Alan Towe - A Look Back In Time 1st September 2009
Congratulations to Stechford Social Club who with a final 5-4 win at Potcheen Still secured the Small Heath League title in their very first season in the league. Stechford finished on 18 points two more than both Emerald Club and Potcheen Still, Emerald Club just beating Potcheen to the runners up spot by just one leg of average.
In the league’s semi finals of the League Cup Red Hill Tavern were the biggest winners, a 6-3 result against Wagon and Horses, while Stechford Social Club beat Potcheen Still by the narrowest of margins, 5-4.
In the semi finals of the league’s Upside Down Cup Stechford Social Club narrowly lost out to Emerald Club by 5-4, the same margin by which Red Hill Tavern defeated Wagon and Horses, Paul Wilding notching a maximum for Red Hill.
In the Forest of Arden Winter League cup finals have been the order of the day, all which were played off at Sheldon Social Club. In the League Cup semi finals Old Bill and Bull had a 5-4 win against Greville Arrows, D.Finney recording a 160 break for Greville. The second semi saw Olton RBL had a 6-3 win over Highwood with Andy Hutchings chalking up two 160 breaks. The final was a close affair with Olton just running out the 5-4 victors.
Cup number two was the Shadow Cup which saw Greville Arms win the first of the semi finals 6-3 against Golden Acres and Sheldon Flights the second with a 5-4 verdict over Kenny’s Boy’s.
The final was again a closely fought encounter with Sheldon Flights just getting the 5-4 edge on Greville Arms.
The Sheldon and District Summer League has got underway and in the early stages of the season the first round of the Mrs F. Richman Trophy has been played off. The biggest winners of the round were Mackadown Social, Bromford Bridge Members Club Exiles and Stechford Social who in turn handed out 7-0 whitewashes to Lea Hall Sports and Social Club, Olton RBL and Maggies.
Other teams going into the hat for the round two draw are, Shard End Social, Scanlons, Vaughans, Highwood ‘A’, Sheldon Social, Yardley and District ‘A’, Yardley Ex Flights, Old Bill and Bull, Iron Horse, George V, Golden Acres and Shirley RBL.
On the league front Bromford Bridge Members Club Exiles are the early pacesetters in group one with four wins from their opening five games, Saltley Amateur Gardeners are their nearest rivals and they are two points adrift.
Only two teams from the six groups are able to boast a 100% win record Highwood ‘B’ (Group Five) and Yardley Arms (Group Six). Highwood, after only six fixtures hold a massive six point’s advantage over second in the table Shannons, while Yardley, who have also played six games are four ahead of second placed Custard House.
Other group leaders are Shirley RBL (Group Two), Red Hill Tavern (Group Three) and Kingshurst Labour Club (Group Four) who all have just a one point lead.
The Queens Head got the new season in the Pip Club League off to a good start when they chalked up 11-5 wins against Sports Bar 180 and Winning Post. However, match number three saw them brought back down to earth as they lost their home tie with Three Horse Shoes by 10-6 and also pole position as they dropped to third in the table.
Leader of the Brook Meadow Individual 301 League at the time of going to print was Carl Winters. After 38 games Carl held a six points lead over Ian McFarlane who has a game in hand and could reduce those arrears to just one point.
The remaining fixtures should prove to be very interesting and entertaining. There’s sure to be some unexpected twists and turns before the season draws to an end.
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