IT was a bad week for Alcester’s crown green bowlers as they won only two of their seven matches.

The Northfield League match at White Hart was the first reverse of the week, with half of the team losing to single figure scores.

Alcester’s only winners were John Alderson (21-17) and Renny Bannister (21-19).

This gave Alcester just two league points against their hosts eight, as Alcester crashed to a 68-shot hiding.

In Division Two of the Yardley Wood League, Alcester’s A team completed a double against table-toppers Maggies A with a 29-shot home win.

Victorious for Alcester were Dave Hovell (21-11), Ken Craddock (21-12), John Slater (21-13) and Jean Bannister and David Whittington (both 21-14).

Alcester gained seven league points against the visitors’ three, to maintain third place.

Meanwhile, the B team in Division Five visited Hockley Heath B and suffered a 22-shot defeat.

However, a brilliant win from Val McDermott (21-5), together with winning cards from Margaret D'Elia (21-18) and Jean Sherrington and Red Masterson, gave Alcester four valuable points to keep them joint-top with Henley B.

Heart of England action returned this week with the A team hosting Austin British Legion A in Division One.

A narrow five-shot defeat ensued, but some consolation was provided by the winning cards of John Alderson and Carole Slater (both 21-12), John Slater (21-15) and Peter Barber (21-18), giving Alcester four league points.

The B team in Divison Six also went down to a five-shot defeat at Woodlands.

Only three winners in this match, however, Margaret D’Elia (21-14) and Trish Barry and Ken Harvey (both 21-15) doing the business.

In the Over-60s league, Division One action saw Alcester A entertain Ye Olde Knowle A, the latter triumphing by 12 shots.

Alcester’s only winners were Bannister (21-10) and Neil Croft (21-17), so that just two points came their way against the visitors.

Division Six gave the Alcester club their second win of the week as they saw off Bournville Sports B.