Birmingham Mail - A West Midland Round-up by Alan Towe - 12.07.23
Congratulations to Tipton’s Jamie Hughes on scooping the top prize in the Coors Coventry Open played off at the Warwickshire County Darts Organisation headquarters Hen Lane Club, Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS. After playing down to the last eight the format was increased from the best of nine to the best of eleven legs, Hughes winning his quarter-final game 6-2 against Lloyd Pennell, the other winners joining him in the semi-finals were Leighton Bennett, Dan Lee and Graham Hall. Both of the semis finished with a 6-1 scoreline, Jamie Hughes beating Graham Hall and Leighton Bennett winning against Dan Lee. The final saw Warwickshire County player Jamie Hughes win the title and the top prize money in the ninth leg with a final 6-3 victory over Lincolnshire’s Leighton Bennett.
Full Results:Preliminary Round:- Chris Wickenden 5 Jason Melly 1, Wayne Willis 5 Mark Tennant 4, Jim Hill 5 Diane Nash 2, Jamie Hughes 5 Alfie Busby 1, William Earp 5 Matt Norton 2, Last 64:- Mark Carter 5 Anthony Webster 1, Leighton Bennett 5 Noel Grant 3, Grant Brown 5 Darren Williamson 2, Matty Washbrooke 5 Simon Coates 0, Luke Smith 5 Carl Jenkins 0, Tom Garfield 5 Chris Smac 1, James Thompson 5 Sam Price 2, Dave Honey 5 Paul Faruggia 0, Nigel Heydon 5 Ryan O’Connor 3, Kelly Corcoran 5 Ian McFarlane 2, Hammond Kumar 5 Eddy Smith 1, Steve Hine 5 Ryan Merrett 1, Steve Giddings 5 Adam Savage 0, Gareth Braham 5 Kyran Johnson 1, Dan Lee 5 Ben Gamble 3, Chris Wickenden 5 Wayne Willis 1, Jamie Hughes 5 Jim Hill 2, William Earp 5 Ryan Saunders 1, Karl MacDonald 5 Enola Wilson 2, Ricky Evans 5 Coby Jones-Swanson 1, Lloyd Pennell 5 Ryan MacDonald 0, James Lee 5 John Peplow 4, Ben Johnson 5 Steve Smelt 0, Lloyd Jackson 5 Wayne Basford 2, Martin Tonks 5 Colin Osborne 0, Graham Hall 5 Harry Earp 2, Larry Leung 5 Josh Aplin 0, Dean Saunders 5 Kevin Wragg 3, Courtney Hine 5 Helen Styles 3, Jim Walker 5 Paul Wallace 1, Ian Jones 5 Richard Hosey 4, Rob Thompson 5 Freddie Marshall 0, Last 32:- Leighton Bennett 5 Mark Carter 1, Matty Washbrooke 5 Grant Brown 1, Luke Smith 5 Tom Garfield 1, James Thompson 5 Dave Honey 4, Nigel Heydon 5 Kelly Corcoran 1, Steve Hine 5 Hammond Kumar 4, Gareth Braham 5 Steve Giddings 2, Dan Lee 5 Chris Wickenden 1, Jamie Hughes 5 William Earp 0, Ricky Evans 5 Karl MacDonald 0, Lloyd Pennell 5 Lee James 3, Lloyd Jackson 5 Ben Johnson 4, Graham Hall 5 Martin Tonks 2, Dean Saunders 5 Larry Leung 2, Jim Walker 5 Courtney Hine 0, Ian Jones 5 Rob Thompson 3, Last 16:- Leighton Bennett 5 Matty Washbrooke 3, Luke Smith 5 James Thompson 4, Nigel Heydon 5 Steve Hine 3, Dan Lee 5 Gareth Braham 2, Jamie Hughes 5 Ricky Evans 2, Lloyd Pennell 5 Lloyd Jackson 2, Graham Hall 5 Dean Saunders 3, Jim Walker 5 Ian Jones 4, Quarter-Finals:- Leighton Bennett 6 Luke Smith 2, Lee Dan 6 Nigel Heydon 4 Jamie Hughes 6 Lloyd Pennell 2, Graham Hall 6 Jim Walker 4, Semi-Finals:- Leighton Bennett 6 Dan Lee 1, Jamie Hughes 6 Graham Hall 1, Final:- Jamie Hughes 6 Leighton Bennett 3.
