A West Midlands Round up - By Alan Towe

Warwickshire go into their third of a scheduled eleven fixtures in the Elite Premier Division of the UKDA National League this coming weekend hoping to extend their unbeaten run after wins over Yorkshire and Essex. Game number three is a home tie at the Hen Lane Social Club, 6 Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS where they will take on Cheshire.

Currently Warwickshire, with 51 points, are second in the table just two points behind leaders Lancashire while their opponents are two places off the foot of the table with 31 points after they lost their opening fixture with Lincolnshire and then finished all square with Yorkshire.

Lining up for the hosts will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Gareth Braham, Kevin Dowling, Steve Giddings, Noel Grant, Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Prakash Jiwa, Tom Martin, Ian McFarlane, Ian Shaw, Mark Strong, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Carter, Simon Fairbrother, Carl Green, Dave Hill, Dave Honey, Luke Kennedy, Wayne Mynard, Karl Reynolds, Darren Swords, Martin Tonks, Jack Wareing, Matty Washbrooke, Reserves:- Tom Aldridge, Mark Martin, Will Naylor, Dean Stewart, Mark Tomlinson snr, Women’s ‘A’:- Nina Bolt, Natalie Gilbert, Sue Gulliver, Angela Jones, Tammy Montgomery, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Marian Conway, Melanie Jones, Denise Keyte, Chloe McKivett, Caroline Pike, Reserves:- Lucy Keyte, Rosie O’Connor.

West Midlands did not have a good start to their season in the AON Championship Division of the National League when they suffered a heavy 27-9 defeat away to Gwent however they recovered in the second fixture winning 21-15 at home against Humberside to lift them two places off the foot of the table.

This coming weekend they will travel to take on Dorset who are six points to the good on West Midlands and four places above them in the promotional table.

Selected to play for the Midlanders are, Men’s ‘A’:- Martin Angell, Gavin Baker, Mick Baker, Kevin Bambrick, Shaun Carroll, Scott Hall, Ian Jones, Ash Khayat, John Morris, Adam Teasdale, Darren Williams, Wayne Willis, Men’s ‘B’:- John Brindley, Danny Coyle, Mark Craddock, Luke Griffiths, Mike Hampson, Adam Johnson, Jon Platt, Richard Platt, Neil Pointon, Paul Price, Ian Stanton, Gaz Watts, Reserves:- Matt Dicken, Dean Fullwood, Dave Lucas, Ant Powell, Women’s ‘A’:- Gemma Barrett, Claire Hobbs, Kath Jenkins, Jacqueline Maiden, Kat McLean, Shellbie Simmons, Women’s ‘B’:- Jacqui Simmons, Debbie Davies, Kelly Doleman, Sarah Maybury, Sophie Singh, Crysta Wilcox.

Newcomers to the county scene Black Country have had a brilliant start to their new campaign kicking off with a 22-14 win over Gloucestershire and following that with a 20-16 victory away to Shropshire to put them in pole position in division three of the National League with 48 points. However Black Country have Northumberland breathing down their neck as they too have 48 points and are second purely as a result of their slightly inferior average.

This weekend’s fixture will be the biggest test of the county recruits so far as they will play hosts to their nearest rivals Northumberland, a win would open up a clear-cut lead at the top of the table, a defeat would most certainly see them lose the number one spot they have held since the season began.

Selected to play for the Black Country are, Men’s ‘A’:- Scott Baker, Jamie Barrowman, Trevor Brennan, Reece Colley, Ben Hollowood, Gaz Johnston, Owen Maiden, Dan Nicholls, Martin Price, Shane Price, Rob Smith, Paul Wells, Men’s ‘B’:- Matt Coleman, Tom Bissell, Richard Bowen, Adam Edgar, Chris Hickman, James Hykin, Liam Kelly, Lewis Law, Jamie Rollinson, Mark Rollinson, Shane Sheridan, Mat Tedstone, Women’s ‘A’:- Chez Allcock, Grace Angell, Tammy Chance, Doreen Hunt, Steph Konya, Lynne Reynolds, Women’s ‘B’:- Angie Carroll, Shannon Hall, Lacey Hughes, Sophie Pinches, Stella Sims, Heather Wright.

Boldmere St Mikes held on to their number one spot in division one of the Four Oaks and District League when in game number four they won 5-4 at Golden Hind Lions, but it was a case of having to win the very last leg of the final game before they sealed their win against a team at the foot of the table.

Old Oscott Arrows went down 5-4 at home to Highcroft Social and dropped three places in the table to fifth. Red Lion have replaced Old Oscott Arrows in second place after their 6-3 home win over Walmsley CSC Flights to keep them within two points of the leaders. Erdington Arrows and Highcroft Social are on the same four points as Red Lion trailing only on average, Erdington Arrows beating Pint Pot Flights 5-4.

