Bayley keep in touch at the top

The defending champions were on course for an excellent Salop Leisure Shropshire Premier League victory after storming into a 6-3 lead.

But the home side fought back to swap places with Bayley and move up to second.

“It was a real good result on a sharp and very tricky green, probably the quickest it’s been for a long time,” said Burroughs.

“Some of them did struggle to adapt to the pace but a few of them were exceptional on it. We led 6-3 and by about nine shots but their back three were excellent and didn’t give us much of a chance to snatch a win.

“Mark Thomas and Doug Edwards played our two in-form players and just didn’t give them a chance, while Nigel Bound had a very good close game with Gordon Hawkins. For us, Norman Harvey did very well to beat Darren Wellings in the first four to give us two winners there, while Spencer Clarke won 12 from 11-1 down on a mark across the crown.

“It was a great result overall and, with Castlefields only winning 9-5, it meant we didn’t lose too much ground on them.”

Castlefields remain top after they beat struggling Chester Road 9-5 at home.

Roaders captain Paul Fowles was delighted with the result and hopes it can spark an upturn in their fortunes.

“I think it’s the most points any side has got there this year so of course we are pleased,” he said.

“We usually do OK there so were aiming for four, but with the way we have struggled to get an extra one was great. We were 2-2 after the first four but it was a game we could have been 4-0 up or 4-0 down.

“Some of the lads had lost a bit of confidence, but a couple of the lads that have been struggling won so that should help them. Hopefully we can build on that.

“It’s hard to say why we’ve struggled. We have been in a lot of games but ended up losing them to 18 or 19. We had two 19s on Friday, as well as the five winners.”