BOTH table-topping Alcester teams again enjoyed success to move closer to the title in the S & W Birmingham Over 60s League.
In Division Four, five out of the six team members produced winning cards as the A team sealed a 28-shot success away to Austin British Legion. Leading the way was Ken Craddock (21-10), with Margaret D’Elia (21-12), Renny Bannister (21-13), John Slater (21-14) and Jean Bannister (21-16) not far behind. With a points haul of 11 against the hosts’ one, this leaves Alcester 16 points clear at the top of the league table.
In Division Six, the ladies again led the way for the B team in a 20-shot victory at home Ye Olde Knowle D. Jean Craddock (21-8) and Gill Spiers (21-9) were in excellent form. Jean Sherrington (21-12) and Geoff Spiers (21-17) completed theeight points to two win for Alcester who move 21 points clear at the head of the table.
A heavy 69-shot mauling at Ye Olde Knowle B in Division Three of the Yardley Wood Superleague meant the A team dropped into second place in the table with just two matches left to play.
Alcester could not produce a single winning card and yielded victory to the home side by 18 points to nil. Although they have a nine-point lead over third-placed British Oak B, the latter have three games in hand in the chase for the second promotion spot.
The B team in Division Four had a 51-shot win at home to local rivals White Hart B. Excellent performances from John Willis (21-5), John Westmoreland (21-7), and Margaret D’Elia (21-8) were backed up by Doug Gordon (21-11), Gill Evans (21-14) and Tricia Barry (21-17). This 16 points to two success keeps Alcester in fourth place in the table.
In Division Two of the Heart of England League, the A team’s slight hope of survival almost disappeared with a 40-shot defeat at Stoke Prior A.
Although most of the team succumbed by relatively narrow margins, only John Alderson (21-14) was able to produce a winning card on this difficult green.
Alcester slumped to a 17 points to one defeat, leaving them in last but one place, 17 points away from safety with only four games left to play.
The already-relegated B team in Division Five5 had a nail-biting home game against Olton Tavern B. Although they had five winning cards from Colin Duggan (21-12), Red Masterson (21-13), David Sutor (21-14), Val McDermott and Jean Sherrington (both 21-16), victory was only gained by a single shot! Alcester’s 15 to three points margin therefore seems very harsh on the visitors.
In the Heart of England’s Over 60s Section both teams suffered setbacks to their promotion aspirations.
The A team dropped out of the promotion positions in Division Two as a result of an 11-shot defeat at home by Kings Norton Ex Service who, in consequence, leapfrog Alcester into second place in the table. Alcester had three winners in John Alderson (21-11), Jean Bannister (21-16) and Renny Bannister (21-17). Although they are now 10 points off the promotion places, there are eight games still to play, so everything remains to play for.
In Division Four, the B team lost by 34 shots when they visited Marston Green A. Only John Willis (21-19) could produce a winning card as Alcester slumped to a 15 points to one defeat. As a result, they drop two places and are now in fifth place in the table, 30 points off the promotion places.