In the second division, next to bottom Sutton Sharks were 4-1 up against Erdington Flyers but the Flyers rallied and won the match 5-4, winning 3 of the 4 games 2-1. Leaders Heartlands remain undefeated and top the division with a two points lead over both Bishop Vesey and Bills Arrows, both teams winning 7-2 in turn against Charley’s Flights and Rosey Mac’s.

C.Winters (Erdington Arrows), W.Naylor, T.O’Kereke (Golden Hind) and J.Averill (Bills Arrows) all hit a maximum this week.

Full Results:

Game 4:Division One:- Oscott Social Club 5 (A.Whitehouse 110b,140,2x100, D.Shannon 125) Golden Hind 4 (A.Kimberley 135,100, W.Naylor 112b,152b,180,100, B.Stephens 140, D.Pickering 100, F.Naylor 4x100,106, T.O’Kereke 180), Golden Hind Lions 4 (J.Mahon 120,140,130f, M.Deathridge 100b, M.Pearce 140,100, R.Hasluck 100f) Boldmere St Mikes 5 (C.Millward jnr 3x100,123,129f, R.Johnson 100, M.Ashton 100, B.Linnecor 100,134, M.Wild 100, J.Liggins 107b), Erdington Arrows 5 (J.J.Armstrong 100b,2x100, K.Smith 100b,140,135, C.Winters 125,2x100,180, J.West 100) Pint Pot Flights 4 (J.Moon 100, N.Bruton 120,100, L.Lemathy 120b,110, M.Pearson Bagnall 3x100,125, Martin Phillips 100), Red Lion 6 (M.Corfield 121, D.Vickers 100,105, B.Hughes 3x100, B.Lysaght 100,140, J.Collins 101, I.Matthews 109b, L.Vickers 125) Walmley CSC Flights 3 (R.Smith 114,2x100,125, W.Cadby 100,135, S.Wilson 4x100, R.Kavanagh 112b, G.Gaughan 100, J.Kavanagh 100), Old Oscott Arrows 4 (A.Lea 100,2x121, B.Hoare 110, D.Page 2x140,2x100) Highcroft Social 5 (D.Giblin 130, T.Pallett 100, K.Shorthouse 100, S.Pritchett 112b,107,125), Division Two:- Charley’s Flights 2 (J.Burdett 3x100, P.Nicholls 140, T.Hines 122,100, R.Franks 130b,100b,100) Bishop Vesey 7 (N.Sammons 100, T.Rubery 137,100, C.Sammons.101b,136,103b,100,125, D.Walton 140, N.Smallwood 103b,2x100,121f), Sutton Sharks 4 (C.Gardener 140,100, A.Jarvis 138, J.McKeever 2x100, J.Boden 120b,100, C.Baldwin 120b, D.Gardener 156) Erdington Flyers 5 (M.Yate 104, H.Sadler 2x100, L.Cooksey 100), St Thomas Arrows 1 (G.Lynch 132, P.Andrews 121, G.Stait 100b, C.Connelley 2x100) Plough and Arrows 8 (S.Johnson 100b,138, D.Hughes 2x100, A.Humphriss 112b,112, Roxy Bennett 125, N.Gilbert 109,140,100), Heartlands 6 (G.McCormack 100, J.Rogers 140,116f) Deers Leap 3 (T.Ross 120b,110b,100, T.Pedley 120b, James Sabin 100, Jamie Sabin 120b,2x100,120, S.Kelly 101, T.Kelly 100b), Rosey Mac’s 2 (N.Bradley 3x100, J.Cox snr 125, S.Wright 100) Bills Arrows 7 (J.Averill 180, M.Cooper 140,2x100, M.Clark 100, D.Bond 120b,121,2x100).

It was cup week this week in the Shirley and District Monday Night League and in the quarter-finals of the Main Cup division one leaders Dunky’s Boys beat bottom of the division Cider House 8-1the same margin by which second division leaders Highwood won by against division one side Saracens Swords.

Other teams to win through to the semis were Tippetts Bar and Wythall Legion.

In the last eight games in the Consolation Cup there were wins for Sharmans Cross, Solihull Municipal, HSCC and Lodge who beat respective opponents Saracens Slingers, Legion Royals, Saracens Misfits and Wharf.

Full Results:Main Cup:Quarter-Finals:- Dunky’s Boys 8 Cider House 1, Tippets Bar 6 (J.Buckingham 120f) Bears 3, Wythall Legion 6 Vikings 3, Highwood 8 v Saracens Swords 1, Consolidation Cup:Quarter-Finals:- Sharmans Cross 8 Saracens Slingers 1, Legion Royals 3 Solihull Municipal 6, Saracens Misfits 4 HSCC 5 (L.Round 16 darts game), Lodge 5 (P.Sinnett 180) Wharf 4 (S.Hicks 112f).

