A LOOK BACK IN TIME - ALAN TOWE 04.12.2002
A tremendous 160 finish from Dave Hutchings and a 6-3 home win over Three Horse Shoes leaves Highwood Arrows as the only unbeaten team in the Forest of Arden Winter League. Arrows local rivals Highwood lost their 100% record when they went down 5-4 in a top of the table clash with Hobs Meadow. Arrows are now top on 10 points with Hobs Meadow, Highwood and Glades all just two points behind. Glades bounced back from their 7-2 reversal against Harvester with a win by the same margin over Old Bill and Bull. John Taylor (Mackadown Social) had a 160 break as his side lost 5-4 to Hobs Meadow Mixes.
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There was also good news for Hobs Meadow in the Sheldon and District Winter, their 5-4 win at the Hen and Chickens was their first victory since gaining promotion to the premier division. Three Horse Shoes, with a 180 from D.Young, were the division’s top scorers as the accounted for the Raven with an 8-1 verdict.
Saltley Gardeners A. Caddick hit a maximum, while in division one R.Duncan recorded a similar feat for the Horse Shoes.
Progressing to the first round proper of the league cup in the premier were Fordbridge Social, St Annes (C.Henn 180), Hen and Chickens (C.Thomas 180) and Castle Vale Residents Association. In division one Solihull Borough F.C, Pavilions, EBAHA and the Horse Shoes and in the second division, Sheldon Shoes, Sheldon and Marlboro Club, Journeys End and Lea Hall Sports and Social (M.Murphy 180).
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Andy Hanslow is setting the pace in the Belgrave Social Individual League, his two maximums and 3-0 win over Malcolm Meakin giving him a total of 29 points from his opening six games and in those six fixtures Andy has dropped just one leg. Two other players, Mark Hollyoake and Colin Farrington have also won all six games and trail by two and four points respectively. Mark Slater (4) and Martin Brown (3) are the only other players to have won all their games so far.
Players to find the three treble twenties this week are Malcolm Meakin, Steve Hawkes, Gary Mills, Mick Bagley, Mark Hollyoake, Derek Fardon, Keith Haddon, Derek Mountjoy and Martin Brown.
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The Bell lost their advantage and 100% record in division one of the Harborne and District Winter League this week when they lost their home tie with the George 5-4. One shining light for the hosts was the 167 checkout by M.James As a result of their defeat Bell have dropped to second spot behind Midland Red who beat Bartley Green Social Club 5-4, G.Smith hitting a maximum for the Red’s.
Hillyfields maintained their two points cushion in the second division with an emphatic 8-1 win at Bartley Green Social Flights. Punchbowl’s R.Mann had a 160 break, but his team lost 5-4 to Smethwick Labour Club.
It’s neck and neck in division three with Travellers Rest and Cock Inn locked together on ten points and exactly the same average. Both teams chalked up 7-2 wins, Rest beating Highlander Flights and the Cock taking out the Stump.
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After the first three fixtures Heartlands head the Small Heath Winter League with six points after a 7-2 win at the Brewer and Baker. Custard House are second, level on points but with a slightly inferior average, they beat Gable Tavern 6-3. Gunmakers recorded their first win of the campaign when they won 8-1 at the Black Horse.
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With only a handful of games remaining in the Longwood League the fight for the title is hotting up as only four points separate the top four teams. Red Lion ‘A’ are top on 34 points from 22 games, after dropping a point in their 4-4 draw with White Lion. Dolphin are second on 33, Queens Head third with 32, but both teams have played 23 games. Fourth placed White Lion, despite having only 30 points have a game in hand on the two teams above them.
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West Midlands will be taking on Shropshire at Gilberts, Willenhall this coming weekend in the latest of their division four fixtures in the BDO Inter Counties Championship. Selected to play are, Men’s ‘A’:- I.Jones, I.Hartland, C.Hickman,
S.James, G.Taylor, A.Singh, C.Davies, M.Tibbetts, D.Williams, S.Brindley, R.Foster, Men’s ‘B’:- D.Evans, J.Poutney, J.Parsons, M.Field, F.Johnson, P.Johnson, Paddy Johnson, V.Gould, J.Biggs, A.Cockayne, A.Hammerlsey, Wmen’s ‘A:- A.Perry, J.Hubbard, R.Mycock, C.Hobbs, C.Downing, K.Jenkins, Women’s ‘B’:- J.Tibbetts, S.Jukes, T.Johnston, T.Johnson, G.Cook, S.Smith.
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Top played bottom in the West Midlands Men’s Super League, Warley taking on Penkridge, the result a convincing 8-1 result to Warley.Tipton, currently in mid table have only played three games compared with Warley’s six, but are steadily climbing the table, their latest 7-2 win at Chadsmoor helping their cause.
In the ladies league Wolverhampton beat Great Wyrley 4-1, which puts them in pole position with a four points advantage over the chasing pack.
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Cup semi finals have been on the agenda for the Aston League. First the K.O. Cup which saw Heartlands beat Kings Ex Service 7-2 and Hardy Spicers, despite a 180 and eight darts leg from C.Betteridge, plus a maximum from B.Clarke lose 6-3 to K.C.A.
Yew Tree and Aston Social will meet in the final of the Aristocrat Cup following their respective 6-3 and 7-2 wins against Brookvale Sinners and Highcroft. R.Kenyon hit a maximum for Old Oscott WMC as they beat Tennis Courts 8-1 in the P.West Trophy and joining them in the final will be the Mitre who took out King Edward with a 7-2 result.
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