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The Sheldon and District Summer League staged the preliminary round of their League Cup which produced a couple of shock results as group four’s Smithswood Social Club won 4-3 away to Trident Spears from group three and group three side Kingshurst Labour Club won 6-1 at Shirley Misfits who are in group two. Biggest win of the round went to group one team Raven Arrows who handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their fellow division one side Yardley Ex Colts with Dean Grainger checking out on 101 for Raven and Chris Darby recording a maximum for Yardley. Although Kevin Hull hit a maximum and had a ten darts game, his group four team Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club lost 4-3 at home to Maggies from group two. Willclare Sports and Social (group two) won 5-2 away to Sheldon Marlborough Flights (group three) and there was a 4-3 win for Brian’s Flights (group two) against Langley Flights (group three). Banbury Flights are currently sitting top of group four and played away against Moseley Rugby Club who second in the same group, the close 4-3 win going to Banbury.
Full Results:League Cup:Preliminary Round:- Sheldon Marlborough Flights 2 Willclare Sports and Social 5, Trident Spears 3 Smithswood Social Club 4, Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club 3 (Kevin Hull 180,10 darts game) Maggies 4, Shirley Misfits 1 Kingshurst Labour Club 6, Raven Arrows 7 (Dean Grainger 101f) Yardley Ex Colts 0 (Chris Darby 180), Langley Flights 3 Brian’s Flights 4, Moseley Rugby Club 3 The Banury Club 4.
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It was another cup finals week for the Four Oaks and District League as they played off the finals of their Brian Goodman and Ken Rust Cups. In the former it was an all division one clash with the result going as expected, but only just, to Old Horns Lions who finished as runners-up in the division, they won 5-4 against Golden Hind Lions who ended their campaign just two places off the foot of the division.
In the Ken Rust Cup final secind division runners-up Oscott Social Club, with a 160 break from Gary Bushell, won 6-3 against Charley’s Flights who finished bottom of the division one table. Charley’s Flights player Dean G. Bond hit the only maximum of the night.
There was just the one rearranged outstanding division two fixture played which saw Plough and Arrows win 9-0 against Sutton Sports and Social which had no effect on the divisional table whatsoever.
Full Results:Brian Goodman Cup:Final:- The Old Horns Lions 5 (Pat Byrne 100,118, Fred Naylor 120b,100, Mark Ashton 2x121,105b,100, J.Greaves 120b) Golden Hind Lions 4 (James Clarke 154f,100, Jack Mahon 140, Marc Pearce 105b,140, Neil Goldie 100b), Ken Rust Cup:Final:- Oscott Social Club 6 (Robert Graham 120, Ian Lloyd 121, Gary Bushell 160b,2x100,115b) Charley’s Flights 3 (Tony Hines 107b,100, Rob Vann 100b, Tony Barnfield 102b,100, Dean G Bond 180), Rearranged Fixture:Division Two:- Plough and Arrows 9 Sutton Sports and Social 0.
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It was week four in the Harborne and District League and heading the table is the only team with a 100% win record Northfield Conservative Club. The Conservative Club took their points tally to a perfect eight with a 6-3 win away to Cock Inn. There are four teams Copper Fox ‘R’, Copper Fox ‘M’, Smethwick Cricket Club and Northfield Town who are just two points short of the leaders, Copper Fox ‘R’ had a convincing 9-0 win at The Mill while Copper Fox ‘M’ were just behind them with an 8-1 home victory over Quinton RBL. Smethwick Cricket Club were another team to hand out a 9-0 whitewash as they won at home against Weoley Castle WMC while Northfield Town won their home tie with Avenue Social 6-3.
It was maximums galore this week with no fewer than five recorded, there were two for Northfield Conservative Club supplied by A.Sutton and D.Hill, two for Copper Fox ‘R’ from E.Simpson and M.Hamilton and one for Copper Fox ‘M’ player D.Kent. In addition to his 180 E.Simpson also hit 100,125,140 and had winning legs in fourteen and seventeen darts.
