loss to 20 in the first four games at Chester Road, but the home side recovered to win 9-5.

That was also the outcome at Bowring where Castlefields missed out to the home side.