WHITE Hart Crown Green Bowling Club claimed a thrilling home win against Queslett to keep their survival hopes alive in Division Four of the Warwick and Worcs Premier League with two matches left to play.
The Redditch club have flirted with relegation all season but had two winning cards in each of the first two sessions courtesy of David Mahaffey (21-17), Paul Matthews (21-11), Dave Kings (21-19) and captain Mike Hancock (21-14).
Hart led by six shots with two games to play and Kirk Wright’s 21-11 win got them over the line to secure a 180-177 victory.
The win leaves Hart just three points from safety with their final two matches coming against bottom of the table Yardley Wood Social.
In the Heart of England Thursday League Division Two, White Hart A ruthlessly whitewashed King George VI 168-74 as five players won to single figures.
Pete Davenport (21-5), Mahaffey (21-7), Kings (21-4), Steve Jones (21-6) and captain Wright (21-6) were all victorious along with Gill Croft (21-14), Matthews (21-16) and Neil Laxton (21-17).
Hart look to have an unassailable 21-shot at the top of the division with three matches left to play and can look forward to playing in the top flight next season.
However, White Hart B were made to suffer on the notoriously difficult top green at Ye Olde Knowle in Division Three in a 161-96 defeat.
The Redditch club had just two winners – Malcolm Bird (21-15) and Matt Talbot (21-20) – and are now 17 points from safety with survival highly unlikely.
Hart’s A team look set for an exciting finish to the Northfield and District League Division Two as they compete with Wythall, Black Horse A and Hall Green for the two promotion places.
And Hart kept their promotion bid on track with a comfortable 163-83 home victory over Rubery Sheldon JC to lead the table from Wythall on shot difference.
The hosts had seven winning cards from Wright (21-7), Mike Hancock (21-5), Mick Perrins (21-8), Davenport (21-6), Matthews (21-6), Laxton (21-14) and captain Graham Arnott (21-16).
White Hart B were beaten 150-106 at Black Horse B in Division Three and had just two winners- John Meredith (21-7) and Roger Broome (21-17).
In the SWB Over 60’s League Division One, White Hart A had just the one winner at College A (Arnott 21-17) and with two matches left they are only five points above the relegation places with home and away matches against leaders Moseley CC A to complete their season.
White Hart B may well have secured their place in Division Three next season with a 115-92 home win over Ye Olde Knowle C, their four winning cards coming from Norman Batchelor, Tony Buckley 21-20, Croft 21-6 and captain Hancock 21-7.
Lastly, in the Heart of England Over 60’s League, White Hart A were beaten 112-77 at local rivals Alcester A in Division One where Batchelor (21-13) and Laxton (21-15) were their only two winners.
White Hart B were also beaten 113-80 at home by Hall Green A in Division Two with just the one winning card from Neil Harrison (21-8).
