WHITE Hart A jumped into fourth position in Division One of the SW Birmingham & District Over 60s League after a comprehensive 126-66 home win over second-placed Ye Olde Knowle A on Tuesday.
Following a defeat at the notorious Knowle green last week, the Redditch club were in no mood to drop any points this time and 21-7 wins for Ken Brown, Ian Humphreys and captain Kirk Wright helped sealed the victory for them. Further winning cards from Ray Richards (21-13), Mike Estell (21-15) and Graham Arnott (21-17) gave them a full house and 10 points.
Arnott’s game with Ye Olde Knowle’s Mary Brewin was the highlight of the morning, the lead changing hands many times before the Hart bowler forged ahead at the end of a high-quality tussle.
White Hart B lost top spot in Division Four after a 70-116 defeat at Solihull Marsh Lane where they had just one winner Norman Batchelor 21-11, though Richard Coyne fought back well in his tie to get within two shots of victory.
In the Warwick/Worcs League Division Four White Hart pulled further clear of the relegation zone after a comfortable 237-157 away victory over struggling Erdington and Richmond.
Graham Arnott (21-5), Trina Higgins and Neil Laxton (both 21-6) helped open a 46-shot lead after the opening four games and this was stretched to 60 shots after Mike Estell (21-13), Norman Batchelor (21-11) and Ray Richards (21-14) also produced winning cards in the second section. Mike Hancock (21-11) and Martyn Higgins (21-7) increased the gap to 80 at close of play and White Hart had accumulated 12 points from the match.
In the Yardley Wood & District Wednesday League Division Two White Hart A lost out at Warstock 124-141 but gained three points from wins for Neil Laxton (21-13), Ian Humphreys (21-14) and Mike Hancock (21-9).
The B team were easily defeated at home by West Midlands Travel 97-146 and had just two winners – Denis Turner (21-7) and John Meredith (21-13).
In the Heart of England Thursday League Division Two White Hart A lost at Moseley CC A 125-167 and had to wait till the end of the evening for their only point, via a 21-20 win from Ken Brown from a game that finished in a torrential rain shower.
White Hart B had four winners from their home tie with Henley but lost out 120-128 in the final count.
Captain Norman Batchelor (21-5) was their only first half winner and Hart were 17 shots down at halfway. Second-half winning cards from Dave Kings (21-12), Paul Thompson (21-10) and Tony Buckley (21-17) kept them in contention, though it was the three losing single figure cards that proved to be their undoing over the course of the match.
In the HOE Over 60s Division One, White Hart A lost their unbeaten home record after a narrow 105-107 defeat by Hockley Heath A.
Ray Richards (21-16) was their only first-half winner and though both Graham Arnott and Ian Humphreys won to 14 in the second period it was not quite enough to take any more than the three points they gained.
White Hart B produced a fine performance at Woodbourne A to win another close match by 112-109.
Mick Perrins (21-13), Richard Coyne (21-14) and Neil Laxton (21-19) all won their first half matches and though the hosts won each of the second-half pairings the Redditch team had done just enough to take 13 points.
In the Northfield and District Sunday League Division Two White Hart A were beaten by leaders Weoley Castle WMC 109-155. They had just two winners – MIke Estell 21-16 and captain Mick Perrins 21-13.
The B team, however, easily accounted for Colebrook B in Division Three by 154-107 despite only having one first-half winner.
Norman Batchelor won his tie comfortably 21-7 but at halfway the match score was level before Hart won all 4 second half ties. Neil Laxton (21-6), Mike Keynes (21-8) and Mike Hancock (21-3) were easy winners while John Meredith just held on to win 21-20.
