WHITE Hart look certain to gain a few promotions this season in what is proving to be a successful season for the Redditch club.
In the Heart of England League Division Two, Hart’s A team moved to within five points of leaders Triplex and 29 points clear of their nearest rivals Wythall after a surprisingly narrow 10-shot home victory over bottom-placed Baldwin B.
They had four winners – Mike Hancock (21-4), Kirk Wright (21-20), Paul Matthews (who tops the division averages) (21-5) and Stephen Turner who finally confirmed victory for Hart with a 21-15 win in the final tie on the green after the match result had been in doubt for much of the evening, Baldwin playing better than their league placing suggested.
Hart’s B team also gained a fine win in HOE Division Four at Rubery SJC by 142-128 to move into a mid-table placing. They had five winning cards from Dave Kings (21-12), Anne Batchelor (21-20), Gill Croft (21-5), Dave Edwards (21-19) and captain Norman Batchelor (21-9) who is currently top of the division averages.
In the HOE Over 60s League Division One, White Hart A defeated Black Horse A at home 107-95, having four of the six winning cards from Norman Batchelor (21-11), Stephen Turner (21-7), Kirk Wright (21-19) and captain Mike Estell 21-17. moving the team up to fifth position in the league after struggling to hold their place last season.
The B team however, are now only three points clear of the Division Two relegation zone following a heavy 67-119 defeat at Bournville Sports A where the Redditch club only had one winner – Anne Batchelor (21-1)4.
White Hart A kept up their challenge for the Yardley Wood and District Division Thtree title with a 155-132 win at Wythall B. The visiting winners included Mick Perrins (21-11), Mike Hancock (21-9) and Neil Laxton (21-11) who is another Hart player to currently head the division averages.
Hart’s B team played two Division Four home matches in three days, having one win and one defeat.
They defeated Maggies B 134-109 with five winners (John Meredith 21-12, Denis Turner 21-6, Phil Hemming 21-7, captain Tony Buckley 21-12 and Elaine Meredith 21-12 but were then beaten by Alcester B 135-147, despite having four winning cards from Phil Hemming (21-1)4, Denis Turner (21-16), John Bridger (21-13) and Elaine Meredith, who after opening her account for the season two days previously went on to win again, 21-18.
In the SW Birmingham Over-60s League, White Hart A could only find two winners at Wythall A in Division One – Ian Humphreys (21-14) and Kirk Wright (21-20) in a 76-118 defeat, but the B team accounted for Wythall B at home 124-91 in Division Four. They had five winning cards from Kate Broome (21-16), Sheila Humphreys (21-13), Brian Chatterley (21-10), Gill Croft (21-18) and captain Sue Sugden (21-13).
