A West Midlands Round Up By Alan Towe
This coming weekend at the Hen Lane Club, Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS Warwickshire will be taking on Hampshire in what will be the ninth of a scheduled eleven fixtures in the Elite Premier Division of the UKDA National League.
After chalking up six consecutive wins Warwickshire suffered a narrow 19-17 defeat away to league leaders Lancashire in the last outing but will be hoping to return to winning ways in this their eighth game of the season so far.
Prior to the encounter Warwickshire hold on to their third place in the table with a game in hand on first and second placed Lancashire and Yorkshire, they are 32 points short of the former but only nine behind the latter. Hampshire who have played one game more than their hosts, are eighth in the table and 18 points behind them.
Selected to play for Warwickshire are Men’s ‘A’:- Gareth Braham, Kevin Dowling, Steve Giddings, Noel Grant, Steve Hine, Prakash Jiwa, Tom Martin, Ian McFarlane, Wayne Mynard, Ian Shaw, Jack Wareing, Matty Washbrooke, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Carter, Adam Hancock, Dave Hill, Dave Honey, Scott Hope, Mark Martin, Lee Miller, Will Naylor, Karl Reynolds, Mark Strong, Mark Tomlinson snr, Martin Tonks, Reserves:- Jamie Atkins, Carl Green, Darren Swords, Carl Winters, Women’s ‘A’:- Natalie Gilbert, Sue Gulliver, Angela Jones, Chloe McKivett, Tammy Montgomery, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Nina Bolt, Marian Conway, Melanie Jones, Denise Keyte, Caroline Pike, Reserves:- Lucy Keyte, Sue Maclennan.
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In the AON Championships division of the UKDA National League West Midlands will play away against Berkshire this weekend, they are three places above them and have 21 more points than the Midlanders.
West Midlands have not enjoyed the best of seasons so far with only one win, one draw and six defeats leaving them in the relegation zone, next to bottom of the table with 123 points, Oxfordshire are bottom with 111 points and Cambridgeshire just above them on 130 points but both teams have a game in hand on West Midlands and with games now fast running out, just three of the scheduled eleven remaining, the future does not look good with division one beckoning next season
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Black Country go into their final fixture in the Darts for Windows Division Three of the UKDA National League with a ten points lead over second placed and fellow county newcomers Salopian. This weekend they will travel to take on Pembrokeshire who are currently next to bottom of the division but are in a false position as they have two games in hand on the majority of teams above them. Nevertheless with six wins and one draw Black Country have to be firm favourites to finish not only on a high with their seventh win but also to end their inaugural season as champions.
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Congratulations to Boldmere St Mikes, a 7-2 home win over next to bottom of the table Oscott Social Club has seen them confirmed as division one champions of the Four Oaks and District League. Boldmere’s win plus the fact that their nearest rivals Erdington Arrows after being 3-2 up against Old Oscott Arrows lost the next three games and the match 5-4 leaving them four points behind Boldmere and although there are still two games to play they have a huge average deficiency. Nevertheless Erdington Arrows wil finish the season as runners-up as they have an eight points buffer over third in the division Red Lion who won 5-4 at Highcroft Social.
With two fixtures remaining the title is still to play for in division two as current leaders Heartlands added a 6-3 win at Bills Arrows to their tally to put them on 28 points, two more than second placed Bishop Vesey who had a close 5-4 success over Charley’s Flights.
S.Wilson (Walmley CSC Flights) recorded this week’s only maximum in a 14 dart doubles game of 501 with K.Green.
