WHITE Hart Crown Green Bowling Club are currently top in two of the bowling league’s they compete in having made an impressive start to the season.
White Hart A lead the way in the Heart of England League Division Two, in what is the league’s 50th anniversary year, after a fine 154-127 away win at rivals Alcester A.
Hart, who were one of the six founder members of the league, virtually settled the tie after the first set of matches with David Mahaffey (21-11), Steve Jones (21-18) and Ian Humphreys (21-6) all scoring big wins.
And Warwick and Worcester county bowler Pete Davenport (21-8) secured another comfortable win to secure 14 points from the fixture and top spot with a four-point lead over Wythall A.
Hart A also stretched their lead at the top of the Northfield and District Sunday League Division Two with a hard-fought 142-124 victory over second-placed Hall Green.
Despite losing Neil Laxton to Covid at short notice, Paul Matthews (21-13 and 21-12) won both of his ties and was supported by captain Graham Arnott (21-6), Mike Estell and Kirk Wright (both 21-15).
White Hart B had three winners in their 137-114 defeat to Central Edgbaston as Mike Jeynes (21-7), Roger Broome (21-12) and John Meredith (21-13) all played well to give the visitors three points.
And Neil Harrison, along with newcomer Jack Livingstone, both achieved a more than respectable 16 shots on a difficult, heavy green.
In the Yardley Wood Superleague, White Hart A moved up to third place in Division Two after a 145-132 away win at British Oak B.
Matthews (21-11), Mick Perrins (21-17) and Ian Humphreys (21-15) gave the visitors a fine start and winning cards from Jones (21-10) and Laxton (21-16) secured Hart a valuable 15 points in their quest for promotion this season.
White Hart B were narrowly beaten at home by Hall Green B 131-145 but produced four winners from the match.
Sheila Humphreys (21-14) was the hosts only first half winner, but Mike Hancock (21-19), Ray Barnett (21-14) and Denis Turner (21-14) closed the gap to 14 shots on the final scoreboard.
In the Warwick and Worcester Premier League Division Four, White Hart are still at the foot of the table after a 128-202 defeat at The Raven.
Jones (21-20) and Mahaffey (21-14) were Harts only winners but the Redditch club have now played the four top teams in the division and will be looking to pick up crucial points from their remaining matches in order to climb out of the relegation zone.
In the Heart of England Over 60’s League Division 1, White Hart A fought out a gripping battle with King George V at home.
Arnott (21-19) was their only first half winner and they were eight shots behind at halfway, before winning cards from Norman Batchelor (21-11) and captain Mike Estell (21-14) gave the hosts a nail-biting two-shot victory 109-107 to keep them in fourth position.
White Hart B were heavily defeated 76-122 on an unusually quick Wootton Hall green – Ian Humphreys being their only winner, though Meredith, Croft, Harrison and Broome all achieved respectable double-figure scores.
Lastly, in the S.W.Birmingham and District Over 60’s League Division One, White Hart A comfortably defeated bottom-placed Olton Tavern A 119-84 with winning cards from Estell and Barnett (21-10), Batchelor (21-15) and captain Wright 21-7 to keep them away from the relegation zone after two wins from their last three matches.
