WHARTON Cons couldn't carry their dominance of Mid Cheshire crown green bowls on to the national stage.

They were beaten in the semi-finals of the British Crown Green Team Championship at Irlam Steel on Sunday after beating three of the top 32 teams in the country.

In the first round they saw off Bailey Hill of Wrexham then beat Lloyds BC (Manchester) and George BC (Birmingham) before losing to George and Dragon (Hyde) in the last four.

Meersbrook, from Sheffield, beat Cons' conquerors in the final to become the best in Britain.

Cons squad: Glynn Cookson, Barry Cookson, Simon Cookson, Alan Hough, Mark Vernon, Ivan Wilkinson, Alan Vickers, Alan Robinson, Stewart Bailey, Peter Kelly.