IT WAS a much-improved week for Alcester Bowling Club’s A team who lost only one match – and that by a mere single shot.
The B team, however, had a bad week as they lost all of their games. This disparity was largely green-related as the A team played all of their matches at home, whilst the B team had to travel for all but one of their games.
The A team experienced a comfortable victory in Division Five of the S&W Birmingham Over 60s League at home to West Midlands Transport A.
Renny Bannister led the way with a superb 21-1 card, backed up by Ken Harvey and David Whittington (both 21-8) and Margaret D’Elia (21-14). This gave them a 35-shot winning margin and eight points to the visitors’ two.
In Division Six, the B team started the week with a rearranged game at home to Wootton Hall B and John Willis (21-18) was the only winner as Alcester crashed to a 38-shot defeat.
The following day Alcester travelled to Wootton for the return fixture and again could only produce a single winner – this time Carole Slater (21-18) – giving a deficit of 52 shots.
Thus, over the two games, Alcester only collected two points, with Wootton picking up 20.
In Division Two of the Yardley Wood Superleague, Alcester A were looking to avenge the defeat of the previous week when they entertained Selly Park in the return match.
Despite excellent winning cards from Carole Slater (21-4), Dave Hovell (21-7) and Renny Bannister (21-8), Alcester went down by a single shot. John Slater did add a fourth winning card (21-14), but Selly Park picked up 14 points with just four for Alcester.
The B team, meanwhile, travelled to White Hart, who went down by a single shot at Alcester the previous week.
Another close encounter resulted, with each side gaining four winners. For Alcester, Margaret D’Elia (21-7) was outstanding, with solid support from Jean Craddock (21-15), Gill Evans and Rick Horton (both 21-19).
However it was not quite enough, as the hosts ran out winners by five shots, picking up 14 points to the four for Alcester.
Alcester A finally broke their duck in Heart of England League Division One when they entertained Woodbourne A.
Solid performances by Renny Bannister (21-10), Brian Lees (21-13), David Whittington (21-15), Ken Harvey (21-17) and Margaret D’Elia (21-18) gave them a winning margin of 16 shots. This first win in this league gave them 15 points to the visitors’ three.
The B team in Division Four could not break their losing streak, which now extends to seven games. Their only winner at British Oak A was Rick Horton (21-17) as they crashed to a massive 74-shot defeat, giving the hosts 17 points to Alcester’s one.
The over 60s section of the Heart of England League saw Alcester A in Division Two continue their excellent week with a 14-2 win at home to Woodlands Park A.
For Alcester, Ken Craddock (21-11), Renny Bannister (21-14), Jean Bannister and Margaret D’Elia (both 21-18) were winners to give them an 11-shot winning margin.
A brilliant 21-1 card from John Slater could not stop a 22-shot defeat for the B team at Solihull in Division Four as Alcester’s only other winner was John Willis (21-19) in a 14-2 loss.