Full Results:Game 4:- Copper Fox ‘M’ 8 (J.Downer 100, K.Jukes 100,125,3x140,17 darts game, T.Collier 140, D.Kent 2x100, G.Dews 3x100,135, A.Harvey 3x100,121, M.Davies 2x100, D.Kent 180) Quinton RBL 1 (A.Gibbs 100, A.Mills 140, D.McConomy 100,116f), Cock Inn 3 (L.Fox 100,140, N.Hurst 3x100,120,2x125, A.Vaughan 2x140, A.Hopkins 100, M.Malone 140) Northfield Conservative Club 6 (R.Hosey 119,2x140, T.Shipley 2x100, A.Sutton 100,180, T.Garfield 100,2x140, D.Hill 140,180,15 darts game, Jones 100, C.Airey 100,123), Smethwick Cricket Club 9 (A.Beagrie 100, A.Bomber 2x100,105,128, M.Collins 140, P.Murphy 2x100, P.Brookes 125,133, V.Gould 2x100,140, M.Smith 140) Weoley Castle WMC 0 (S.Joyce 135, M.Simmonds 138, P.Coombes 2x100, T.Heath 100, S.Tyler 126), Northfield Town 6 (A.Busby 100,118, L.Allen 100, D.Hopkins 125, R.Needham 2x100, M.Hopkins 133, J.Best 100,121) Avenue Social 3 (A.Girling 3x100, P.Gilliland 121), The Mill 0 (J.Goulding 100,120, T.Goulding 100, N.Davis 2x100, R.Garrehy 135) Copper Fox ‘R’ 9 (E.Simpson 100,125,140,180,14&17 darts games, M.Hamilton 100,180, J.Hykin 105,123,140, T.Hamilton 127,140, R.Mann 100,123,140, D.Marsh 2x125,140).
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After losing their number one spot in the singles division of the South West Birmingham Clubs League last week Longbridge United are once again back in pole position. A 7-0 home win over Moseley All Services has given Longbridge a slender one leg of average lead over West Heath CEM who they have replaced at the top of the table both teams are level on sixteen points. Third placed Bournbrook are four points adrift of the leading duo after they, with a 180 from their T.Jeffs, beat Northfield Conservative Club 4-3. After the leading top three teams comes a quartet of teams Avenue Social, Stirchley United, Perfection and Northfield Town all on ten points. D.Wallis (Quarry Club) was another player to find the three treble twenties in his team’s 4-3 home win over Avenue Social.
Full Results:Game 9:Singles Division:- Quarry Club 4 (D.Wallis 180) Avenue Social 3 (L.Fox 152f), Bournbrook 4 (T.Jeffs 180, C.Smith 120b) Northfield Conservative Club 3 (P.Cahill 120b), Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 3 Stirchley United 4, Longbridge United 7 (M.Lloyd 120b, C.Steadman 120b) Moseley All Services 0, Stirchley Flights 2 Northfield Town 5 (J.Cutler 118f,120f), Perfection 2 (G.Webb 119b, J.Aplin 112f) West Heath CEM 5 (A.Andrews 118f).
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With the majority of teams having just seven more fixtures to play in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night league the title is still wide open as the top two teams Old Liberal Club and Cross (Oldswinford) are level on fifty-six points with only average separating them. In the latest round of games Old Liberal Club had a vital 5-2 win away against Ten Arches who are third in the league but now ten points short of the top two. Cross (Oldswinford) handed their visitors Church Tavern a 7-0 whitewash. At the other end of the table Glasscutters moved off the bottom spot when they won only their second game in twenty-nine beating Fox Inn (Lye) 4-3 to be replaced at the foot of the table by Old Cat Inn who went down 5-2 at Bird in Hand leaving them on the same four points as Glasscutters but with an inferior average.
Full Results:Game 31:- Cross (Oldswinford) 7 Church Tavern 0, Britannia 1 Netherton Conservative Club 6, Fox Inn (Lye) 3 Glasscutters 4, Raven 3 Mount Pleasant 4, Ten Arches 2 Old Liberal Club 5, Cottage 4 Rose and Crown ‘B’ 3, Rose and Crown ‘A’ 4 Seven Stars 3, Bird in Hand 5 Old Cat Inn 2, Crestwood 3 The Princess 4, Gate Hangs Well had a bye.