Full Results:Game 16:Division One:- Golden Hind Lions 6 (A.Day 105b,125,114, N.Goldie 2x100,125, M.Pearce 120b,132,140, M.Deathridge 2x140,100) Pint Pot Flights 3 (P.Smith 118b,140, N.Robbins 113b, P.Southall 100, M.Pearson Bagnall 105b,3x100,116), Walmley CSC Flights 6 (S.Wilson 2x100b,2x100,180,101b,14 darts game. A.Cooksey 125, T.Evans 100, G.Gaughan 100,125, P.Moran 100, R.Smith 125, K.Green 2x125,140,14 darts game) Golden Hind 3 (A.Kimberley 120b,125,100, W.Naylor 2x112b,3x100,136, R.Hiett 100, B.Stephens 100,134), Boldmere St Mikes 7 (B.Linnecor 131,121, C.Millward jnr 140,100, C.Millward snr 138,115f, M.Ashton 100b,3x100, M.Wild 2x100,121, D.Jarvis jnr 121) Oscott Social Club 2 (P.Graham 2x100,140, T.Whyley 100,140, A.Whitehouse 100, I.Lloyd 100,140), Old Oscott Arrows 5 (L.Jones 134b,100, P.Locke 2x120b,2x140,100b, M.Maher 100,121, D.Page 2x100,121, D.Parsons 140, A.Lea 123) Erdington Arrows 4 (J.J.Armstrong 125, C.Martin 122, C.Winters 123,177,120,140,100, T.Colley 120b,140, D.Rawlings 108, S.Winters 160b, K.Smith 100), Highcroft Social 4 (T.Pallett 3x100,140, K.Neale 100, K.Shorthouse 105b,160b,140,103b,125,177) Red Lion 5 (T.Vickers 100, B.Lysaght 100b,2x100, M.Corfield 140, I.Matthews 133, M.Gaughan 100,101, Sam Gaughan 108, R.Lowe 100b,2x100, D.Vickers 149b,2x100,9 darts game), Division Two:- Sutton Sharks 4 (C.Gardener 100, J.Boden 101b,2x100, J.McKeever 140, C.Baldwin 2x100,140,108) Plough and Arrows 5 (A.Humphriss 112b, D.Hughes 120b, M.Willetts 3x100, R.Davies 121, A.Gough 100b,2x100), Deers Leap 4 (Jamie Sabin 140, T.Ross 100, T.Pedley 120b, R.Batham 4x100, T.Kelly 121) Bishop Vesey 5 (N.Smallwood 100, C.Sammons 140,126,114b, S.Abbott 101b,100,120b,102, N.Sammons 125,100), Erdington Flyers 4 (M.Yate 100,140, K.Tooze 125, L.Cooksey 100, A.Linehan 140,2x100) Charley’s Flights 5 (P.Nicholls 152b,2x100,121, T.Hines 100, J.Burdett 118,3x100,140,8 darts game. J.Morahan 100,115, R.Franks 100, A.Barber 120b,100, R.Barritt 130b,140), Rosey Mac’s 5 (N.Bradley 137,138, J.Cox snr 134, A.Poole 100) St Thomas Arrows 4 (R.Nelson 3x100, D.Wakelam 100, P.Andrews 116, M.Andrews 100), Bills Arrows 3 (G.Averill 105b,100, R.McLaughlin 100,125, M.O’Gara 109b, D.Bond 120b,140) Heartlands 6 (Jim Frost 100b,105,140, S.Cain 140,135, Matthew Cain 140,121).
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The Sheldon and District Winter League staged the quarter-finals of their Punchbowl in which premier division teams Dunky’s Boys and Langley Arrows were both taken to a deciding leg by respective opponents Yardley Ex Colts from division one and Iron Horse Flights (premier division).
In the local derby between Sheldon Marlborough Ridge and Sheldon Marlborough Arrows it was Arrows who got the 6-1 verdict while in the all division two encounter Willclare Sports and Social won by the same 6-1 margin against Journeys End.
Full Results:Punchbowl:Quarter-Finals:- Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 1 (Phil Henderson 180, Len Carter 180) Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 6, Dunky’s Boys 4 Yardley Ex Colts 3, Journeys End 1 Willclare Sports and Social 6, Iron Horse Flights 3 Langley Arrows 4.
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Just three rearranged results from the Camp Hill League, the most important of which was the 5-2 win by Sheldon Marlborough Flights at New Inn Lions as the victory saw Sheldon take over from Aston Inn Nomads at the top of the table. Sheldon and Aston are both on the same 28 points with just one fixture to play, the former having the far superior average to make them odds on favourites to win the title.
In the other games Tyseley WMC won 5-2 at Moseley Arms and Wooden Spoon winners Sedgemere Devils were awarded a 7-0 walkover in their fixture with Roost Rebels.
Meadway Social are the Shadow League champions with Tyseley WMC finishing second.
The league are now looking for teams to join them in the forthcoming season, a meeting will be held at the Moseley Arms, 105 Ravenhurst Street, Birmingham, B12 0HB on Sunday 10th April at 11.00am. Anyone interested in entering a team should be represented at this meeting.
Full Results:Rearranged Fixtures:- Moseley Arms 2 Tyseley WMC 5, Sedgemere Devils 7 Roost Rebels 0 (walkover), New Inn Lions 2 Sheldon Marlborough Flights 5.
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After only the first two fixtures have been completed in the Shirley and District Monday Night League just two of the starting line-up of nine teams for division one remain unbeaten. An 8-1 win at the Lodge has seen Tippetts Bar take over from Dunky’s Boys at the top of the table, Dunky’s winning 6-3 at Lions.
