Birmingham Mail - A Midland Round-up by Alan Towe - 2023-05-17
It was Divisional League Cup finals week in the Sheldon and District Winter League and in the Premier Division encounter divisional champions Sheldon Marlborough Arrows squared up to Highwood Gerry’s Boys who finished their campaign placed fourth some ten points short of their opponents, so it was no real surprise to anyone that Sheldon Marlborough Arrows, who had gone through their fourteen fixtures season undefeated, would make it a fantastic double by adding the League Cup to their trophy cabinet and that is exactly what they did with a convincing 5-1 result.
The Division One final was played off between Yardley Ex Colts, who finished third in the division and Hornet who won the wooden spoon for finishing bottom of the table. Once again the title went to the in-form team and saw Yardley Ex Colts beat Hornet 6-3.
The two teams in the top two positions in met in the Division Two final, current divisional leaders Brian’s Flights taking on second placed Iron Horse Rebels. As yet the divisional title has not been settled as both teams are on twenty-four points with Brian’s Flights ahead on average however Brian’s Flights have one more fixture to play and Iron Horse Rebels have two remaining fixtures, so the title will be decided on the outcome of those outstanding fixtures. Back to the League Cup final and the resounding 7-2 result went to Brian’s Flights.
Just one rearranged league fixture was played, a division one game between Willclare Sports and Social and Langley Flights. Langley Flights have already been acclaimed as champions of the division, winning the title on average from The Dingle, both teams finishing on twenty points with Langley having the superior average. Willclare Sports and Social could not better their fourth position but actually consolidated it when they won the game 6-3 with the help of a maximum from their Matthew Holt.
Langley Hall Sports and Social Club will be the setting tomorrow evening for the league’s finals of their Punchbowl Trophy and Sheldon Shield.
Full Results:League Cup:Finals:Premier League:- Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 5 Highwood Gerry’s Boys 1, Division One:- Hornet 3 Yardley Ex Colts 6, Division Two:- Brian’s Flights 7 Iron Horse Rebels 2, Rearranged Fixture:Division One:- Willclare Sports and Social 6 (Matthew Holt 180) Langley Flights 3.
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With the league fixtures completed for the majority of the division one team’s in the Four Oaks and District League and only one game between Golden Hind Lions and Walmley CSC Flights outstanding only division two games were played this week but the games had no effect on league positions whatsoever. With just three more fixtures to play leaders Minworth Flights held on to their two points lead over second placed Oscott Social Cub when they won 8-1 at Rosey Mac’s, Oscott Social Club keeping their title hopes alive with a 7-2 home win over next to bottom of the division Sutton Sharks. Third placed Scott Armers had a close 5-4 win away to bottom of the table Sutton Sports and Social, however they are eight points short of leaders Minworth Flights and although six behind second placed Oscott Social Club they are also well adrift on average and the top two places will eventually go to the currently placed top two teams.
Full Results:Game 19:Division Two:- Sutton Sports and Social 4 (Laura Allen 119, Courtney Marston 111,119, Paul Coleling 100, Rod Snelson 110b, John Paul Roddy 134,112b,100, Kevin Coleman 103b) The Scott Armers 5 (Mark Felkin 102f,116b,115f, Jamie Sabin 120,120b, Tom Kelly 100), Erdington Arrows 6 (L.Dells 100, L.Cooksey 129, A.Lineham 137, H.Sadler 121,118) Pint Pot Flights 3 (Joolz Fountain 100b, Louie Lemathy 100b), Oscott Social Club 7 (Alan Whitehouse 126,100, Ian Lloyd 100, Tom Purcell 140, Simon Shorthouse 140,100, Pete Graham 3x100) Sutton Sharks 2 (Jon Boden 100, Chris Gardener 100, Michael Taylor 100b), Deer’s Leap 4 (Luke Sinclair 120b, Adam Dunn 2x100,112b, Tom Scanlon 133) St Thomas Arrows 5 (Paul Andrews 100, Garru Stait 100,100b, R.Nelson 100), Rosey Mac’s 1 (Peter Ellis 108b, John Cox snr 112b, Neil Bradley 106,120b, Steven Wintle 100) Minworth Flights 8 (Zac Prince 100, Jason Prince 100, Neil Clarke 105b,100,125, Ryan Barritt 100), The Funky Bear 5 (Ervine Stambollin 121,2x100, George Robotham 132, Samuel Murcott 2x100, Lee Williams 112b) Plough and Arrows 4 (Lieran Gow 100, Danny Hughes 140, Roxi Bennett 100b).