The Camp Hill League fixtures produced a top of the table clash in game number nine as leaders Aston Inn Nomads hosted second in the table Sheldon Marlborough. The result was a very close 4-3 win for Aston Inn Nomads to take their unbeaten run to eight games giving them a two points lead plus a game in hand on their nearest rivals New Inn Lions who take over second spot from Sheldon Marlborough who drop one place to third, two points adrift of New Inn after they won 6-1 against Meadway Social.

Full Results:Game 9:- Aston Inn Nomads 4 Sheldon Marlborough 3, New Inn 6 Meadway Social 1, Tyseley Newbies 7 Moseley Arms 0, Roost Rebels 6 Tyseley WMC 1, Sedgemere Devils v Peaky Blinder cancelled due to illness.

Copper Fox had a comfortable 7-2 win away over Weoley Castle Pub in the Harborne and District League to keep them top of the table. However they only lead on average from Bugle Horn whose surprisingly close 5-4 home success over bottom placed Avenue Social puts them level on ten points with Copper Fox with a game in hand. Bugle Horn are the only team in the league with an undefeated record.

Cock Inn moved up two places in the table to fourth following their 8-1 win against Quinton RBL, they are on the same eight points as Northfield Conservative Club and Northfield Town who are respectively placed third and fifth in the table.

Full Results:Game 6:- Northfield Town 5 Northfield Conservative Club 4, Weoley Castle Pub 2 Copper Fox 7, Bugle Horn 5 Avenue Social 4, Smethwick Cricket Club 8 The Monarch 1, Cock Inn 8 Quinton RBL 1, Weoley Castle WMC had a bye.

The Vine were held to a rather close 4-3 win in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League playing away to next to bottom of the table Albion and as a result now have to share the top spot with Waggon and Horses whose 6-1 win against Miners Arms puts them level on points and average with Vine.

Third placed Dewdrop were the week’s biggest winners as they handed their visitors, bottom of the league Tamebridge, a 7-0 whitewash to put them on the same 14 points as the two teams above them.

Full Results:Game 8:- Hayes Social 4 Horseley Tavern 3, Albion 3 The Vine 4, Waggon and Horses 6 Miners Arms 1, Dewdrop 7 Tamebridge 0.

Despite winning 3-2 away to High Acres ‘A’ in the Black Country Super League, Railway Tavern have lost their joint position in the league and are now placed second, two points adrift of outright leaders Yeltz Bar ‘A’ who had a straight 5-0 home win over High Acres ‘B’.

Third in the league Allens Bar ‘C’ won their home tie with Yeltz Bar ‘B’ 4-1 to leave them five points off the top of the table.

At the other end of the league table there was a first win in ten for bottom placed Rowley Bar and Grill who beat the team directly above them Horse and Jockey, 3-2. Despite the win Rowley remain rooted at the foot of the table still five points behind their opponents who also have a game in hand.

Full Results:Week 10:- Allens Bar ‘A’ 4 Allens Bar ‘B’ 1 (Gaz Johnston 4 Sean Bastable 1, Justin Evans 4 Tim Baker 1, Scott Hall 0 Chris Hickman 4, Nick Fullwell 4 David Martin 0, Shane Price 4 Paul Harrison 2), Rowley Bar and Grill 3 Horse and Jockey 2 (Bobby Radcliffe 0 Ben Hollowood 4, Dean Yeomans 4 Jason Gennard 1, Richard Lenton 4 Alex Howells 3, Connor Chandler-Allen 2 Martin Price 4, Phil O'Brien 4 Shaun Hartopp 0), Allens Bar ‘C’ 4 Yeltz Bar ‘B’ 1 (Colin Wood 4 Mart Greenwood 2, Mark Maiden 4 David Arnold 0, Owen Maiden 4 Matt Moore 0, Matt Coleman 0 Trevor Brennan 4, Jamie Hughes 4 Jordan Ward 0), Yeltz Bar ‘A’ 5 High Acres ‘B’ 0 (Dan Nicholls 4 Kevin Harris 2, Steve Gillam 4 Rob Harris 0, Rob Smith 4 Iain Mathers 0, Paul Wells 4 Lewis Law 1, Jason Lowe 4 Ben Watts 2), Old Hill Cricket Club 3 White Swan 2 (Chris Hall 4 Richard Duncan 1, Tommy Johnson 3 James Hykin 4, Dan Homer 3 Neil Steventon 4, Dan Haden 4 Mat Tedstone 3, Shaun Hill 4 Lewis Bowen 0), High Acres ‘A’ 2 Railway Tavern 3 (Gav Moreton 2 Reece Colley 4, Martyn Harper 2 Liam Kelly 4, Jamie Barrowman 4 Jamie Rollinson 1, Comp Cartwright 4 Mark Rollinson 3, Rich Bowen 3 Tommy Bissell 4).

