WHITE HART’S B team gained valuable league points in winning two matches in three days in Heart of England Over 60s League Division Two.
Their rearranged home tie with Woodbourne A was a distinctly one-sided affair, with the Redditch club having five winning cards from Graham Arnott 21-2, Tom Hawkes 21-4, Mick Perrins 21-8, Roger Broome 21-14 and captain Brian Chatterley 21-6, while Sue Sugden was only beaten by a single shot in a 125-55 final scoreline.
Two days later they were at home again and faced Kings Norton Ex-Service who they also easily defeated 124-70. Mick Perrins (21-7), Gill Croft (21-5) Sheila Humphreys (21-11), Sue Sugden (21-13) and Brian Chatterley (21-13) were Hart’s winners, while Kirk Wright was only just beaten 21-19 by Dennis Goode who is currently the unbeaten leader of the division averages.
White Hart’s A team were narrowly beaten 118-107 at Yardley Wood Social in Division One. They had just two winning cards from Stephen Turner 21-15 and Graham Arnott 21-19 but in a close affair Ian Humphreys and captain Mike Estell were only defeated 21-18 and 21-20 respectively.
In HOE Thursday League Division Two, White Hart A avenged the previous week’s defeat by beating visitors Moseley A 156-138.
Winning cards from Ken Brown 21-17, Mike Estell 21-20, Kirk Wright 21-19, and Ian Humphreys 21-19 plus a walkover for Paul Matthews lifted them into third place, 15 points behind leaders Triplex.
Hart’s Mike Hancock stepped in at short notice for the injured Ray Richards and was only beaten 21-19. The B team were narrowly defeated 131-125 at Ye Olde Knowle B in Division Three as Ged Dooner (21-6), Sheila Humphreys (21-13) and captain Norman Batchelor (21-7) picked up three league points for the team.
In the Yardley Wood Superleague, White Hart B had five winners in a 136-125 Division Four home victory. Tony Cox (21-4), Tony Buckley (21-18), Denis Turner (21-18), Phil Hemming (21-7) and Ged Dooner (21-15) were their five winners.
In Northfield & District League Division One, White Hart A were beaten 153-120 by strong hosts British Oak A. They played their part, however, in a quality match and had three winning cards from Martyn Higgins 21-15, Mike Estell 21-15 and captain Mick Perrins 21-18 to give them three points which could prove valuable in what looks to be another relegation battle for the first team following their narrow escape last season.
White Hart B were surprisingly beaten 137-133 at home by bottom of the league Weoley Castle WMC in Division Three despite having four winning cards from Gill Croft 21-10, Sheila Humphreys 21-13, John Meredith 21-16 and Neil Laxton 21-14.
Hart’s two teams in the SW Birmingham Over 60s League both won ties against British Oak in their respective divisions.
The A team easily accounted for Oak’s A team 121-71 in Division One with five winners – Kirk Wright 21-4, Graham Arnott 21-8, Ian Humphreys 21-9, Mick Perrins 21-13 and Mike Estell 21-16.
White Hart B just pipped hosts British Oak B 113-109 with four winning cards from Kate Broome 21-13, Gill Croft 21-19, Anne Batchelor 21-18 and captain Sue Sugden 21-16. The team occupy second place in Division Four – ten points behind local rivals Alcester A.
The inaugural White Hart Summer Handicap was held at the club on Saturday and attracted a fine turnout of 23 players. Mike Hancock won the event, beating Morag Wood in the final.
