STOKE Prior Bowling Club's hopes of winning Warwickshire and Worcestershire League division six took a severe knock with a three-shot home defeat to Hall Green BC.

The match turned into a nightmare for the hosts as they lost the first four matches.

Colin Jenkins and Colin Mortiboys stemmed the tide in the middle order with 21-17 and 21-10 victories to reduce the arrears, but the visitors were still finding the green to their liking.

In the last four matches, Dave Buttery, Peter Phillips and Paul Youster produced wins for Stoke, but it was not enough to turn the game around as Hall Green secured victory by just three shots.

Stoke Prior's first team made light work of Alcester at Westonhall Road, winning all eight matches in their Yardley Wood and District League clash.

Kelvin Wilson's 21-4 win and Colin Mortiboys' 21-5 success were the pick of the bunch.

The club's Big Crown team suffered a 13-shot defeat at division two leaders Bournville Sports. Paul Youster's 21-13 victory was the only high point in an otherwise lethargic display.