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Game number two for the South West Birmingham Clubs League and Longbridge United hold on to pole position with a 6-1 win away to Northfield Town. It was not a good week for Northfield as in addition to Town losing to Longbridge and dropping from fourth to eighth, Northfield Conservative went down 5-2 at home to Avenue Social to see them drop one place on the table to seventh. Avenue Social, meanwhile remain second in the table just two legs of average short of Longbridge. Third and fourth placed West Heath CEM and Quarry Club, like the two teams above them stretched their unbeaten runs to two games with West Heath CEM winning 5-2 at home against Stirchley Flights and Quarry Club winning by the same margin, again in a home game against Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club. The top four teams are the only ones to have won both of their opening games while the bottom four teams Moseley All Services, Perfection, Stirchley Flights and Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club have all lost their first two games.
Full Results:Game 2:- Northfield Town 1 (M.Harper 121, L.Fowler 123,125, A.Chidley 100, J.Cutler 2x100) Longbridge United 6 (A.Steadman 101b,100, A.Sutton 105b. P.Hughes 100b. D.Hill 100), Perfection 3 (L.Little 120, L.Rooney 119, J.Applin 120b,100b, 100,140, K.Jones 115, G.Webb 100, O.Draper 100) Bournbrook 4 (P.Nevin 140, T.Jeffs 100b, C.Smith 100, D.Collins 140), Quarry Club 5 (N.Hurst 2x100,140, J.Fox 100, L.Fox 112b, A.Vaughan 140) Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 2 (M.Hanley 100, P.Lilley 100,101), Stirchley United 6 (L.Bathhurst 100, C.Ryan 125, M.Welsh 100b) Moseley All Services 1 (M.Bandy 122), West Heath CEM 5 (T.Taylor 100, G.Carver 135, A.Deeley 2x100, K.Webb 101b,101b,2x100, N.Watts 121) Stirchley Flights 2 (L.Pearce 100b,100, G.Williamson 100, C.Davenport 100,140), Northfield Conservative 2 (G.Corbett 140,135, V.Pickford 107, R.Hosey 111b.130) Avenue Social 5 (D.Kent 100, K.Jukes 123,108,2x100, M.Grundy 140, A.Harvey 139,100).
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Three of the top five teams in the Camp Hill League won 5-2 in week sixteen fixtures while the other two teams in in the top five lost 5-2. Leaders Erdington Nomads kept intact their two points lead over Tyseley WMC with a home win over fifth placed Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club while second placed Tyseley WMC won away against Moseley Arms. Third in the league Clumsy Swan played away against Tyseley Bears and returned on the wrong side of the 5-2 result. Despite their defeat Clumsy Swan remain in third place, their twenty points now just two to the good on their fourth placed victors. The only change in the table was that of Peaky Blinder dropping one place to seventh as a result of them having a bye this week, they have been replaced in sixth place by Sheldon Marlborough Flights who won 6-1 away to bottom of the table Sedgemere Devils.
Full Results:Week 16:- Moseley Arms 2 Tyseley WMC 5 Stu Ollerenshaw 177), Tyseley Bears 5 Clumsy Swan 2, Erdington Nomads 5 Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club 2, Sedgemere Devils 1 Sheldon Marlborough Flights 6, Peaky Blinder had a bye.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League played their 3 A-Side knockout early rounds at four venues and winning their way in the semi-finals on finals night Thursday 27th July were K.Wright, S.Tipper, A.Bunce, B.Neale (Bulls Head), L.Beasley, D.Richmond, M.Hadley (Townsend Social Club), R.Hodgetts, M.Abbott, G.Male (Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’), L.Banner, M.Redding, J.Southall (Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’).
Full Results:3 A-Side Knockout:Semi-Finalists:- K.Wright, S.Tipper, A.Bunce, B.Neale (Bulls Head), L.Beasley, D.Richmond, M.Hadley (Townsend Social Club), R.Hodgetts, M.Abbott, G.Male (Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’), L.Banner, M.Redding, J.Southall (Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’).
