LITTLEWORTH A were pegged back this week in their push for promotion to Stafford Bowls League’s top flight.
The current second division leaders went down 9-3 away to third place Bradley House, for whom Mel Mycock won 21-12 and John Simpson 21- 13.
Second place Foxes closed the gap on the pacesetters to just two points with just one match remaining, while Bradley House, a further nine points adrift, have two games to play.
In the top section, Victoria Park kept up their challenge for the title with an 8-4 away win at lowly Ashmole.
Showing good form for the Park, who lead reigning champions Windmill by 20 points (both have two matches to play), were Stuart Edwards 21-5, Chris Ward 21- 6 and Mick Hodgkinson 21-8.
For second bottom Ashmole, who can still escape the drop, 16-year-old Andy Statham claimed his first win (21-18) of the season.
Windmill kept up the chase with a crucial 9-3 home win over third place Lea Hall A, thanks to Lee Graham’s 21-8 card.
In division three, Little Stoke CC continue their push for the title with a narrow 7-5 home win against Greenheath, as Marj Archibald won 21-6 and John Redfern 21-9.
The Stone team head the pack by 11 points from Hagley A, with Burton Manor a further three points down.
In their latest fixture, Hagley A hit Littleworth B 11-1, while the Manor had a free week.
Alstom A kept up their late push for survival with a 9-3 home success against Amasal B, helped by Charlie Goodchild’s 21-4 score.
The promotion places were confirmed in division four as Lea Hall B clinched the title with a 12-0 last-match whitewash of County Officers B, with Mick Brown a 21-1 winner, closely followed by Ken Alcott 21-3 and Gareth Scott 21-5.
Second spot goes to Heath Hayes, who still have a match to play after defeating Hatherton 10-2. Lynn Anderson and Warren Clemson were 21-3 victors the runners-up.
Other results: Div 1, Penk A 7 Bridgtown A 5, Rugeley Progressive A 10 Chadsmoor 2; Div 2, Cheslyn Hay 8 penk B 4, The Rag 8 Red Lion 4.
Div 3, Stafford A 8 M&B Cheslyn Hay 4; Div 4, Universal B 11 Alstom B 1, County Officers B 10 Stafford B 2.
