WHITE Hart Crown Green Bowling Club’s Heart of England League A team took another step towards the Division Two title with a comprehensive 159-122 home win over Black Horse A.
With three wins from the opening four ties (Dave Mahaffey 21-17, Cameron Cutler 21-14 and acting captain Gill Croft 21-20) the Redditch team held a five-shot lead at the halfway stage.
And Hart stretched their lead further in the second session as Paul Matthews (21-7), Steve Jones (21-12) and division averages leader Pete Davenport (21-10) all won their ties.
Hart now lead their nearest rivals Moseley CC A by 18 points with just four matches left to play.
White Hart B were forced to play on a difficult surface at Yardley Wood Social in Division Three where Ged Dooner (21-15) was their only winner.
They now need to win one of their final two matches against Ye Olde Knowle B to give themselves the best chance of avoiding relegation.
White Hart’s Over 60’s Heart of England A team struggled at home to runaway Division One leaders Moseley CC A in a 125-88 defeat with Graham Arnott (21-20) their only winner.
However, Hart’s B team gained a welcome 107-95 away win in Division Two at Moseley B with winning cards from Sheila Humphreys (21-12), Neil Harrison (21-13) and captain Croft (21-7).
The win leaves them 17 points clear of the relegation zone with their final four matches of the season being home and away ties with Colebrook A and Hall Green A who currently occupy the top two places in the division.
In the SW Birmingham and District Over 60’s League Division 1, White Hart A suffered two home defeats in two days to leave them close to the relegation places with three matches to play.
On Monday, they were narrowly beaten by British Oak A 118-111 despite three winning cards from Mick Perrins (21-15), Dave Kings and captain Kirk Wright (both 21-20).
Tuesday’s match was an even closer affair as Hart lost by just two points in a 101-99 defeat.
The match looked out of the hosts reach when they were 27 shots adrift at the halfway stage but closed the gap with wins from Arnott (21-10), newcomer Phil Hemming (21-10) and Neil Laxton (21-18) who came close to winning the match for Hart in the final tie on the green.
White Hart B defeated Ye Olde Knowle C away 118-92 with five winning cards from the in-form Croft (21-17), Ian Humphreys (21-19), captain Mike Hancock (21-19), John Meredith (21-4) and Tony Buckley (21-12) the latter pair both showing much improved form.
The victory gives them a good chance of avoiding the drop with four matches to play.
Hart’s Warwick and Worcs Premier League team also had to play matches on consecutive days – a defeat at Queslett 187-110 with two winners (Mike Estell 21-12 and Matthews 21-7) was followed by a loss at Beeches 203-140 again with just two winning cards (Perrins 21-15 and Matthews 21-20).
They must now win their home ties with Queslett and Yardley Wood Social to have any chance of remaining in Division Four.
In the Northfield and District League Division Three, White Hart B battled to a fine away win at Colebrook B with victories for Matt Talbot (21-10), Malcolm Bird (21-15), Steve Jones (21-12) and captain Hemming (21-2).
