FOR the second week on succession Alcester BC won five out of their seven matches played as they used playing at home to their advantage.

In recent weeks the team in Division Three of the Northfield League have been slipping down the table but a 49-shot win at home to Weoley Castle Working Men’s Club B restored their mid-table place.

A superb 21-3 card from John Alderson set them on their way, with wins also for Geoff Spiers (21-11), Ken Harvey (21-12), Dave Hovell (21-14), Jean Bannister and Trish Barry (both 21-16) giving Alcester nine points to the visitors one.

Once again the biggest victory of the week came in Division Six of the S&W Birmingham Over-60s League.

The difficult Solihull Marsh Lane green was viewed with some apprehension by Alcester’s A team, but worries soon disappeared as they swept to a 64-shot success with all six players returning winning cards.

Leading the rout was Renny Bannister with a magnificent 21-0 result, followed by Ken Craddock (superb with 21-5), John Slater (21-10), Ken Harvey (21-13), David Whittington (21-14) and Jean Bannister (21-20). The win gave Alcester 12 points to the hosts nil.

Renny Bannister again led the way for Alcester in Division Two of the Yardley Wood Superleague on the following evening when the A team entertained Warstock.

He produced a 21-7 card as Alcester won by 17 shots. Other Alcester winners were John Slater (21-11), Ken Harvey (21-12), Dave Hovell and Carole Slater (both 21-19).

Having beaten Austin British Legion B away from home in the Heart of England League Division Two last week, the team delivered again with a 32-shot win to give them a 16 points to two victory.

Alcester’s winners were Dave Hovell, Ken Harvey (both 21-8), Brian Lees (21-9, his 11th win of the season without defeat), John Alderson (21-13), John Slater (21-16) and Renny Bannister (21-20).

The worst defeat of the week, if not of the season, befell the B team in Division Four on their visit to Kings Norton A. With half of the team losing to single figures and not a single winning card, they crashed to a 91-shot defeat.

In the over-60s section of the Heart of England League, Alcester A entertained Colebrook A in Division One.

Alcester’s only winning card came from Ken Craddock (21-11) as they slid to a 31-shot defeat, making relegation an all too likely possibility.

In the final match of the week, the B team visited Henley B in Division Five.

An excellent 21-6 card from David Hodgson, together with wins for Geoff Spiers (21-13) and John Williamson (21-16) gave the visitors a narrow seven-shot win.