Her opponents hit a brick wall was the tribute paid to Ellie Wall as she made League history.
It came from Mid Shropshire President Mike Potter as he saluted the Wrockwardine Wood bowler as the first winner of the Monday Divisions Merit, the new competition launched for players bowling primarily in teams in divisions four, five and six.
Ellie, who has just returned to playing after a seven-year break, raced to a 21-6 victory over Bowring’s Steve Hendy in the Bank Holiday Monday final played on the No.1 green at the Sir John Bayley Club.
“Fair play to Ellie, she bowled superb all night and was the deserved winner,” said a magnanimous Steve, adding to Mike’s words of praise at the presentation buffet that followed the action.
Former Shropshire junior Ellie, a member of the Wood squad that won the British Ladies club championship last month, beat Ian Bates of Hadley USC in her semi-final on her way to a £55 first prize.
At the same stage former Premier League bowler Steve was a 21-17 victor over another returnee to the game, Emma Chetwood of Newport, in front of a crowd of around 50 on a warm but damp night.
Quarter-final scores – Bates 21 Leila James (Bowring) 18; Wall 21 Patrick Evans Jnr (Newport) 8; Hendy 21 Michael Furness (Shifnal) 12; Chetwood 21 Paul Mills (Shifnal) 18.
OUR PICTURE shows the history makers – Monday Merit winner Ellie Wall and runner-up Steve Hendy