CROWN Green Bowling week began with a tough test in the Northfield League Division Two for Alcester, when they faced a visit from table topping Baldwin A.

A close encounter ensued, with Alcester just losing out by 13 shots.

They did, however, get four league points with winning cards from Renny Bannister, with an excellent 21-8 success, as well as John Alderson (21-11), Ken Harvey (21-15) and Trish Barry (21-19).

Baldwin also had four winners, giving them a total of seven league points.

In a re-arranged game in Yardley Wood League Division Four, Alcester B visited Hockley Heath B and another close match resulted, with the visitors going down by five shots.

Winners for Alcester were Bob Le Resche, who was in stunning form with a 21-1 success, Red Masterson also superb at 21-6, and Margaret D’Elia with 21-15, giving Alcester just three points against the home side’s seven.

The second round of the Yardley Wood Consolation Cup brought mixed fortunes for the two Alcester teams.

The A side faced stiff competition from Yardley Wood Social Club, with the home half of the match yielding a mere seven shot advantage, with just Dave Hovell (21-8) and Jean Bannister (21-13) victorious.

The away four did exceptionally well, with three winners in John Slater (21-17), Ken Craddock and Ken Harvey (both 21-19), to gain the day by a single shot, giving Alcester passage into the semi-finals.

Drawn against Grasshopper from two divisions higher than them, Alcester’s B side suffered a heavy 80 shot defeat overall.

Their only winner came from the home half of the team, Trish Barry gaining a 21-17 success.

Three of the away four lost to single figures, giving Grasshopper easy progress into the semi finals.

Heart of England League action saw Alcester A visit King George V in a top of the table Division Two clash.

Once more, they were on the losing end of a fairly close match, conceding defeat by 16 shots. Alcester’s winners were Jean Bannister and Carole Slater, both excellent at 21-7 and 21-8, respectively, and Peter Barber (21-12).

This gave the home side 15 league points against the visitors’ three, Alcester now having to yield top spot to their victors.

Performance of the week came from the Alcester B side in Division Six as they defeated Solihull 73 shots to nil.