BIRMINGHAM MAIL - A WEST MIDLAND ROUND-UP BY ALAN TOWE - 08.09.23
The Sheldon and District Summer League are now fast approaching the business end of their season whereby every single result is vital for potential group winners or even survivors. In group one, leaders Highwood had their home fixture with Raven Arrows postponed but nevertheless remain top of the group with eleven points and a superior average. Highwood’s nearest rivals Langley Arrows, despite having a maximum from their Richard Nixon were held to a 4-4 draw at home by Yardley Ex Colts who are next to bottom of the group, Langley go level on points with Highwood but trail on average and have played one game more than the leaders. Third placed Dingle, who also had their John Smythe find the three treble twenties had a 5-3 home win over bottom placed Willclare Sports and Social Club, the win putting Dingle level on the same number of points as the two teams above them but they have now played nine games with Highwood having only played seven.
Sheldon Dukes head the group two table but in their latest fixture they were held to a 4-4 home draw by third placed Shirley Misfits and although second placed Brian’s Flights won 5-3 at Hornet they are still two points short of the leaders but have a game in hand plus a five points lead on third in the group Shirley Misfits.
Leaders of group three Kingshurst Labour Club were another team to finish all-square at four each in their away game against second in the group Trident Spears who remain just one points short of the leaders and with a game in hand. Third in the group Langley Flights were somewhat surprisingly held to the same 4-4 draw away to bottom of the group Lyndon Old Boys, Langley now two points off the top and like Trident have a game in hand on Kingshurst.
Banbury Club enforced their quest for the group four title by handing their hosts bottom placed Raven an 8-0 whitewash to keep three points ahead of second in the group Smithswood Social Club who were 6-2 winners at Moseley Rugby Club.
Other individual feats this week came from Jamie Masefield (Brian’s Flights) who had a 123 finish, Mick Bown (Shirley Misfits) who hit a 180 and Paul Connelly (Banbury Club) with a 114 game shot.
Full Results:Game 9:Group One:- Langley Arrows 4 (Richard Nixon 180) Yardley Ex Colts 4, The Dingle 5 (John Smythe 180,14 darts game) Willclare Sports and Social 3, Highwood v Raven Arrows was postponed, Group Two:- Hornet 3 Brian’s Flights 5 (Jamie Masefield 123f), Sheldon Dukes 4 Shirley Misfits 4 (Mick Bown 180), Maggies had a bye, Group Three:- Lyndon Old Boys 4 Langley Flights 4, Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 6 The Bell Inn 2, Trident Spears 4 Kingshurst Labour Club 4, Group Four:- The Raven 0 The Banbury Club 8 (Paul Connelly 114f), Moseley Rugby Club 2 Smithswood Social Club 6.
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Just the one single change in the league table for the Kings Norton League this week which saw Coppice and Cock Inn swap places. The 6-1 home defeat by Rubery Social Club saw Coppice drop one place in the table to eighth while Cock Inn had a somewhat rare win when they returned from Thurlestone on the right side of the 5-2 result to lift them up one place to seventh. Although the two teams changed places in the table Coppice are now two points behind Cock Inn but their game in hand could see them overtake Cock Inn once again.
With the game between the top two teams Northfield and Copper Fox being cancelled the position at the top of the table remains the same with Northfield in pole position with twenty-eight points from sixteen games and Copper Fox second on the same twenty-eight points but from fifteen games. The leading duo have a two points lead on third placed Bourneville who won 4-3 at home against fifth in the league Bournebrook who are on twenty points. Rubery Social’s win at Coppice puts them fourth with twenty-four points but they have played seventeen games.
Just the one maximum to report from the league this week which was supplied by Thurlestone’s T.Garfield with Grant Arms player V.Walton not far behind with a score of 174.
Full Results:Game 17:- Longbridge 5 (M.Malone 121, J.Woodward 100,125,140, N.Mellors 100, S.Facey 130, J.Steward 119, K.Malone 100,107,121, L.Jordan 105,116,134) Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 2 (M.Bandy 100,119, L.Bandy 121, S.Brown 100, D.Whitecombe 100), Thurlestone 2 (N.Watts 121, T.Garfield 2x100,180, R.Waldron 3x100,105,2x140, J.Downer 2x100,2x121,140, S.Deeley 100, C.Micklewright 100, C.Taylor 100) Cock Inn 5 (P.Hughes 2x100, L.Fox 3x100,140, John Fox 100, A.Vaughan 100,140, Joe Fox 2x100,140, K.Vaughan 136), Bourneville 4 (M.James 4x100,104, M.Collins 2x100, A.Deeley 2x100,140, M.Ferriday 2x100, D.Murray 116,135) Bournebrook 3 (M.Welsh 100, K.Mason 4x100,135,140, M.Bathurst 100, C.Smith 2x100, D.Smith 101,140, P.Nevin 4x100, R.Chambers 100, C.Ryan 100), Kings Norton Flights 5 (P.Lilley 114,123,144, M.Hanley 100, C.Rigby 104, L.Rooney 3x100,125, G.Saad 100, G.Lee 100,125) Grant Arms 2 (A.McGowan 100, A.Dewsbury 2x100, P.Taylor 100,2x140, N.Smith 100, M.Davies 108,140, V.Walton 174, P.Smith 2x100,125,140, S.Hale 140), Coppice 1 (A.Ward 100, A.Chidley 100,120,125, R.Packer 2x100, A.Phillips 100,108) Rubery Social Club 6 (J.Grainger 2x100, J.Higgins 100, A.Faulkner 2x100, R.Higgins 125, M.Cormell 100,121, J.O'Neill 2x100,125,135).
