Chester Road lose but still stay on top

The Whitchurch-based club came from 4-0 down to win five of the last eight games to lose 9-5, but they remain five points clear of Meole Brace, who lost 10-4 at Bylet.

Captain Paul Fowles said: "I'm very pleased – we went there hoping to get four and we got five, so the extra one was a bonus.

"Yet again a really good fighting performance from 4-0 behind. Chris Nicholson beat a six-inch bowl to win while Paul Griffiths was outstanding (to earn MVP winning 15).

"Other results went our way with Meole Brace only getting four and Sir John Bayley three, it was a good night all round.

"We move onto another important game on Friday."

There are just 11 points between the top five, however, and Fowles believes the title race is going to be a very close-run battle.

He said: "I think it will go to the wire," he said. "There's us, Meole Brace, Castlefields, St Georges and Sir John Bayley and we've all got a chance.

"Looking at the fixtures, I'd say Meole Brace are our biggest threat and they have an extra home game and we have to go there, so it's in our own hands.

"If we can produce a good home win of 10-plus on Friday (against Hanwood) that will give us an advantage as we've got two away games (Bowring and Burway) after that.

"So we need to keep hanging in there. But we were only looking for a top-eight finish this season so whatever we do now will have exceeded that."

Newport's Philip Emery earned the MVP for being the biggest winner on the night, beating Ian McDonald to seven.

Martin Lloyd enjoyed the biggest winning margin for the Roaders for his 21-8 win over Wayne Lawrence.

Wem were the biggest victors on the night with a 12-2 romp over Bowring. George Williams's win to eight over Steve Cox was the pick.

Rob Roden was Bowring's best performer, beating Curtis Metcalfe to 12.

Wem captain Mike Dulson was delighted with his side's display, but admitted the contest was tighter than the final score-line suggests.

He said: "With showers during the day, the green was holding like it was against Chester Road two weeks earlier, where we lost 11-3.

"The only difference this weekend was we won all the close games. The Bowring players were in every game apart from two cards.

"They will have gone away feeling hard done by with only getting two. This will give us a much-needed boost after a recent dip in form."

Castlefields, in third, closed the gap to two points on Meole Brace after beating Burway 10-4.

Glyn Herbert was Castlefields's main man, beating Len Lewis to five while Wayne Rogers took the plaudits for his 21-13 success over Andrew Judson.

Sir John Bayley, fifth, closed the gap on fourth-placed St Georges – who didn't play – to a point after losing 11-3 at Hanwood.

Dave Burton's win to seven over Gary Cooper earned him Hanwood's MVP.

Aaron Tapper was Bayley's best effort – and the biggest individual margin on the evening – for his win to five over Russell Welling.

Wrockwardine Wood's 9-5 success over Ifton eased their relegation fears.