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It was local derby week in the Netherton Thursday Night League with leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ taking on their next to bottom of the table ‘B’ side and winning 6-3 and third in the league Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ squaring up to their bottom of the table ‘B’ team, and with a maximum from R.Hodgetts it was the ‘A’ team who got the better of the 8-1 result. The current position in the league is that the Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ lead with forty-four points from twenty-six games and two more to play, Bulls Head who won 6-3 at home against Spring Meadow are on forty-two points but have completed their programme. Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ in third place, like the leaders still have two to play and have forty points, so it is still mathematically possible for them to win the league but realistically not very likely.
Full Results:Game 28:- Bulls Head 6 Spring Meadow 3, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 3 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 6, Hill and Cakemore 5 Townsend Social Club 4 (W.Cairns 180), Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ 8 (R.Hodgetts 180) Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ 1.
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With nineteen of a scheduled thirty fixtures played in the Rowley Monday Night League only average separates the top two teams. A 9-0 win at bottom of the table Huntingtree keeps Bell top of the table on average from White Swan whose 5-4 home win over Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club leaves them trailing by a huge nineteen legs of average with both teams on thirty-four points. Gate Hangs Well have replaced Hill and Cakemore in third place following their 8-1 home win over Loyal Lodge, they are just two points off the top and two ahead of fourth placed Hill and Cakemore.
On the individual scene there was a maximum for White Swan’s Mathew Tedstone and a superb 157 game shot for A.Wallace (Gate Hangs Well).
Full Results:Game 19:- Wonder 4 Windmills End 5, Whiteheath Tavern 5 Waterfall 4, Plough and Harrow 6 Rowley Labour Club 3, White Swan 5 (Mathew Tedstone 180) Hill and Cakemore Ex Servicemen’s Club 4, Gate Hangs Well 8 (A.Wallace 157b) Loyal Lodge 1, Tividale FC 5 Spring Meadow 4, Huntingtree 0 Bell 9, Romsley Cricket Club 3 Rowley Bar and Grill 6.
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Leaders of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League Old Liberal Club ‘A’ had a local derby with their ‘B’ side in the latest round of fixtures, a game they won 6-1 to take their undefeated run to nine games and at the same time keep intact their two points advantage over Bird in Hand ‘E’, Hollybush and Stourbridge FC, Bird in Hand ‘E’ were also 6-1 winners playing away against Ashwood while Hollybush made it 6-1 wins for all of the top three teams when they won at Shovel. Stourbridge FC had a 5-2 win at Netherton Conservative Club.
Full Results:Game 9:- Garibaldi 4 Brickmakers Arms 3, Dudley Sports 3 Fox Inn (Lye) 4, Kings Head 5 Black Horse 2, Shovel 1 Hollybush 6, Old Liberal Club ‘B’ 1 Old Liberal Club ‘A’ 6, Wheatsheaf 1 Union 6, Ashwood 1 Bird in Hnad ‘E’ 6, Netherton Conservative Club 2 Stourbridge FC 5.
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In his push for the Ashwood Premier League title John Green added another couple of 6-1 wins to his tally in the latest round of games, first he beat Chris Manoila and then won against Paul Pollard to take his total points from forty games to 224 while second placed Nick Fullwell also kicked-off the night with a 6-1 win when he defeated Mitch Pickett but was then held to a closer 4-3 success by Shane Passey to give him 220 from thirty-seven games.
Full Results:Week 22:- Cayden Smith 6 Chris Williams 1, John Green 6 Chris Manoila 1, Carl Hipkiss 6 Chris Eacock 1, Chris Fox 6 Wozza Pritchard 1, Nick Fullwell 6 Mitch Pickett 1, Josh Pickett 4 Shane Passey 3, Neil Murphy 4 Martyn Harper 3, Craig Lowin 4 Kevin Harris 3, Chris Willia,s 4 Matt Davies 3, Ash Marson 4 Jon Underhill 3, Jake Robinson 4 Chris Fox 3, John Green 6 Paul Pollard 1, Dave Simpson 6 Mitch Pickett 1, Gavin Smith 5 Sam Aitkens 2, Andy Vellender 5 Chris Eacok 2, Jayden Harper 7 Tony Bennett 0, Cayden Smith 6 Craig Lowin 1, Chris Williams 5 Carl Hipkiss 2, Andy Vellender 7 Jack Pritchard 0, Nick Fullwell 4 Shane Passey 3, Martyn Harper 4 Josh Pickett 3, Kevin Harris 5 Alan Bate 2, Chris Manoila 5 Jayden Harper 2, Chris Williams 4 Jake Robinson 3, Gavin Smith 7 Alan Bate 0, Neil Murphy 5 Paul Pollard 2, Jon Underhill 4 Matt Davies 3, Dave Simpson 6 Ash Marson 1, Jack Pritchard 5 Tony Bennett 2, Sam Aitkens 4 Wozza Pritchard 3, Matt Davies 4 Cayden Smith 3, Martyn Harper 4 Kevin Harris 3, Kevin Harris 6 Wozza Pritchard 1, Jon Underhill 4 Matt Davies 3.