After the top two there is a quartet of teams Cider House, Lins, Lodge and Solihull Municipal all on two points and two short of the leading duo.
A 5-4 win at Highwood has seen Saracens Misfits replace their hosts in pole position in division two and become the only team in a division of eight not to have lost so far. Highwood are on the same two points as Yardley Wood Social, Vikings, Sharmans Cross, HSCC and Legion Royals but are second with the better average.
Full Results:Week 2:Division One:- Wythall Legion 4 Cider House 5 (D.Palmer 120b), Lions 3 Dunky’s Boys 6 (S.Edwards 180, B.Nixon 180, J.Jennings 180, 11 darts game), Lodge 1 Tippetts Bar 8 (P.Millmore 180, D.Rycroft 152b), Solihull Municipal 5 (W.Clarke 180, 17 darts game) Wharf 4, Saracens Swords had a bye, Division Two:- Highwood 4 Saracens Misfits 5, Yardley Wood Social 6 Vikings 3, Saracens Slingers 4 (J.Ballad 101f) Legion Royals 5, HSCC 5 (R.Allcott 180) Sharmans Cross 4.
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The Kings Norton League had round two of its League Cup on the fixture card and saw the league’s top two teams Copper Fox and E57 both scrape through to the next round with close 4-3 wins over respective opponents Toby Jug and Bournebrook. Cock Inn and Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club moved into the next round with a bye.
The Consolation Cup produced a local derby between Rubery Social and Rubery Legion with the latter getting a comprehensive 6-1 win. Northfield won their tie with Kings Heath 4-3 while Thurlestone and Grant Arms had a bye.
Full Results:League Cup:Round Two:- Copper Fox 4 (G.Dews 121, D.McConomy 125,100, T.Hamilton 2x100, C.Whitehouse 105,134,140, D.Marsh 125,180, J.Hykin 100,125, R.Mann 100) Toby Jug 3 (A.Ward 2x100, R.Packer 100, A.Phillips 115,123,180, B.Heath 3x100,125,140, M.Mooney 100,116,121, A.Aindow 2x100,156), E57 4 (N.Porter 4x100,120, D.Logan 123,125, A.Mutch 100, J.Calt 2x100, T.Roberts 4x100, S.Nolan 3x100) Bournebrook 3 (K.Mason 100,2x140, T.Cullen 100,125,140, T.Jeffs 118, M.Bathurst 2x100, R.Orton 100), Cock Inn and Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club had a bye, Consolation Cup:- Rubery Social 1 (J.Steward 3x100, L.Pearce 3x100, M.Malone 126, G.Bailles 120, M.Ferriday 140, A.Bailes 120) Rubery Legion 6 (R.Higgins 100,121, J.O'Neill 3x100,140, J.Ford 123,125, A.Faulkner 100, J.Higgins 3x100, J.Grainger 2x100, M.Cormell 100), Kings Heath 3 (D.Parish 2x100, R.Hitchmough 2x100,122, J.Wiliams 100) Northfield 4 (L.Allen 4x100, M.Lloyd 3x100, H.Taylor 100, J.Taylor 100, S.Denton 140), Thurlestone and Grant Arms had a bye.
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With leaders of the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League White Horse having a bye second placed Cross (Oldswinford) took full advantage to draw level on 26 points with them as they won 5-2 playing away against fourth in the league Bell ‘A’. Although the top two teams are level on points White Horse now have a game in hand.
The week’s fixtures produced a bottom of the table clash as next to bottom Fox Inn (Lye) hosted bottom team Crestwood. The result was a 5-2 win for Fox to see them move up two places and away from the foot of the table.
Full Results:Game 17:- Bell ‘A’ 2 Cross (Oldswinford) 5, Woodman 6 Bell ‘B’ 1, Ten Arches 3 Gate Hangs Well 4 (A.Poole 122b), Fox Inn (Lye) 5 Crestwood 2, Rose and Crown 4 Bird in Hand 3, Chucrh Tavern, Seven Stars and White Horse all had a bye.
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Leaders of the Netherton Thursday Night League Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club had their fixture with Netherton Conservative Club postponed and with a 6-3 win over Netherton Sports and Social Club, Townsend Social Club have gone level on 51 points with the Ex Serviceman’s Club but they have played two more games than their rivals who hang on to pole position on average.
Third in the league Bulls Head lost ground after suffering a shock 5-4 home defeat by Spring Meadow Social Club who are next to bottom of the table. Bulls Head are now 12 points short of the two teams above them.
Full Results:Game 22:- Townsend Social Club 6 Netherton Sports and Social 3, Clock 7 Old Hill Cricket Club 2, Bulls Head 4 Spring Meadow Social Club 5, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club v Netherton Conservative Club was postponed.
