Baker Serves Bagel to Remain Top

ALAN Towe’s regular extensive round-up of West Midlands league darts:

A 6-2 win at Highwood Gerry’s Boys and a 5-3 home defeat for Raven Arrows has seen Langley Arrows open up a four points lead at the top of group one of the Sheldon and District Summer League. Despite their defeat by Mackadown Social Raven hold on to second place on eight points while the loss for Gerry’s Boys leaves them six points off the top of the table. Fourth in the group Mackadown Social are on the same six points as Gerry’s Boys and just three legs of average behind them.

A 6-2 win away against the bottom of group two Hornet sees leaders of the group Willclare Sports and Social keep their unbeaten run intact and gives them a one-point lead plus a game in hand on second-placed Yardley Ex Colts who had a 5-3 win away to fourth in the group Maggies. Third-placed Shirley Misfits won 6-2 at Langley Flights to put them on the same five points as Maggies but three adrift of second-placed Yardley who have played one game more than the Misfits.

Sheldon Marlborough Ridge has a two points advantage over their nearest rivals Irish Centre in group three, Sheldon winning their home tie with the bottom of the group Raven 5-3 while Irish Centre were held to a 4-4 draw at Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club who are two places below them in the table but only one point behind with a game in hand. There is a similar situation for third-placed Lyndon Old Boys whose 6-2 win at Journeys End leaves them on the same six points as Hampton and Solihull with just one leg of average lead and again with a game in hand on the two teams above them.

Full Results: Game 6: Group One:- Highwood Gerry’s Boys 2 Langley Arrows 6, Raven Arrows 3 Mackadown Social 5 (Brian Allen 120f,12 darts game), The Dingle 4 Iron Horse Rebels 4, Group Two:- Hornet 2 Willclare Sports and Social 6, Langley Flights 2 (Mike Harris 120f) Shirley Misfits 6, Maggies 3 Yardley Ex Colts 5, Group Three:- Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 5 The Raven 3, Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club 4 (Lewis Round 107f) The Irish Centre 4, Journeys End 2 Lyndon Old Boys 6 (L.Palmers 12 darts game).

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For the first time this season in the six games played Copper Fox lost in the Kings Norton League. Not only did they lose for the first time but lost at home to their nearest rivals Rubery Social Club who have replaced them in pole position with a two points advantage. Rubery are now one of just two teams not to have lost, the other being third in the league Thurlestone who have only played four games so far the latest of which saw them win 5-2 at home against Bourneville to give them a perfect score of eight points.

At the other end of the table there was a first win in seven for Grant Arms. Playing away against Coppice Grant won 4-3 to lift them two places off the foot of the table and be replaced by Kings Heath who together with Coppice, who are next to bottom of the league, are both seeking their first win of the campaign.

Full Results: Game 7:- Copper Fox 3 (E.Simpson 2×100, M.Hamilton 141, D.Marsh 100, J.Hykin 112b, R.Mann 100,131, D.McConomy 121) Rubery Social Club 4 (M.Cormell 110b,140, A.Faulkner 100, J.O’Neill 2×100,160b, R.Higgins 100,114,129,137), Coppice 3 (R.Packer 125, S.Jacques 100,122, D.Fogerty 100, M.Mooney 100) Grant Arms 4 (N.Smith 110, P.Smith 120, A.McGowan 100, V.Walton 123), Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 2 (C.Davenport 100,100b, D.Whitecombe 100,132, J.Howell 120b, A.Reynolds 2×100) Cock Inn 5 (D.Vaughan 100,121, L.Fox 115b, A.Harvey 100, A.Vaughan 2×100, Joe Fox 100,117, K.Vaughan 121), Thurlestone 5 (J.Downer 112b,140, D.Garfield 140, M.Deeley 112b, S.Deeley 100, B.Andrews 115,138) Bourneville 2 (M.James 111b, J.Steward 100, P.Smith 2×100, A.Deeley 2×100), Longbridge 2 (L.Pearce 2×100, G.Bailles 110,160b, A.Bailles 121, S.Cartwright 100, G.Gilliam 100) E57 5 (N.Porter 100, T.Roberts 100, A.Mutch 139, D.Prioce 100).

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It was a case of top versus bottom in division one of the Shirley and District Monday Night League as leaders Dunky’s Boys travelled to take on Wythall Legion. The result was really as expected with Dunky’s winning with a comfortable 8-1 scoreline to keep them top of the division with a perfect eighteen points from their nine games and giving them a lead of four over second-placed The Lions who were not far behind with a 7-2 home win over next to bottom The Wharf. Third-placed Tippetts Bar had their game with Saracens Swords postponed and are now six points adrift of Dunky’s with two games in hand.

