THE Worcestershire ladies' scratch team retained their Midland League Division Three place for a fifth successive year.

They finished the season with a 3-2 loss at Staffordshire's Ingestre Park.

Jackie Marks won all four games and Denise Codrington, who joined the Malvern Wells club at the end of last summer, made a valuable contribution.

Regulars Grace Bowen, Cath Francis, captain Diane Meakin, Ursula Pearson, Lucy Walton and Pauline Belsham also helped towards the club's survival.

Sue Boardman won the ladies' Past Captains Bowl with 30 stableford points on countback from June Jones.

Penny Stevenson, Betty Hakes and Vanessa Chesterton topped the table in a three-ball alliance with 82 stableford points.

At the senior mixed open the weather was mixed and the course challenging for the four-ball team stableford.

Ninety-six competitors took part with 74 visitors from 20 clubs.

Home players Roger Brierly (8 handicap) and Jill Brierly (22) along with Russell Legg (10) and Tracey Legg (24) from Minchinhampton won with 83 points.

Walmley's Phil Pyke (18), Sally Pyke (21), John Wardle (20) and Anne Wardle (15) were second on 82.

The Worcestershire's Jim Wilde (14), Di Wilde (17), Colin Jones (14) and Jenny Jones (29) finished third with 81.

Naunton Downs players Martin Pegler (14), Andrea Pegler (17), Rory McCubbin (20) and Rowena McCubbin (21) got fourth on countback with 77.

The Carr-Morgan Trophy, a better-ball match-play event between men and ladies, was played in damp and muggy conditions.

The men won the match 3½-2½.