THE Hart Crown Green Bowling Club’s A team caused a major upset in the semi-finals of the Kendrick Trophy with victory against King George V.
Hart were facing a King George V team containing multiple county and Warwickshire and Worcestershire Premier Division bowlers at British Oak.
However, a quick start saw Hart take three comfortable wins as Mike Estell (21-5), Dave Mahaffey (21-9) and Tony Moore (21-11) saw off Jason Galvin, Andy Gibbs and Neil Harrell respectively.
Hart led by 34 shots at the halfway stage as captain Graham Arnott (21-20) suffered a narrow defeat against William Clarke.
The Redditch club were 18 shots ahead going into the final tie as Paul Matthews held his nerve to send Hart through to the final with a 139-130 victory where they will play Baldwin A.
Elsewhere, Hart eased to victory against Moor Lane B in Division Four of the Warwick and Worcestershire Premier League.
Single figure wins for Pete Davenport, Ashley Beeston (both 21-6), and Tony Moore (21-9) were supported by Estell, Matt Higgs, Mahaffey (all 21-11) and Paul Matthews (21-15).
And wins for Cameron Cutler (21-8) and Kirk Wright (21-20), the latter coming from 10 shots down, saw Hart win 205-118 to inflict Moor Lane B’s heaviest defeat of the season.
In the Heart of England Thursday League, Hart A sit fifth in the Division One table after a 155-111 home win against Maggies A as Moore (21-8) and Jim Bracken (21-6) won to single figures.
And in the HofE Over 60’s League top flight, Hart A had five winners in a 119-79 home win against Baldwin with Arnott (21-8), Estell (21-7), Lediard (21-14), Wright (21-20) and Jim Mahaffey (21-9) all posting winning cards.
However, in Division Three, Hart B lost 112-76 at Solihull RBL with Gill Croft (21-7) the Redditch club’s only winner.
Lastly, in Division One of the Yardley Wood Superleague, Hart A had seven winners in a 166-130 success against Baldwin B.
Ian Shermer (21-12), Croft (21-10) and Steve Jones (21-20) put the hosts into a 19-shot lead before Neil Laxton (21-16), Mick Perrins (21-18),Wright (21-16) and Denis Turner (21-17) all tasted victory.