In division two there was a first defeat in seven for leaders Saracens Misfits as they went down 5-4 at Legion Royals who are fourth in the division and four points behind their opponents. Second-placed Leo’s Vikings moved to within two points of Misfits with a 6-3 win at Saracens Slingers who are bottom of the division.

Full Results: Game 9: Division One:- Wythall Legion 1 Dunky’s Boys 8, The Lions 7 The Wharf 2, Solihull Municipal 4 Lodge 5, Saracens Swords v Tippetts Bar was postponed, Cider House had a bye, Division Two:- Legion Royals 5 Saracens Misfits 4, HSCC 5 Yardley Wood Social 4, Highwood 4 Sharmans Cross 5, Saracens Slingers 3 Leo’s Vikings 6.

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The Sutton and District Summer League played off round two of their Prestridge Shield which produced no major shocks but possibly just the one surprise as Red Lion, who are sixth in division one beat their fellow division one team Walmley CSC Flights, who are third, 5-4.

There was a top of division two clash between leaders Golden Hind Lions and second-placed Heartlands with the former coming out the 5-4 winners. Another all-division two encounter between St Thomas Arrows and Rosey Mac’s saw Rosey’s win 6-3. The all division one fixture Old Horns Lions versus Old Oscott Arrows saw Arrows win 5-4.

Full Results: Prestridge Shield: Round Two:- Golden Hind Lions 5 Heartlands 4, Red Lion 5 Walmley CSC Flights 4, St Thomas Arrows 3 Rosey Mac’s 6, Old Horns Lions 4 Old Oscott Arrows 5.

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It was cup week in the Camp Hill League, the semi-finals of the League Cup and Consolation Cup. In the last four games of the League Cup fifth in the league Tyseley WMC beat local rivals and third in the table Tyseley Bears 4-3 while league leaders Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club won 5-2 against Clumsy Swan who are fourth in the league.

In the Consolation Cup semis, Aston Inn Nomads took on next to the bottom of the league Peaky Blinder and won 6-1, Moseley Arms who are two places off the foot of the table beat bottom-placed Sedgemere Devils 4-3.

Full Results: League Cup:Semi-Finals:- Tyseley WMC 4 Tyseley Bears 3, Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club 5 Clumsy Swan 2, Consolation Cup:Semi-Finals:- Aston Inn Nomads 6 Peaky Blinder 1, Moseley Arms 4 Sedgemere Devils 3.

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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night league has completed all of their domestic fixtures and acclaimed champions of the league with a total of 44 points from a possible 46 are White Horse who finished the season with a six points advantage over runners-up Cross (Oldswinford). Crestwood, with just ten points, took the wooden spoon.

Gate Hangs Well with twelve points and a four-point’s advantage won the Shadow League with Bird in Hand finishing in second place. Third-placed Rose and Crown had the same eight points as Rose and Crown but were three legs of average worse-off.

Full Results: Game 30:- Woodman 4 Bird in Hand 3, Ten Arches 6 Seven Stars 1, Bell ‘A’ 4 Gate Hangs Well 3, White Horse 7 Crestwood 0, Fox Inn (Lye), Church Tavern, Rose and Crown and Cross (Oldswinford) all had a bye.

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Waggon and Horses have extended their lead at the top of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League to six points after beating second in the league Dewdrop ‘A’ 5-2. A 4-3 win at Horseley Tavern has seen third in the league Miners Arms ‘B’ draw level on 28 points with Dewdrop ‘A’ but they have played one game more than their rivals.

The shock of the week was provided by Sow and Pigs who are next to bottom of the table however their lowly position counted for nothing as they won their home game with fifth in the league Vine ‘A’ 4-3, Vine ‘’A’ are a huge ten points to the good on their victors who have only won four of their eighteen games.

Full Results: Game 19:- Horseley Tavern 3 Miners Arms ‘B’ 4, Vine ‘B’ 4 Albion 3, Dewdrop ‘A’ 2 Waggon and Horses 5, Sow and Pigs 4 Vine ‘A’ 3, Miners Arms ‘A’ 5 Tamebridge 2, Dewdrop ‘B’ had a bye.

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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club have opened up a three points lead at the top of the Silver End Sunday Morning League after winning by a huge 7-1 playing away against second in the league Old Star. Old Star remains in the number two spot but is now in danger of losing it as Dudley Sports, who had a bye this week is third in the table on 31 points, two short of Old Star but with a game in hand that carries three possible points.

