WHITE Hart Crown Green Bowling Club’s A team were denied a place in the quarter-finals of the S.W.Birmingham and District Cup after they suffered an agonising 105-101 defeat against Division One leaders British Oak at Moseley CC.
Hart were unable to win any of the first three cards as both Mike Estell and Mick Perrins lost by just two shots in their respective ties.
And despite Norman Batchelor claiming a 21-15 success and Kirk Wright sealing an impressive 21-6 win, Hart were edged out by just four shots.
Remarkably, the club’s Heart of England A team suffered the same fate against Moseley to lose for the first time this season.
David Mahaffey (21-15) was Hart’s only winner in the first half as the Redditch club trailed by 30 shots at the halfway mark.
And county bowlers Pete Davenport (21-7) and Cameron Cutler (21-2) fired Hart’s back into contention before Steve Jones’ 21-19 victory saw the Redditch club eventually beaten 127-123.
In another close game, White Hart A were edged out 111-109 at home to Black Horse A in the Heart of England Over 60’s League Division 1.
Batchelor (21-15) and Neil Laxton (21-17) handed Hart a seven-shot lead at the halfway point before Estell (21-16) was the club’s only winner in the second period to suffer a two-shot defeat.
The losing trail continued with Hart’s B team who were beaten 117-91 by Rubery SJC with Sheila Humphreys (21-12) the Redditch club’s only winner.
And White Hart remain at the foot of the table in the Warwickshire and Worcestershire League Premier League Divison 4 following a 189-165 defeat at home to The George B.
The defeat came despite early wins for Laxton (21-13) and Ray Barnett (21-18) before late wins for Mike Hancock (21-17), Estell (21-16) and Wright (21-20) proved in vain.
Hart’s A team were also beaten in the S.W.Birmingham and District Over 60’s League Division 1 as they suffered a 117-97 defeat at home to Ye Olde Knowle A.
Estell (21-20) and Graham Arnott (21-13) were Hart’s only winners whilst the B team struggled badly on Knowle’s infamous top green and failed to find a winning card with Malcolm Bird’s (15) the highest score of any of Hart’s bowlers.
However, the club’s fortunes turned around as both of their Yardley Wood Superleague teams gained victories.
Hart A battled well in very wet conditions away at Warstock to win 131-123 as the visitors posted five winning cards from Phil Hemming (21-19), Jones (21-11), Barnett (21-3), Perrins (21-17) and captain Wright (21-10).
And White Hart B beat King George VI B at home 149-136 with six winning cards – Denis Turner (21-19), Tony Buckley (21-17), Malcolm Bird (21-16), John Meredith (21-15), Neil Harrison (21-16) and Ian Humphreys (21-11).
Lastly, in the Northfield and District Sunday League, White Hart B defeated Romsley and Hunnington B 142-115 in Division 3 to claim their first victory of the season with wins for Meredith 21-17, Dave Kings 21-7, Hemming 21-10, Roger Broome 21-8 and Tony Buckley 21-10.