Week three in the Stourbridge Monday Night League and Glasscutters ‘A’ hold on to the number one spot, handing out a crushing 7-0 defeat to Crestwood. Second placed Seven Stars had a bye and drop one place to third behind Ten Arches. Who like the leaders have won their opening three games, the latest of which saw them beat Glasscutters ‘B’ 6-1.

In addition to the top three teams having won all of their games so have fifth and sixth placed Lion and Quarry Bank Liberal Club who played each other this week but no result has been received as yet, both teams have games in hand on the top two teams.

Full Results:Game 3:- Glasscutters ‘A’ 7 Crestwood 0, Fox Inn (Lye) 2 Church Tavern 5, Hare and Hounds ‘A’ 2 Bird in Hand 5, Ten Arches 6 Glasscutters ‘B’ 1, Woodman 4 Britannia 3 (K.Forrest 138f), Rose and Crown 1 Gate Hangs Well 6, Lion (Stourbridge) v Quarry Bank Liberal Club – no result, Seven Stars had a bye.

Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club have opened up a three points lead at the top of the Netherton Thursday Night League for two reasons. Firstly, and importantly they won 7-2 at home against Old Hill Cricket Club, the score a little flattering for the hosts. Nevertheless it was a win, whilst their nearest rivals Townsend Social Club were losing 7-2 away to Fairfield. Townsend have taken over their opponents fourth place in the table while Fairfield move up one place to third behind Bulls Head. Bulls Head have also moved up one place after their 5-4 win against next to bottom Netherton Sports and Social Club.

Full Results:Game 7:- Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club 7 Old Hill Cricket Club 2, Bulls Head 5 Netherton Sports and Social Club 4, Fairfield 7 Townsend Social Club 2, Spring Meadow 6 Netherton Conservative Club 3.

Week eight in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League saw no change whatsoever in the top six places in the table as leaders Old Bulls Head were 6-3 winners away to Red Cow and second in the table New Inn, who are two points behind the leaders, had a convincing 8-1 win at Chainyard. Third and fourth placed Gornal Labour Club and Seven Stars are both four points off the top and in turn won 7-2 against Jolly Crispin and Pensnett Liberal Club. Jolly Crispin and Chainyard make up the top six and are both on eight points.

Full Results:Game 8:- Chainyard 1 New Inn 8, Gornal Labour Club 7 Jolly Crispin 2, Five Ways 6 Meadow Lark 3, Seven Stars 7 Pensnett Liberal Club 2, Griffin 4 Lamp Tavern 5, Red Cow 3 Old Bulls Head 6.

A 5-2 home win over Ten Arches ‘B’ keeps Bird ‘E’ top of the pile in the Stourbridge Wednesday Night League, two points better off than their ‘A’ team and Glasscutters ‘A’. Bird ‘A’ suffered their first defeat in three, a 4-3 loss away to Glasscutters ‘A’ who are two points behind leaders Bird ‘E’ but with a game in hand.

Full Results:Game 3:- Bird ‘E’ 5 Ten Arches ‘B’ 2 (D.Simpson 152b), Glasscutters ‘A’ 4 Bird ‘A’ 3, Raven 5 (T.Stockton 157b) Glasscutters ‘B’ 2, Ashwood 2 Fox Inn (Lye) 5, Ten Arches ‘A’ had a bye.

Steve Jones, leader of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League didn’t play in week 28 but holds on to pole position with 197 points, second placed Steve Lynch unable to close the gap as he lost 5-3 to fifth placed Martin Price and remains five points behind Jones.

Shane Price moves up from seventh to third on 186 points after he added an 8-0 win over Sarah Parker and a 4-4 draw with Jamie Webb to his account, Webb dropping to fourth with 182 points.

Neil Wild had a 6-2 win over Kris Jones to see him move up three places to sixth. After completing 23 games, Neil is the only player in the 29 player league not to have lost a game. With 17 wins and 6 draws he has amassed 178 points.

Full Results:Week 28:- Neil Wild 6 Kris Jones 2, Steve Lynch 3 Martin Price 5, Jamie Aplin 1 Luke Wildman 7, Sarah Parker 0 Shane Price 8, Eddie Gripton 2 Lee Quarry 6, Sophie Fawcett 1 Simon Pritchard 7, Simon Mountford 5 Billy Robbins 3, Reece Cook-Lucas 7 Joe Bartolo 1, Tom Hollowood 5 Lee Quarry 3, Billy Robbins 4 Jon Blakemore 4, Shane Price 4 Jamie Webb 4, Michele Pritchard 6 Sarah Parker 2.

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