THE Vale started the Worcestershire Handicap Golf League season with a superb 5-1 home victory over Ravenmeadow and Perdiswell Park from Worcester under a cloudless sky.

Each team fielded 12 players to lock horns in a pairs better-ball match-play format.

Colin Salcombe started off in fine form for The Vale, guiding his team to a three-hole lead.

There was a great ebb and flow to many of the matches until the hosts turned the screw at the start of the back nine.

Derek Johnson and Alan Saunders guided The Vale to victory by winning their matches.

The Vale entertain Bewdley Pines in the league on April 29.

The seniors played a three-ball stableford involving 90 players.

Jim Knowles, Brian Summers and David Hudson won with 49 points followed in second on countback by Andy Jinks, Erle Andrews and Bernard Rayner with 47.

In third with 47 were Geoff Brown, Derek Tigwell and Mike Roberts and fourth was secured by Rod Stroud, Peter Morris and Keith Richards with 46.

Eighty-eight The Vale Seniors played a medal and first eclectic of the year.

Division One went to Eric Salter with 73 ahead of Michael Lewis on 74 and Tony Hampson on 75.

David Wareing took Division Two with 72 followed by John Milward and John Nutman on the same score and Andy Struthers on 73.

Geoff Wilson led Division Three with 72 followed by John Whale, Andrew Jinks and John Scott on 75.

Nearest the pin was Ed Mountney.

Four competitive inter-club friendlies have been played by The Vale this year with a victory at home to Hagley and three hard-fought losses at Redditch, Tewkesbury and Evesham.