AVON ended Wilmcote’s amazing 144-match unbeaten run when the Stratford & District Airgun League Webley Shield handicap competition got under way.
Both teams shot only bulls and fours and, with Adam and Jamie Clarke and Lester Langford all hitting 34s, Wilmcote were doing well.
However, visitors Avon also shot well and Bill Fleming, Colin Fulford, Richard Groom and Alison McMillan all shot 33s.
At the final tally Avon needed the handicap to win the match with 240 points to Wilmcote’s 228.
Chris Reed got Binton A off to a flying start against MEB with a maximum 35 and 34s from team-mates Andy Smith and Will Cemis saw the home team finish on 228 points.
MEB were short of shooters again but Robert Shaw and Paul Onions stayed out of the threes for respectable scores of 31 and 33 respectively.
After adding in A N Other and handicap points, the visitors finished on 226.
Visitors Home Guard started well at Avenue with 34 from Gareth Morris and 33s from Lyn Brookes and Tom Morris, before Andy Morris finished with 33 to bring his team’s total to 221 points.
Avenue’s shooters gave them a good run for their money with Alan Crichton shooting a possible, Steve Garlick 34 and James Wilby and Steve Parrack 33 apiece.
In what proved to be a close game, it was the handicap of just two points which gave Avenue a one-point win with 222 points.
There was another close match between hosts Clifford and Binton B in which both teams fired a few loose shots.
Binton’s Chris Green got the best score of the match of 33 and Clifford shooters Matt Carvell and Trevor Morris both shot 32.
At the end it was the two handicap points which secured a win and a place at the top of the table for Binton who prevailed 208-206.
