A first all-Mid Shropshire final of the Shropshire Cup for 5 years is the mouth-watering prospect tonight – Saturday 1st August.
Runaway leaders and reigning champions Sinclair face first division rivals Newport in Shrewsbury having already made bowls history this season as the first non-Premier League side to win its Mayhew Trophy.
The Ketley club have named two members of Shropshire’s British junior county championship-winning side in their starting 10 – 2026 county Junior Merit winner Jordon Millman, fresh from winning 2 more titles at the Colwyn Festival, and young Logan Church.
Newport, who beat Wrockwardine Wood in the last all Mid Shropshire final of this knockout in 2021, will hope to counteract that with their line-up of experience that features Alan Davidson, Phil Emery and Mick Jones.
Both sides warmed up for the final showdown with big away wins last night – Newport 8-2 at Sir John Bayley A and Sinclair 7-3 at nearby Bowring to go 24 points clear of The Fishes in second place.
But Sinclair had to draft in Derbyshire star Conor Chamberlain as a late replacement for Kevin Keary who became unavailable in the afternoon.
PICTURED is the last League club to win the Shropshire Cup, the now defunct Hadley USC, seen after beating Bridgewater at Bicton in 2024.
TONIGHT’S FINAL DRAW
starting at 6.30pm on Meole Brace’s non Premier green
Sinclair v Newport
1 Ayden Smith v Alan Davidson; 2 Kevin Keary v Ian Edwards; 3 John Roberts Jnr v Allan Smith; 4 Steve Handley v Phil Emery.
5 Jonathan Davies v Martyn France; 6 Jordan Millman v Simon Oldcorn; Logan Church v Russell Millward; 8 Dan Williams v Mick Jones.
9 Darren Fielding v Dale Rudrum; 10 Harry Church v Mark Selley.
Referee: Christine Sayers