White Hart endure poor week - The Redditch Standard

White Hart endure poor week

Redditch Editorial 6th Sep, 2017   0

WHITE Hart suffered six defeats and only two victories in an unusually poor week of league results for the Redditch club.

Their already promoted Yardley Wood Superleague team defeated Maggies B at home in Division Four. Captain Kirk Wright again chose to rest a few key players from the squad for the final match of the season but the team battled well to gain a hard fought 143-127 victory, having five winning cards from John Bridger 21-7, Ged Dooner 21-12, Stuart Wood 21-14, Gill Croft 21-13 and Mike Jeynes 21-18.

Hart end the league programme in second place behind champions Royal Austin British Legion and will play in the third tier next season. They also had three players in the final division averages top dozen – Kirk Wright ninth, Neil Laxton tenth and Tim Hollingshead 12th.

In the Northfield & District Sunday League, White Hart A suffered a blow to their promotion hopes from Division Two after a narrow 138-135 defeat at Ye Olde Knowle A.




They had four winners – Graham Arnott 21-10, Ian Humphreys 21-13, Paul Matthews (who currently holds third place in the division averages) 21-11 and captain Mick Perrins 21-20 but, with two matches left, they now hold second position in the table by only a single point from The Valley who have a game in hand.

In the SW.Birmingham Over 60s League, White Hart A were beaten 112-84 at home by AG College A but the two points they took have at least secured their top flight status for next season.


Wins for Norman Batchelor (21-18) against Over 60s Merits runner-up Steven Green and captain Ian Humphreys 21-10 proved vital for the Redditch club after a prolonged relegation battle this season.

The B team, however, are unlikely to remain in Division Three next season after a heavy 126-59 defeat at Small Heath AG.

They could not provide a winner from the tie, although Kirk Wright was at one stage 15-7 up before losing to 18 and Sheila Humphreys was holding game shot before being beaten by the last bowl in the final leg.

Hart are just three points clear of the relegation places but the team below them – local rivals Stoke Prior – have a game in hand and play bottom of the league Kings Norton B home and away in their final two matches, while Hart have to play fourth placed Rubery SJC twice.

In the Heart Of England Thursday League, already relegated White Hart A were beaten 147-118 at home by Rubery SJC A, having three winning cards from Stephen Turner 21-9, Ken Brown 21-16 and Paul Matthews 21-17, while the B team were beaten 150-120 at Rubery B and had just two winners in Brian Chatterley 21-9 and captain Norman Batchelor 21-15.

The latter has achieved third place in the Division Four final averages.

In the HOE Over 60s Friday League, White Hart A were without an individual winner in a heavy 126-77 home defeat by leaders Moseley CC A and are now four points from safety in Division One with three games to play.

The B team, however, gained a fine 102-90 success at Henley A in Division Two. Mick Perrins (21-4), Kirk Wright (21-8) and Gill Croft were their three winners and the team stay in a safe mid-table position.

In the HOE Over 60s Merits Doubles, Gill Croft and Kirk Wright have reached finals day following a 21-8 win over the Kings Norton Ex-Service pairing of Owen Beard and Seamus Edwards at Colebrook.

The final four pairings will appear at the same venue on Monday, September 18 (11am).

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Redditch Standard newspaper.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Podcasts

Now, every week, you can also listen to a roundup of Redditch Standard Local News.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.