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Allen’s Bar ‘C’ hold on to their pole position in the Black Country Men’s Super League with a 3-2 win over their ‘A’ team, the win taking the ‘C’ team’s points to twenty-six while second in the league Railway Tavern had a similar 3-2 win at home over Horse and Jockey leaving them just two points short of the leaders as are third in the table Whiteheath Tavern after they also won 3-2 at home against Townsend Social. Quarry Bank Liberal are fourth and one point further behind after they won 3-2 in their home match with Old Bulls Head.
Full Results:Game 7:- Quarry Bank Liberal Club 3 Old Bulls Head 2, Railway Tavern 3 Horse and Jockey 2, White Swan 4 Allen’s Bar ‘B’ 1, The Ashwood 3 Soccer Zone 2, Coseley Tavern 3 The Vine, Blackheath 2, Townsend Social ‘A’ 3 Halesowen Cricket Club 2, Whiteheath Tavern 3 Townsend Social 2, Allen’s Bar ‘C’ 3 Allen’s Bar ‘A’ 2.
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After playing seventeen games Dog and Partridge with 106 points top the West Midlands Men’s Super League table and have a nine points advantage over their nearest rivals Kings Head ‘A’. Third placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ are on the same 97 points as Kings Head ‘A’ but they have played one game more than them.
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After completing game nineteen in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League there is no change in the top seven places in division one with Scott Baker continuing to lead the field with 147 points from 19 games and having a lead of twenty-two over second placed Ben Johnson who has a game in hand on Baker.
Jason Hough tops the division two table, his 130 points giving him a lead of seven over Tony Singh who has moved up into the number two spot, Singh also has a game in hand on Hough.
Alan Melling is in a comfortable position at the top of division three, his 154 points eleven more than second placed Robert Harris who has played one game more than Melling.
Full Results:Game 19:- Reece Cook Lucas 3 Wayne Willis 5, Ian Stanton 3 Scott Baker 5, Phil Clarke 4 Jamie Webb 4, Simon Pritchard 3 Steve Lynch 5, Martin Angell 3 Rushpal Bhogal 5, Reece Cook Lucas 4 Paul Price 4, Scott baker 6 Ben Hollowood 2, Max Law 3 Keith Hollowood 5, Jason Hough 8 Malcolm Pugh 0, Tony Singh 6 Neville Quinton 2, Jason lloyd 3 Chris Hill 5, Eddie gripton 3 Jacqui Simmons 5, Alex Bryant 3 Joe Bartolo 5, Gemma Barrett Jenkins 4 Jamie Aplin 4, Sandra Beardsmore 2 Artur Lubkowski 6, Michele Pritchard 2 Robert Harris 6, Thomas Hollowood 6 Sara emma jones 2, Warren Bower 8 Helen Sims 0, Andy poole 0 Alan Melling 8.
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The singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League is as-you-were after playing fixtures number seven with only average separating the top three teams Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’, Woodfield and ECC ‘A’ who are all on 20 points.
There are no changes in the doubles division with ECC ‘A’ leading on 22 points and having four more than second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ who in turn are four to the good on both Ring of Bells and Woodfield.
Full Results:Game 11:Singles Division:- Corpus Christi ‘B’ 0 ECC ’A’ 7, Dog and Partridge 5 Three Crowns 2, ECC ‘B’ 1 Corpus Christi ‘A’ 6, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 3 Wednesfield Legion 4, Railway 2 Ring of Bells 5, Woodfield 4 Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 3, Doubles Division:- Corpus Christi ‘B’ 0 ECC ’A’ 3, Dog and Partridge 2 Three Crowns 1, ECC ‘B’ 0 Corpus Christi ‘A’ 3, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 1 Wednesfield Legion 2, Railway 2 Ring of Bells 1, Woodfield 2 Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 1.
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