Full Results: Game 15:- Bell ‘A’ 6 Kings Head ‘A’ 2, Black Horse ‘B’ 5 Bell ‘B’ 3, Crestwood 6 Black Horse ‘A’ 2, Kings Head ‘B’ 1 New Talbot 7, Old Star 1 Dudley Ex Servicemen’s Club 7, Tenth Lock 7 Brickmakers Arms 1, Dudley Sports had a bye.

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A narrow 4-3 home win over Raven, who are just three places off the foot of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League keeps Ten Arches top of the league with ten points from their first five games. Arches have a slim two legs advantage over second in the table Labour Club whose 6-1 win at Brickmakers Arms gives them, like Ten Arches a flawless start to the season in the opening five games. Third in the table Bird in Hand ‘E’ lost for the first time when they finished on the wrong side of a 4-3 result at Hollybush and are now two points behind the top two teams.

Dudley Sports chalked up their first win when they won 4-3 at home against Black Horse Shovel replacing them at the foot of the table following their 4-3 defeat at Stourbridge FC. Shovel are now the only team in the league without a win in the opening five games.

Full Results: Game 5:- Ten Arches 4 Raven 3, Stourbridge FC 4 Shovel 3, Bell ‘A’ 4 Ashwood 3, Dudley Sports 4 Black Horse 3, Fox Inn (Lye) 5 Bell ‘B’ 2, Hollybush 4 (C.Penzer 115f) Bird In Hand ‘E’ 3 (S.Skidmore 160b), Brickmakers Arms 1 Labour Club 6.

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The Rowley Monday Night League staged the quarter-finals of their League Cup in which league leaders Bell booked their last four place with a 5-2 win at Romsley Cricket Club. Fifth and sixth in the league Cradley Sports and Social and White Swan played each other with the former getting the close 5-4 verdict. Windmills End have just eight points in the league but nevertheless beat Ex Serviceman’s, who are on double their points, 5-4. Wonder go through to the semi-finals on the 26^th of September with a 5-0 result against Roost.

Full Results: League Cup: Quarter-Finals:- Cradley Sports and Social 5 White Swan 4, Romsley Cricket Club 2 Bell 5, Windmills End 5 Ex Servicemen’s 4, Wonder 5 Roost 0.

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In week 23 of the Ashwood Premier League leader Nick Fullwell began with two 4-3 wins against his nearest rival second placed Sam Aitkens and then against Chris Williams who is twelfth in the league. He then recorded his best win of the evening a 6-1 result against Mike Cullis before ending the night with a defeat, only his sixth in 39 games when he lost 4-3 to Adam Edgar. Edgar began his evening in twelfth position but after losing 5-2 to Tom Stockton then added a 7-0 win over Gaz Cartwright before beating Fullwell and rounding off his night with a further 4-3 against second in the table Sam Aitkens to lift him six places in the table to sixth.

Aitkens after losing to Fullwell moved up from third to second as a result of him going on to beat Mark Glaze 6-1 and Martyn Harper 4-3 before losing his last game to Edgar. Fullwell with 240 points has a massive 45 lead over Aitkens with both players having played 39 games.

Full Results: Week 23:- Nick Fullwell 4 Sam Aitkens 3, Chris Williams 6 Mark Glaze 1, Tom Stockton 5 Adam Edgar 2, Rob Pierce 6 Mike Cullis 1, Martyn Harper 7 Matt Davies 0, Adam Edgar 7 Gaz Cartwright 0, Tony Bennett 5 Mitch Pickett 2, Nick Fullwell 4 Chris Williams 3, Dave Simpson 5 Mike Cullis 2, Tom Stockton 5 Andy Vellender 2, Matt Davies 4 Paul Pollard 3, Paul Pollard 5 Mitch Pickett 2, Nick Fullwell 6 Mike Cullis 1, Sam Aitkens 6 Mark Glaze 1, Rob Pierce 6 Tony Bennett 1, Shane Passey 4 Josh Pickett 3, Martyn Harper 4 Chris Williams 3, Tom Stockton 6 Dave Simpson 1, Chris Williams 6 Gaz Cartwright 1, Andy Vellender 6 Shane Passey 1, Josh Pickett 7 Mark Glaze 0, Adam Edgar 4 Nick Fullwell 3, Sam Aitkens 4 Martyn Harper 3, Chris Williams 5 Paul Pollard 2, Adam Edgar 4 Sam Aitkens 3.

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Nick Fullwell didn’t play in week 18 of the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League but nevertheless held on to pole position with 249 points from 31 games. Former leader Graham Hall was back in action after missing a couple of weeks and was quick to make his mark once again as he kicked off with a 6-2 win over Reece Colley and although he was then held to a 4-4 draw by Jason Lowe he rounded off his three games by handing Alex Mason a 7-1 defeat to take his points to 240, nine short of Fullwell but he still has three games in hand.

