ALCESTER’S Northfield League Division Three crown green bowling team slumped to defeat by 28 shots at Black Horse, although they did gain three points due to winning cards from Jean Sherrington (21-15) and Dave Hovell and Ken Harvey (both 21-16).
In S&W Birmingham over 60s League Division Seven, the A team returned to winning ways with a 31-shot victory over visitors Woodlands.
Alcester could only muster three winners in Dave Hovell (strong at 21-6), Ken Craddock (21-9) and Renny Bannister (21-9).
Their three losers, however, dropped just five shots between them to give the win to the home side, who now have a narrow four-point lead over Triplex at the top of the table with a single match remaining for both sides.
Also in Division Seven, the B team lost their eight-match winning run by the heart-breakingly narrow margin of six shots when they visited King George VI.
The winning cards were shared with Alcester’s coming from Red Masterson (21-8), Val McDermott (21-16) and David Hodgson (21-17).
The final match for Alcester A in Division One of the Yardley Wood League brought a 49-shot victory for the home side against visitors Stoke Prior A.
Alcester had numerous winners in David Whittington (21-4), Dave Hovell (21-6), Jean Bannister (21-7) and John Alderson and Val McDermott (both 21-15).
This gave Alcester a total of eight points to lift them out of the relegation zone by a mere four points, but both of the teams below Alcester have a game to play, so it remains to be seen if this win will be enough to save Alcester from the drop into Division Two.
Over 60s action in the Heart of England League saw Alcester B at home to Moorpool B in Division Five and victory went to the home side by 11 shots thanks to winning cards from John Willis (21-5) and Jean Craddock and Ken Craddock (both 21-11).