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With six wins in as many games Talbot top the Brierley Hill Monday Night League their latest fixture seeing them win 5-4 at Shr4ewsbury Arms giving them a two points lead over second and third in the table Rose and Crown and Dudley Sports ‘A’ after the former won 7-2 away to bottom of the table Tommy Turners and the latter beat Wombourne Pool Bar 5-4.
Full Results:Game 6:- Shrewsbury Arms 4 Talbot 5, Brickmakers Arms 9 Dudley Sports ‘B’ 0, King William 2 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 7, Union 6 Pensnett Liberal Club 3, Tommy Turners 2 Rose and Crown 7, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 9 Black Horse 0, Dudley Sports ‘A’ 5 Wombourne Pool Bar 4, Bridge 5 Roebuck 4.
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Very little change at the top of the Rowley Monday Night League as all of the top six teams won in week seven. Bell remain in pole after a 7-2 home win over Windmills End, Plough and Harrow hold on to the number two spot with a 6-3 home win over Roost but despite winning 6-3 against Spring Meadow Romsley Cricket Club lose third place on average to Gate Hangs Well who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Three Diamonds, Whiteheath Tavern stay fifth with a 7-2 win against Hare and Hounds and Cradley Sports and Social sixth following their close 5-4 success at Wonder. Bell are on maximum 14 points, Plough, Gate and Romsley all have 12 points, Whiteheath and Cradley are both on 10 points.
Full Results:Week 7:- White Heath Tavern 7 Hare and Hounds 2, Bell 7 Windmills End 2, Loyal Lodge 6 Ex Serviceman’s 3, Wonder 4 Cradley Sports and Social Club 5, Plough and Harrow 6 Roost 3, Romsley Cricket Club 6 Spring Meadow 3, Tividale FC 2 White Swan 7, Three Diamonds 0 Gate Hangs Well 9.
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Waggon and Horses with 160 breaks from M.Bowen and D.Bull had a 4-3 home win over third in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League Horseley Tavern to see them replace Dewdrop ‘A’ at the top of the table. Dewdrop ‘A’ are level on ten points with Waggon and trail by just one leg of average after both teams have completed five games.
Dewdrop ‘B’ move into the number three position following their convincing 6-1 win over Miners Arms ‘A’ and are just two points behind the top two teams.
Full Results:Game 6:- Dewdrop ‘B’ 6 Miners Arms ‘A’ 1, Miners Arms ‘B’ 2 Vine ‘A’ 5 (M.Ashton 151f), Vine ‘B’ 6 Tamebridge 1, Waggon and Horses 4 M.Bowen 160b, D.Bull 160b) Horseley Tavern 3, Albion 4 Sow and Pigs 3, Dewdrop ‘A’ had a bye.
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Just two rearranged fixtures played in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League which saw White Horse win 5-2 against Bell ‘B’ to move to the top of the table level on 22 points with former leaders Bird in Hand ‘E’ who have played two more games than White Horse and are now placed second on average.
In the other game played Bell ‘A’ beat Ashwood 4-3 to move up one place to third, two points behind the top two.
Full Results:Rearranged Fixtures:- White Horse 5 Bell ‘B’ 2, Bell ‘A’ 4 Ashwood 3.
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A 7-2 home win over Red Cow has seen Old Bulls Head get one hand on the champions silverware in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League as with just three games to play they have a six points advantage over second in the league New Inn who were 8-1 winners against Chainyard. Third in the table Gornal Labour Club are on 30 points two fewer than New Inn after they won 5-4 at Jolly Crispin.
Full Results:Game 19:- Meadow Lark 3 Five Ways 6, Pensnett Liberal Club 1 Seven Stars 8, Jolly Crispin 4 Gornal Labour Club 5, Lamp Tavern 5 Griffin 4, Old Bulls Head 7 Red Cow 2, New Inn 8 Chainyard 1.
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Shane Price began week four of the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League with a 6-2 win over Paul Harrison and was then held to a 4-4 draw by Benjamin Hollowood but it was enough to see him take his points tally to 80 and lead the field of thirty players. Nick Fullwell is second in the league, he had a very successful night adding 8-0 wins over Stella Sims, Kieron Ford and Paul Dicken and a 7-1 success over Steven Gillam moved to move within three points of leader Price with a game in hand.
