Top half finish the aim for Chester Road

The Roaders notched their third straight victory with a 13-1 thrashing of bottom club Hadley USC.

But, despite being just six points off top spot, Fowles is not thinking about a title challenge at this stage.

Fowles said: "We have played an extra home game than many teams and two more than (leaders) St Georges.

"We have Bylet home and away next and if we can do well in those two then we could be close to the top spot.

"But then we have a difficult run. I said at the start of the season that the top half was our target and if we keep playing as we are doing then we can achieve that."

Chris Nicholson won the MVP and was Chester Road's best winner for his 21-3 success over Neil Martin. And Fowles admits his side are high on confidence.

He added: "If you keep winning your home games then that breeds confidence for when you go away.

"Winning 13-1 is great, but going to Sir John Bayley and beating them was probably even better.

"They beat Ifton 12-2 this week and I don't think they'll lose another home game."

Sir John Bayley skipper Spencer Clarke was delighted with how his side bounced back as they recorded their best home result of the season against Ifton.

Clarke said: "It was a very pleasing result against a dangerous side tipped by many to take the title.

"I think Ifton were, in fairness, missing a few players. But all credit to the lads, this is the perfect response after last week's loss."

Another team to register an emphatic home success was Castlefields as they defeated Bylet 12-2.

Best winner and MVP for the hosts was Mike Beer after he saw off Scott Harries 21-1.

Wem USC overcame Hanwood 11-3 to move above them in the table. Derek Wright's narrow 21-20 win over Nick Davies earned him the Wem MVP prize.

Bowring insist the tightest title race in the Premier League has ever known can only be good for the competition.

Captain Rich Lawson helped his side close the gap on leaders St Georges to just two points with a 10-4 win that moved them up to second spot.

Just 10 points separate the top nine teams, as the sides prepare for the halfway stage of the season and Lawson reckons the close nature of the table is healthy for the league.

The skipper said: "I have never known it to be this tight but it's good for the league rather than one team be running away with it.

"The good thing is we don't know from week to week what's going to happen. We're seeing some really interesting results, such as teams winning away when they're not expected to."

Lawson has no idea where their biggest challenge will come from, adding: "I would love to see a clearer picture, but it's ridiculously tight.

"Usually, by now, four or five teams have pulled away but that's not the case. It's got to be St Georges, Castlefields, Meole Brace and Sir John Bayley.

"But you can't discount Newport because they're a good team, even though they've lost some good players."

Elsewhere, third-placed Meole Brace are just a point behind Bowring after winning at Burway, taking the aggregate 219-208 despite having just five winners.

Will Tarrell earned the MVP award for beating Nick Lewis to nine.

Champions Newport are seventh but one of four teams on 90 points after a 10-4 home victory over second-from-bottom Wrockwardine Wood.

Skipper Mark Selley was the pick for Newport for his 21-6 win over Mark Picknell.