WHITE Hart Crown Green Bowling Club proved that age is no barrier after players at either end of the age scale triumphed for their B team.
Malcolm Bird, aged 89, appears much younger than his years and produced a fine performance to win 21-11 in his tie.
At the other end of the scale, Jack Livingstone, aged 26, is one of the club’s youngest players and has begun to make his mark after securing his third win of the season with a 21-16 success in the Northfield and District League.
The pair were Hart’s only winners in the tie as they lost 154-112 at British Oak B in Division Three.
White Hart’s A teams also struggled as they managed three winners in their top of the table Division Two clash at home to local rivals Wythall A.
Mike Estell (21-20), Mike Hancock (21-19) and Noman Batchelor (21-18) gave Hart three points from the match in a 162-140 defeat.
The defeat sees Hart drop to third in the table just two points behind joint-leaders Wythall and Black Horse.
And in the Yardley Wood and District Mini-Cup, White Hart A defeated British Oak 147-129 at the Black Horse to move one step closer to competing in the Division Two final if they can beat Bournville Sports A in their last group match.
However, White Hart B bowed out of the Division Four competition after suffering a 147-124 defeat against Bournville Sports B.
In the Heart of England Over 60’s League, White Hart A were no match for leaders Moseley CC A though their single victory was a conclusive win for captain Mike Estell (21-5).
However, the two club’s B teams’ met at White Hart where the hosts gained a narrow 113-103 win.
Sheila Humphreys (21-19) and Malcolm Bird (21-8) gave them a fine start while Neil Harrison and captain Gill Croft were both narrowly beaten to 18.
Recent acquisition Matt Talbot took Hart over the finishing line with a 21-13 win and the team victory lifts Hart out of the relegation zone for the time being.
In the S.W.Birmingham Over 60’s League Division One, White Hart A suffered an excruciating one-shot defeat at home to Triplex A.
Graham Arnott (21-17) and Neil Laxton (21-12) helped give Hart a three-shot lead after the first session but Estell’s 21-4 win was then matched by a same-score defeat for captain Kirk Wright due to an impressively accurate performance from the in-form Roy Wootton.
The result of the match hung on the last tie where Hart’s Norman Batchelor needed 19 shots to win the match for the Redditch club.
And after falling 12-7 behind he rallied well to level at 17-17 only for his opponent to regain the lead before Batchelor inadvertently pushed his opponents bowl nearest the jack to lose 12-17 on the 31st end.
Triplex won the match 96-95 leaving Hart just six points above the relegation zone.
White Hart B were comfortably beaten at Marston Green 122-85 in a Division Three relegation battle as Ian Humphreys (21-17) scored their only success to sit three points from safety.