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By handing their visiting opponents Brickmakers Arms a 7-0 whitewash Bird in Hand ‘E’ have remained top of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League after completing the opening two fixtures. From a starting line-up of sixteen teams only Bird in Hand ‘E’ and four other teams Ashwood, Old Liberal Club ‘A’, Shovel and Kings Head are able to boast a 100% win record. Ashwood’s 6-1 home win over Dudley Sports has seen them move up two places to second just two legs of average short of the leaders and on the same points and average as third placed Old Liberal Club ‘A’ whose 7-0 home win over Hollybush took them from seventh to joint second in the league. Shovel were another team to make big strides moving up four places, their 6-1 win at Netherton Conservative Club taking them up to fourth place just two legs of average better off than fifth in the table Kings Head after they had a close 4-3 home win over Garibaldi.
Full Results:Game 2:- Bell 6 Old Liberal Club ‘B’ 1, Netherton Conservative Club 1 Shovel 6, Ashwood 6 Dudley Sports 1, Kings Head 4 Garibaldi 3, Black Horse 2 Wheatsheaf 5, Bird in Hand ‘E’ 7 Brickmakers Arms 0, Stourbridge FC 5 Fox Inn (Lye) 2, Old Liberal Club ‘A’ 7 Hollybush 0.
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For the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League game twenty was a week of local derbies with the two Allen’s teams and two Vine teams playing each other. Prior to the fixture Allen’s ‘A’ topped the table with their ‘B’ side second just two points behind them, but a big 5-2 win for the ‘A’ side keeps them top of the table while the ‘B’ team drop three places to fifth and are now four points off the top of the table. In the all-Vine encounter once again it was the ‘A’ team who came out on top as they accounted for their local rivals with a massive 6-1 result to put them fourth in the table but four points behind Allen’s ‘A’ while their ‘B’ side drop to a next to bottom of the table position. Taking over the number two spot is Cottage Spring, their 6-1 home win over bottom of the table Albion (who are still seeking their first points of the season), leaving them with just two points fewer than the leaders as are third placed Horseley Tavern after their 4-3 win at Waggon and Horses.
Full Results:Game 12:- Vine ‘B’ 1 Vine ‘A’ 6, Allen’s ‘B’ 2 Allen’s ‘A’ 5, Cottage Spring 6 Albion 1, Waggon and Horses 3 Horseley Tavern 4, Tamebridge 4 Ivy Bush 3, Sow and Pigs had a bye.
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Gornal Labour Club are now just two wins away from winning the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League title, their latest 8-1 win away over Griffin keeping them two points clear of their nearest rivals and reigning champions Old Bulls Head who added a 7-2 win at The Cabin to their account to keep them in the hunt. Third and fourth placed New Inn and White Horse are both on thirty points, six off the top after New Inn won 6-3 at Chainyard and White Horse won 5-4 at home against Jolly Crispin. Game twenty results brought about no changes in the league positions whatsoever and with games now running out, it does look as though the currently placed top two teams will take the winners and runners-up silverware, but in what order?
Full Results:Game 20:- White Horse 5 Jolly Crispin 4, Chainyard 3 New Inn 6, Five Ways 9 Meadow Lark 0, Griffin 1 Gornal Labour Club 8, The Cabin 2 Old Bulls Head 7, Red Cow 2 Pensnett Liberal Club 7.
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The West Midlands Men’s Super League is up to week thirteen and the biggest winners in the latest round of fixtures were Dog and Partridge who handed their hosts Three Crowns a 5-0 whitewash. Close behind Dog and Partridge were Kings Head ‘B’ and ECC who with 4-1 scorelines accounted for in turn Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ and Chase Social. Gilbert’s Bar ‘C’, Kings Head ‘A’ and Corpus Christi were all close 3-2 winners as they accounted for respective opponents Staffordshire Knot, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ and Gilbert’s Bar ‘D’, Bridgtown Social had a bye.
Full Results:Week 13:- Three Crowns 0 Dog and Partridge 5, Gilbert’s Bar ‘C’ 3 Staffordshire Knot 2, Kings Head ‘B’ 4 Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 1, ECC 4 Chase Social 1, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 2 Kings Head ‘A’ 3, Corpus Christi 3 Gilbert’s Bar ‘D’ 2, Bridgtown Social had a bye.
