A LOOK BACK IN TIME - 16.03.2005
The ladies certainly played their part in Warwickshire’s latest fixture in the premier division of the Kaliber BDO Inter Counties Championships away game against Cambridgeshire. Both teams chalked up 4-2 victories with Trina Gulliver (25.28) and Janet Hill (19.03) taking the respective ‘A’ and ‘B’ match awards. For the men however it was a different story. The ’A’ side finished all square at 6-6 after trailing at one stage by 5-3 and could easily have snatched a 7-5 win when in the final game Mark Hollyoake had chances to beat Paul Wenn, but eventually went down 3-2. The ’B’ side were behind from the word “GO” and ended on the wrong side of an 8-4 result, giving a final overall 18-18 draw.
Taking the men’s man of the match awards were Martin Angell (29.00) for the ’A’ and for the ’B’ Prakash Jiwa (27.66).
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Cup semi-finals have been on the fixture card for the Four Oaks and District League, first the Coronation Shield in which the Midland Red had a convincing 11-4 success over the Sportsmans Rest. For the Red’s R.Hawker hit a maximum. The other was slightly closer with Old Oscott Arrows beating Yenton Exiles 9-6.
In the Norman Day Cup semi’s Old Oscott WMC had a good 11-4 win against the Saints. They will now meet Hardy Spicer in the final after they took out the Leopard with a 9-6 result.
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The Brookmeadow Individual League is underway once more and in the first week’s games Robert Earl and John Whitehouse both recorded two 3-0 wins. In his opening fixture Earl with 5x100, 140,123 and a 16 darts leg beat Mark Elkin, the with a further 2x140 and 3x100 defeated Ben Wilkins. Whitehouse meanwhile despite struggling on the high scores still had straight wins over Dave Elkin and Paul Hogan.
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Fordbridge Social were this week’s biggest winners in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League, with a 180 from A.Grainger they won 9-0 at the Hen and Chickens. Saltley Amateur Gardeners were close behind with their 8-1 win at Glebe Community Centre. Castle Vale Residents Association had the better of the scoring with a 180 and nine darts game from G.James, plus a 101 finish by I.Lloyd, however, it was their opponents Highwood who got the close 5-4 verdict.
A twelve darts game from M.Murphy was not enough to save his team, Lea Hall Sports and Social from a 5-4 defeat at the Raven in division one. Stechford Social had an 8-1 win at British Telecom Club. In the second division it was Shard End RBL Flights who hit the big scores in their tie with Yardley Ex Service Colts, R.Cheshire had a 152 break, S.Hunt hit a 180 and I.Beattie recorded a 136 finish. However, it was Yarley who won the match 5-4.
In the quarter-finals of the league’s Punch Bowl P.Brennan (Old Bill and Bull) hit a maximum but it was not enough for his side to avoid a 7-2 home defeat to Castle Vale residents. Three Horse Shoes and Fordbridge Social had in turn had 6-3 wins over Highwood and Saltley Amateur Gardeners. Shard End RBL progressed to the last four with a 5-4 win at the Iron Horse.
Winning through the first round of the Sheldon Shield were Shard End Social, British Telecom Club, Malt Shovel, Yardley Ex Service Colts, Glebe Community Centre, Hen and Chickens, Pavilions and Vaughans.
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The George, leaders of division one of the Harborne and District Winter League, were surprisingly held to a 5-5 draw at the Hillyfields, but nevertheless still hold on to a two points cushion over their nearest rivals Midland Red.
In the second division, Cock Inn, second to Quinborne in the table lost further ground as they lost 6-4 at middle of the table Greenlands.
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Red Arrows continue their impressive form in the Forest of Arden Winter League with a 7-2 home win over Sheldon Ivy Leaf. Farringdon Social hit no fewer than twelve scores of a ton or more in their close 5-4 win over Greville Arrows, but the player with the most tons was Arrows man Chris Busby who hit 4x100, 106, 113, had a 160 break and a nine darts leg.
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The Small Heath League were involved in their Upside Down Cup. Ward End Ex Service Club handed out a 9-0 whitewash to the Victoria Pub, while Gunmakers Arms beat Wagon and Horses 6-3. McVeighs went into the hat for the nest round with a 5-4 verdict over Victoria Flights and Innisfree had a bye.
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I’m sure all darts players will join me in passing on my condolences to Lil Roberts, who recently lost her husband Dennis. Dennis, after a short illness passed away last Thursday. He had been an active member of the Warwickshire County Darts Organisation for 22 years and the men’s team manager for 15. In those 22 years Dennis missed just one game and that was the home game against Staffordshire last month, a truly remarkable record. He was a man of precision and a fantastic statistician, in his office at home he had records of every match Warwickshire had played from the teams selected down to the very last average. He will sadly missed by all who knew him.
The funeral will take place at West Bromwich Crematorium, this coming Tuesday at 10.30am.
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