AS the Crown Green bowling season has already commenced, Alcester Bowling Club’s first matches of the season got underway last week in the Heart of England League.

The Thursday evening team, having been relegated to Division Two last season, were keen to get away to winning ways.

They entertained local neighbours Henley A and convincingly won the match by a margin of 24 shots, 16 league points to Henley’s two.

Alcester turned in six winning cards, with Peter Barber (21-7) and John Slater (21-8) giving star performances, backed up well by Bob LeResche (21-12), Dave Hovell (21-14), John Alderson (21-17) and Carole Slater (21-19).

There was not such a good outcome for the over-60s team whose first match was away to defending champions and cup winners Acocks Geen A.

Acocks Green comfortably showed why they had become title holders last year as they easily disposed of Alcester, who could not come up with a winning card between them and found themselves on the end of a 72 shot hiding. This will be a match the Alcester squad will want to forget.

Match competition will begin hotting up even more over the next couple of weeks as other leagues get underway and the B team fixures also commence.