Jamie Hughes is placed fourth on 227 points from 27 games, on the night he finished all square at 4-4 with Justin Evans and beat Steven Gillam 8-0.

Full Results:Week 18:- Reece Colley 7 Rich Bowen 1, Justin Evans 5 Martin Angell 3, Justin Evans 5 Steven Gillam 3, Benjamin Hollowood 6 Grace Angell 2, Cheryl Allcock 4 Paul Harrison 4, Graham Hall 6 Reece Colley 2, Martin Angell 5 Shane Price 3, Jamie Hughes 4 Justin Evans 4, Graham Hall 4 Jason Lowe 4, Steven Gillam 6 Grace Angell 2, Rich Bowen 8 Paul Harrison 0, Kieron Ford 5 Cheryl Allcock 3, Shane Price 7 Benjamin Hollowood 1, Reece Colley 7 Martin Angell 1, Jason Lowe 7 Justin Evans 1, Graham Hall 7 Alex Mason 1, Jamie Hughes 8 Steven Gillam 0,

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Allens Bar ‘A’ gained what could be a vital win in game seven of the Black Country Men’s Super League when they beat Railway Tavern 4-1. The win takes Allens ‘A’ points tally to 45 and sees Railway drop from second to third on 36 points, one short of Gilbert’s Bar who have replaced them in the second spot after their 4-1 success against Allens Bar ‘B’. Gilbert’s win leaves them eight points fewer than the leaders.

Horse and Jockey ‘A’ had a narrow 3-2 defeat at Halesowen Cricket Club to leave them bottom of the table and the only team in the league without a win after seven games.

Full Results: Game 7:- The Maverick 4 Allens Bar ‘C’ 1, Allens Bar ‘A’ 4 Railway Tavern 1, Whiteheath Tavern 4 Horse and Jockey ‘B’ 1, Gilbert’s Bar 4 Allens Bar ‘B’ 1, Yeltz Bar 3 Rowley Bar and Grill 2, The Ashwood 3 Bell, Kingswinford ‘B’ 2, Halesowen Cricket Club 3 Horse and Jockey ‘A’ 2, Yeltz Bar ‘A’ 4 Bell, Kingswinford ‘A’ 1.

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An 8-0 win over Keith Hollowood consolidates Scott Baker’s position at the top of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League taking his points to 185 from 20 games and giving him a huge 37 points advantage with a game in hand on second-placed John Simms who didn’t play on the night. Third and fourth-placed Jon Blakemore and Simon Mountford have games in hand on the two players above them Blakemore has 140 points from 19 games and Mountford 136 from 18 games.

Full Results: Week 23: Board 1:- Keith Hollowood 0 Scott Baker 8, Colin Wood 1 Martin East 7, Sandra Beardsmore 3 Alex Simmons 5, Board 2:- Chris Hill 2 Andy Jervis 6, Simon Pritchard 3 Neville Quinton 5, Ray Gutteridge 5 Warren Bower 3, Board 3:- Mal Pugh 6 Jamie Aplin 2, Gemma Barrett Jenkins 3 Simon Mountford 5, Board 4:- Riley Ward 2 Tom Hollowood 6, Phil Clarke 7 Roger Ward 1.

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Woodfield had their lead at the top of the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League reduced to just one leg of average when in week 12 they lost 4-3 at Gilbert’s Bar. This was Woodfield’s first loss in ten and leaves them level on 18 points with second-placed Railway who won 6-1 at home against Stile. Gilbert’s are placed third and are now just two points behind the leading duo.

In the doubles division, Hurst Hill’s 3-0 win over Stile puts them top of the table but only on average from previous leaders ECC whose 2-1 success against Cleveland Arms puts them on the same 18 points as Hurst Hill and just three legs of average behind them but more importantly they have played one game more than the leaders.

Full Results: Week 12: Singles Division:- Cleveland Arms 5 ECC 2, Gilberts 4 Woodfield 3, Railway 6 Jacks Bar 1, Stile 2 Hurst Hill 5, Wednesfield Legion 3 Dog and Partridge 4, Moreton Arms and Red Lion had a bye, Doubles Division:- Cleveland Arms 1 ECC 2, Gilberts 3 Woodfield 0, Railway 2 Jacks Bar 1, Stile 0 Hurst Hill 3, Wednesfield Legion 3 Dog and Partridge 0, Moreton Arms and Red Lion had a bye.

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Alan Towe Writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts

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