UNDER-STRENGTH Alcester lost by 40 shots to Weoley in Division Three of the Northfield League.

They did manage to take three points with wins from Ken Harvey and Dave Hovell (both 21-15) and Renny Bannister (21-20).

The A team, in Division Six of the South and West Birmingham Over-60s League, started their campaign with a visit from West Midlands Transport’s A side.

Successes for John Slater (21-5) and Ken Harvey (21-7), accompanied with solid support from Jean Bannister (21-11), Margaret D’Elia (21-13) and Renny Bannister (21-17), handed victory to the home side by 46 shots as they collected nine points.

The B team in Division Seven gained a valuable away win when they visited Woodbourne B.

Winning cards from Ken Craddock and David Hodgson (both convincing at 21-6) and Trish Barry (21-10) gave the visitors a 9-3 success as they won by 13 shots.

In the first round of the S&W Birmingham Knock-out Cup, the A team played Moseley CC A team on the Henley green.

Moseley, who are five divisions higher than Alcester in the league rankings, had an easy 65-shot win with Alcester unable to produce any winning cards.

The B team faired better with a 14-shot win over Hall Green B on Ye Olde Knowle’s number two green.

Division Two of the Yardley Wood Superleague found the Alcester A team again in dominating form with a second successive 36-0 victory.

All eight Alcester players again produced winning cards, with Craddock (21-3), Bannister (21-6) and Harvey (21-7) in good form .

In Division four, the B team went down by 35 shots when at King George VI A.