Full Results:Week 4:- Nick Fullwell 8 Stella Sims 0, Jason Lowe 7 Benjamin Hollowood 1, Nick Fullwell 7 Steven Gillam 1, Shane Passey 5 Heather Wright 3, Gareth Johnston 8 Alex Mason 0, Benjamin Hollowood 6 Paul Dicken 2, Nick Fullwell 8 Kieron Ford 0, Shane Price 6 Paul Harrison 2, Shane Passey 4 Lewis Handley 4, Jason Lowe 8 Heather Wright 0, Steven Gillam 8 Alex Mason 0, Nick Fullwell 8 Paul Dicken 0, Lewis Handley 6 Paul Harison 2, Gareth Johnston 4 Graham Hall 4, Benjamin Hollowood 4 Shane Price 4, Kieron Ford 5 Stella Sims 3.
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Jon Blakemore played just one game in week six of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League but his 8-0 victory over Dan Bridgwood was enough to keep him in pole position with 54 points from six games. As a result of a 5-3 win over Riley Ward followed by a 7-1 win against Eddie Gripton, Mal Pugh moved up two places in the table to second with 52 points from seven games.
Third place belongs to Simon Pritchard, Simon moving up from fifth position after he won 8-0 against Sandra Beardsmore to give him 46 points from six games.
Full Results: Game 6:- Gemma Barrett-Jenkins 5 Dan Bridgwood 3, Jamie Aplin 2 Adam Teasdale 6, Simon Pritchard 8 Sandra Beardsmore 0, Kris Jones 3 Jon Williams 5, Warren Bower 3 Andy Jervis 5, Phil Clarke 6 Tom Hollowood 2, Alex Simmons 2 Jamie Webb 6, Chris Hill 7 Sarah Maybury 1, Scott Baker 6 Simon Mountford 2, Jon Blakemore 8 Dan Bridgwood 0, Mal Pugh 5 Riley Ward 3, John Simms 5 Neville Quinton 3, Matt Turley 0 Stuart Evans 8, Roger Ward 2 Ben Johnson 6, Keith Hollowood 3 Martin East 5, Reece Cook-Lucas 2 Ben Johnson 6, Arthur Lubkowski 2 Martin East 6, Eddie Gripton 1 Mal Pugh 7, Steve Lynch 6 Ant Powell 2, Michele Pritchard 5 Ray Gutteridge 3, Michele Pritchard 2 Ant Powell 6, Simon Mountford 5 Reece Cook-Lucas 3.
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With four wins in his opening four games Connor Pickett has lost his number one position in the Ashwood Premier League after he lost both of his games in week three 4-3 to Chris Fox and Dave Simpson. Pickett drops to fourth place on 36 points six short of new leader Tom Stockton who chalked up 6-1 wins over both Martyn Harper and Mark Glaze to make it six consecutive wins and 42 points. Adam Edgar moved up one place to second after adding a 6-1 win over Ash Marson plus a 4-3 win against Mitch Pickett to give him six wins in as many games.
Only two other players have a 100% win record and they are fifth and sixth placed Chris Manoila and Nick Fullwell, Manoila beating Jon Broome 7-0 and winning 5-2 against Jon Underhill while Fullwell, who has only played five games beat Josh Pickett, Geoff Marson and Shane Passey 6-1.
Full Results:Week 3:- Kevin Harris 5 Gaz Cartwright 2, Tom Stockton 6 Martyn Harper 1, Nick Fullwell 6 Josh Pickett 1, Tom Stockton 6 Mark Glaze 1, Jon Underhill 5 Gaz Cartwright 2, Kevin Harris 4 Shane Passey 3, Nick Fullwell 6 Geoff Marson 1, Josh Pickett 6 Andy Vellender 1, Neil Murphy 7 Tony Bennett 0, Martyn Harper 5 Jayden Harper 2, Chris Williams 7 Mitch Pickett 0, Mike Cullis 4 Paul Pollard 3, Rob Pierce 6 Sam Aitkens 1, Chris Manoila 7 Jon Broome 0, Adam Edgar 6 Ash Marson 1, Dave Simpson 6 Matt Davies 1, Chris Fox 4 Connor Pickett 3, Adam Edgar 4 Mitch Pickett 3, Matt Davies 5 Mike Cullis 2, Paul Pollard 4 Tony Bennett 3, Neil Murphy 4 Andy Vellender 3, Dave Simpson 4 Connor Pickett 3, Jayden Harper 4 Ash Marson 3, Chris Williams 4 Rob Pierce 3, Geoff Marson 6 Gaz Cartwright 1, Chris Manoila 5 Jon Underhill 2, Mark Glaze 7 Jon Broome 0, Kevin Harris 4 Josh Pickett 3, Nick Fullwell 6 Shane Passey 1, Chris Fox 6 Sam Aitkens 1.
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