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The Sutton and District Summer League had first round cup games on their fixture card and in the Prestridge Shield division one leaders Highcroft Hotdogs were matched against Aston Manor CC Flights who are just three places off the foot of the table. The result was no real surprise but maybe the close 5-4 scoreline in favour of the Hotdogs was a little surprising. Joining the Hotdogs in the next round will be Erdington Arrows, the third placed division two side wining 5-4 against St Tom Cats who are bottom of the same division.
In the Roy Bird Shield there was just the one fixture played which saw next to bottom of the division two table Pint Pot Flights lose 4-3 to Rosey Mac’s Bar who are just above them in the league table.
There was one division one league catch-up game played between Walmley CSC Flights and Old Oscott Arrows. Walmley won the game 7-2 to see them move up four places in the division to fourth with six points while Old Oscott with the same six points dropped one place to eighth trailing the three teams directly above them on average only.
Full Results:Prestridge Shield:Round One:- Erdington Arrows 5 (Ray Liennard 100, Mark Phillips 100, Geoff Hopkins 125,100, Karl Tooze 100, Luke Cooksey 134) St Tom Cats 4 (Dean Wakelam 101, Kevin Coleman 145f), Highcroft Hotdogs 5 (Jack Alexander 133, Kevin Shorthouse 100b,100,111f, LeighDells 125,102, Lee Shorthouse 135, Tom Pallett 100) Aston Manor CC Flights 4 (Gary Bushell 140, Martin Partridge 125, Jason Prince 107b, Neil Clarke 125, David Haskins 123), Roy Bird Shield:Round One:- Pint Pot Flights 3 (Pete Smith 100,160b, Paul Wilkes 2x100, Joolz Fountain 100) Rosey Mac’s Bar 4 (Brendon Nolan 120b,101, Andrew Colley 100), Rearranged League Fixture:Division One:- Walmley CSC Flights 7 (Kriss Green 120b,125, Greg Gaughan 140,125, John Kavanagh 100b,139, Rich Smith 103) Old Oscott Arrows 2 (Mick Maher 100, Phil Locke 100, Dave Page 100, Derek Parsons 2x100).
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Leaders of the South West Birmingham Clubs League Longbridge United had a big win in game sixteen when they won 4-3 at home against third in the league Bournbrook to open up a gap of four points between the two teams. Second in the singles division West Heath CEM also had a significant 4-3 win in their away game against fourth placed Stirchley United. The top two teams are both on twenty-eight points with Bournbrook on twenty-four and Stirchley United on twenty.
The latest results had no effect on the Shadow League table with Quarry Club continuing to lead the field with eight points following their 4-3 win at Northfield Town while second and third placed Northfield Conservative Club and Perfection are four points adrift of the leaders after the Conservative Club lost 4-3 at home to Stirchley Flights and Perfection won by the same 4-3 margin at Avenue Social.
No change in the top four places in the Pre-Match Doubles League as leaders Longbridge United took their points tally to 206 and second placed West Heath CEM went to 187 points. Third and fourth placed Bournbrook and Avenue Social have respective 140 and 139 points.
Full Results:Game 16:- Stirchley United 3 West Heath CEM 4, Avenue Social 3 Perfection 4, Moseley All Services 2 Kings Norton Ex Service 5, Longbridge United 4 Bournbrook 3, Northfield Conservative 3 Stirchley Flights 4, Northfield Town 3 Quarry Club 4.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League staged the final of their Memorial Cup between Waggon and Horse and Allen’s Bar ‘A’. With Allen’s Bar ‘A’ top of the league and their opponents four places below them and having twelve fewer points Allen’s began the final as firm favourites and their final 6-1 result confirmed that rating. Winners for Allen’s A’ were Lee Jordan, D.Bull, W.Hobday, T.Baker, L.Gelder, N.Whitehouse.
Full Results:Memorial Cup:Final:- Waggon and Horses 1 Allen’s Bar ‘A’ 6, Winners:- Lee Jordan, D.Bull, W.Hobday, T.Baker, L.Gelder, N.Whitehouse.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League’s AGM has now been confirmed for Thursday 14th September commencing at 8.00pm at the Bulls Head, 19 St Johns Street, Netherton, DY2 0PU. New and existing teams are cordially invited to attend the meeting, anyone requiring any further information should contact either Carl on 07898-299992 or Ron on 07970-694450.
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Just the one outstanding fixture from the first half of the season in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League was played off this week between Fox Inn, Lye and Brickmakers Arms. Prior to the fixture being played Fox Inn were five places off the foot of the table and Brickmakers three off the bottom. The result was a 4-3 win for the home team Fox Inn who moved up two places in the table to ninth and although Brickmakers finished on the losing side they still actually moved up one further place away from the bottom of the table, four points behind their victors.
