YOUNG Huddersfield bowlers suffered a big disappointment when defending champions Yorkshire crashed out of the race for the Drakes Pride British Inter County Championship.

Graham Radcliffe and Howard Broadbent’s 24-man squad, packed with a host of Huddersfield players, lost by 50 points (441-391) to Shropshire in their quest for a place in the semi-finals and will now look to the Supplementary Cup for consolation.

Gutted home team manager Radcliffe said: “Shropshire simply played the green better than us today.

“They destroyed our first four and, while our middle order did their job, we have been beaten by the better team on the day.

“We are not used to this but we’ll raise the lads back up and have a real go at the Supplementary Cup.”

It was the final group game and, with both teams sharing identical records, it was a winner-takes-all showdown.

Boosted by a bright, sunny day a large crowd had gathered at Netherton to get behind the lads but it soon became apparent that this was going to be an uphill task.

Lower Hopton’s Neil Ewart, who had won the senior Yorkshire Handicap at Netherton, struggled against Shropshire Junior Merit winner Mike Beer, but on clung on to claim 12 points.

Ashley Southwell, Michael Higgins and captain Danny Radcliffe also struggled against the more experienced outfit while Joe Bray and Robert Hopper put up valiant resistance but lost 21-19 and 21-20 respectively as Yorkshire’s first six all lost out.

And, a similar pattern was emerging by Yorkshire’s away team who travelled to Coddon BC, Donnington, Telford.

Stuart King, at No1, won 21-10 while Neil Wood won 21-9 but those impressive results were cancelled out after defeats to Ashley Wilcock (21-7) and Ryan Exley (21-10).

At the half-way stage Yorkshire were staring at the mountain and beginning to realise that it was going to be difficult to climb!

Newsome’s Guy Beaumont gave Yorkshire fans something to cheer with a battling display. After taking a 4-0 lead he didn’t get despondent when his opponent, George Williams produced a seven-break to take the lead.

Beaumont hit back and made it 15-9 and continued with the bit between his teeth to win 21-13.

Next up, at No8, was Brockholes talent David Spencer who produced a calm, mature and assured man-of-the-match performance with his 21-7 victory against Ashley Wellings.

And a nine-break by Blakeborough Albion’s Conor McGowan gave him a 13-9 lead before his match became a game of cat and mouse at 17-17, 19-17 down, 19-19 until he got the final point to win 21-20.

It was a tall ask for Yorkshire’s last six to pull the game round and the home team lost by 18 points (225-207) at home and by 32 points (216-184) in Telford.

Managers Radcliffe and Broadbent, however, will be looking to raise the lads’ spirits when they aim to salvage their campaign with victory in the Supplementary Cup competition.

At Netherton Con: Neil Ewart (Lower Hopton) 12 Mike Beer 21, Joe Bray (Cleckheaton Spts) 19 Jack Jones 21, Ashley Southwell (Asa Briggs) 13 Jamie Edwards 21, Robert Hopper (Blakeborough Alb) 20 Ben Talbot 21, Michael Higgins (Almondbury Lib) 13 Kiah Roberts 21, Danny Radcliffe (Bradley and Colnebridge) 16 Simon Good 21.

Guy Beaumont (Newsome WMC) 21 George Williams 13, David Spencer (Brockholes) 21 Ashley Wellings 7, Ryan Waller (Almondbury BC) 21 Graham Wall 17, Connor McGowan (Blakeborough Alb) 21 Dan Williams 20, Craig Walsh (Blakeborough Alb) 16 Anthony Price 21, Andrew Craven (Skelmanthorpe Central) 14 Ben James 21.

Total: Yorkshire 207 Shropshire 225.

At Coddon BC, Telford: Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 21 Robert Roden 10, David Telford (Tadcaster) 17 Cheryl Aswell 21, Connor Davis (Pudsey BC) 13 Jamie King 21, Ashley Wilcock (Chapel St) 7 Michael Wainwright 21, Ryan Exley (Wibsey Pk) 10 Kristian Lewis 21, Neil Wood (Chapel St) 21 Ayden Smith 9.

Matthew Gill (Sandal BC) 21 Michael Gaut 18, Ben Smith (Chapel St) 9 Ashley Hammond 21, Jonathan Peacock (Overthorpe Spts) 21 John Potter 15, Scott Sigsworth (Holbeck Ltd) 19 Rob Fuller 21, Jon Wood (Crossgates) 21 Josh Bradburn 17, Simon Wood (Chapel St) 4 Tom Roden 21.

Total: Yorkshire: 184 Shropshire 216.