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The Black Country Thursday Night Singles League has a new leader in the shape of Rich Bowen. The most recent round of games saw Bowen kick-off with a resounding 8-0 win over Ashley Ralph and although he then lost 6-2 to Nick Fullwell he recovered to win 6-2 against Shane Passey to replace Fullwell in the number one spot with a total of 166 points from twenty-one games with Fullwell dropping to second place two points short of Bowen but with a game in hand after he added a further 5-3 win over Shane Passey to his account.
Full Results:Week 11:- Rich Bowen 8 Ashley Ralph 0, Neil Murphy 5 James Davies 3, Benjamin Hollowood 6 Danny Knight 2, Alex Howells 5 Nick Whitehouse 3, Shane Passey 8 Ashley Ralph 0, Grace Angell 6 James Davies 2, Neil Murphy 5 Cheryl Allcock 3, Gareth Johnston 8 Alex Mason 0, Nick Fullwell 6 Rich Bowen 2, Alex Howells 4 Benjamin Hollowood 4, Danny Knight 7 James Davies 1, Nick Fullwell 5 Shane Passey 3, Grace Angell 6 Alex Mason 2, Gareth Johnston 7 Nick Whitehouse 1, Cheryl Allcock 8 Ashley Ralph 0, Rich Bowen 6 Shane Passey 2, Neil Murphy 6 Benjamin Hollowood 2.
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Gilbert’s Bar was the setting for the Gilbert’s Bar Coronation Knockout which attracted a total of fifty-one top class players with several international and county players contesting the event alongside super league and local league players.
As the knockout reached the quarter-finals international players Ian Jones and Wayne Jones made their exits and joining them were Richard Hosey and Declan Cox. The last four games saw Jamie Hughes win 5-3 against Graham Hall and Reece Colley win 5-2 against Adam Warner.
Experience came out on top in the final with Tipton man and Warwickshire County player Jamie Hughes beating Reece Colley 6-3 to collect the winners top prize of £300 with runner-up Colley collecting £150.
Losing semi-finalists Graham Hall and Adam Warner each received £50 and there was £10 for players reaching the last eight Ian Jones, Wayne Jones, Richard Hosey and Declan Cox.
The winner of the ever-popular first round losers Plate Knockout Andy Jervis picked up £50 after he won 4-1 against runner-up Ryan Locker who collected £25.
Full Results:Losing Quarter-Finalists:- Declan Cox, Ian Jones, Wayne Jones, Richard Hosey, Losing Semi-Finalists:- Graham Hall, Adam Warner, Runner-Up:- Reece Colley, Winner:- Jamie Hughes, Plate Knockout:Runner-Up:- Ryan Locker, Winner:- Andy Jervis.
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Although Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ won their home tie with Wednesfield Legion 4-3 in game number five in the Singles League of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League they had to surrender their pole position to Woodfield whose 7-0 home success over Ring of Bells put them on the same ten points as Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ but with a superior average. Both of the top two teams have won all five of their fixtures and are the only ones from a starting line-up of twelve to remain undefeated. Third and fourth placed Dog and Partridge and ECC ‘A’ have lost just the one game so far, Dog and Partridge winning their latest 6-1 at home against Corpus Christi ‘B’ while ECC ‘A’ had a 5-2 win at Corpus Christi ‘A’. It was a good week for Railway as they chalked up their first win in five winning 5-2 at Three Crowns.
Only ECC ‘A’ are undefeated in the Doubles League and after adding their most recent 2-1 win over Corpus Christi ‘A’ to the tally they have a two points advantage over second in the table Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ who had a clear-cut 3-0 win over Wednesfield Legion keeping them two points ahead of Corpus Christi ‘A’, Three Crowns, Ring of Bells and Wednesfield Legion, Three Crowns lost their home game with Railway 3-0 while Ring of Bells had a fine 2-1 win at Woodfield.
Full Results:Game 5:Singles League:- Corpus Christi ‘A’ 2 ECC ‘A’ 5, Dog and Partridge 6 Corpus Christi ‘B’ 1, ECC ‘B’ 4 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 3, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 4 Wednesfield Legion 3, Three Crowns 2 Railway 5, Woodfield 7 Ring of Bells 0, Doubles League:- Corpus Christi ‘A’ 1 ECC ‘A’ 2, Dog and Partridge 0 Corpus Christi ‘B’ 3, ECC ‘B’ 3 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 0, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 3 Wednesfield Legion 0, Three Crowns 0 Railway 3, Woodfield 1 Ring of Bells 2.
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