Full Results:Rearranged Fixture:- Fox Inn (Lye) 4 Brickmakers Arms 3.
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The Camp Hill League are up to week three of their new campaign and leading the way is Tyseley Bears who have won all three of their opening fixtures 5-2 the latest of which was an away game against Erdington Nomads. In second place is the Bears local rivals Tyseley WMC whose 7-0 whitewash of bottom of the table Sedgemere Devils has left them two points behind Bears but with a game in hand. Third in the league Moseley Arms had a 4-3 win at home against Peaky Blinder which also leaves them two points off the top with a game in hand. After the opening three games Sedgemere Devils and Peaky Blinder are the only two teams in the league still seeking their first points of the season.
Full Results:Week 2:- Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club 3 Moseley Arms 4, Tyseley WMC 4 Clumsy Swan 3, Sedgemere Devils 2 Tyseley Bears 5, Erdington Nomads 6 Peaky Blinder 1, Week 3:- Moseley Arms 4 Peaky Blinder 3, Tyseley WMC 7 Sedgemere Devils 0, Clumsy Swan 3 Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club 4, Erdington Nomads 2 Tyseley Bears 5.
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There was a shock for Allen’s Bar ‘C’ in the Black Country Men’s Super League when in game fifteen they lost 3-2 playing away against Ashwood who are tenth in the league and some twenty points short of their opponents. In addition to losing the game Allen’s ‘C’ also lost the number one spot in the league with Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ taking over from them following their 3-2 home win over White Swan. Both of the top two teams are on fifty-one points, Gilbert’s ‘B’ having played thirteen games while Allen’s ‘C’ have played fourteen. Third placed Railway Tavern are the nearest threat to the top two, they are on forty-nine points after they added their 4-1 home win over Allen’s Bar ‘B’ to their tally. A 5-0 home win over Horse and Jockey leaves Quarry Bank Liberal Club fourth, their forty-eight points just three off the top and only one short of Railway.
Full Results:Game 15:- Quarry Bank Liberal Club 5 Horse and Jockey 0, Allen’s Bar ‘A’ 4 Old Bulls Head 1, The Ashwood 3 Allen’s Bar ‘C’ 2, Townsend Social 4 The Vine, Blackheath 1, Whiteheath Tavern 5 Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 0, Railway Tavern 4 Allen’s Bar ‘B’ 1, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 3 White Swan 2, Townsend ‘A’ 5 Soccer Zone 0.
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Mark Jones was in top form in the latest round of fixtures in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League as he added 8-0 wins over both Alex Mason and Danny Knight to his account to give him a total of ninety-five points from twelve games plus pole position with a lead of six points over second placed Danny Nicholls who has played eleven games. In the most recent fixtures Nicholls was held to a 4-4 draw by fourth placed Rich Bowen but then beat Jack Rolo 7-1.
Full Results:Week 6:- Mark Jones 8 Alex Mason 0, Benjamin Hollowood 7 Neil Murphy 1, Conor Dowling 8 Sarah Jane Parker 0, Jack Rolo 5 Danny Bridgwood 3, Rich Bowen 4 Danny Nicholls 4, Benjamin Hollowood 6 Conor Dowling 2, Mark Jones 8 Danny Knight 0, Rich Bowen 2 Nick Fullwell 2, Neil Murphy 6 Alex Mason 2, Danny Nicholls 7 Jack Rolo 1, Benjamin Hollowood 8 Sarah Jane Parker 0, Conor Dowling 5 Danny Bridgwood 3, Jack Rolo 7 Danny Knight 1.
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ECC ‘A’ consolidated their top spot in the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League with a 6-1 away win over Three Crowns to take their points tally to thirty-two which gives them a lead of two over both second and third placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ and Woodfield. Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ also won 6-1 at home against Ring of Bells while Woodfield made it 6-1 wins for all three top teams when they won their home tie with Gilbert's Bar ‘B’.
In the doubles division it’s ECC ‘A’ who once again lead the field with thirty-two points after beating Three Crowns 2-1 and once more the two nearest teams to the leaders are Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ and Woodfield. Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ had a 3-0 win over Ring of Bells to keep them within four points of ECC ‘A’ but Woodfield lost 2-1 to Gilbert’s ‘Bar ‘B’ leaving them a huge twelve points off the top of the table.
Full Results:Game 17:Singles Division:- Corpus Christi ‘A’ 5 Wednesfield Legion 2, Dog and Partridge 3 Railway 4, ECC ‘B’ 6 Corpus Christi ‘B’ 1, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 6 Ring of Bells 1, Three Crowns 1 ECC ‘A’ 6, Woodfield 6 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 1, Doubles Division:- Corpus Christi ‘A’ 2 Wednesfield Legion 1, Dog and Partridge 2 Railway 1, ECC ‘B’ 3 Corpus Christi ‘B’ 0, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 3 Ring of Bells 0, Three Crowns 1 ECC ‘A’ 2, Woodfield 1 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 2.
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