The Dave Duncan Double Top League began in 2017 as a tribute to the late Dave Duncan and has been continued since by the players who used to play for him in various leagues. The most recent season has now ended and the winner of the 2022 title was Simon Power.
Power won thirteen of the fourteen games he played but with points being determined by the number of winning legs he amassed a total of 51 points four more than runner-up Andy Hutchings who took the number two spot due to the fact he had won eleven games compared to third placed Richard Mills having won ten but finishing on the same 47 points as Hutchings.
Fourth-placed Jason Jennings ended the campaign with 44 points, one more than joint fifth Terry Webster and Tom White who finished the season on the same number of wins, losses average, and 43 points.
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Langley Arrows, leaders of group one of the Sheldon and District Summer League had their game with bottom of the division Iron Horse Rebels postponed but nevertheless held on to pole position with 12 points despite their nearest rivals Raven Arrows winning 6-2 at Dingle. Although Raven Arrows have played one game more than the leaders they are still two points behind them. Mackadown Social won their home tie with Highwood Gerry’s Boys to replace their hosts in third place and keep within two points of Raven.
Like the group one leaders Willclare Sports and Social, who are top of group two had their game with second in the group Yardley Ex Colts postponed. They both remain in the same top two positions with Maggies taking over the third place after a 5-3 home win over Langley Flights whose Andy Barnfield recorded a maximum. Shirley Misfits drop one place to fourth following their surprising 5-3 home defeat by Hornet who move off the foot of the table.
Group three provided a top-of-the-table clash when leaders Sheldon Marlborough Ridge travelled to take on second-placed Irish Centre. The result was a 6-2 with for Sheldon to open up a three points lead at the top of the group while Irish Centre dropped two places in the table to fourth. A convincing 7-1 win at The Raven has seen Lyndon Old Boys move up into second place and despite their three points deficit have a game in hand on the leaders.
Full Results: Week 7:Group One:- Dingle 2 Raven Arrows 6 (Dave Mortiboys 13 darts game), Mackadown Social 5 Highwood Gerry’s Boys 3, Langley Arrows v Iron Horse Rebels was postponed, Group Two:- Maggies 5 Langley Flights 3 (Andy Barnfield 180), Shirley Misfits 3 Hornet 5, Willclare Sports and Social v Yardley Ex Colts was postponed, Group Three:- The Raven 1 Lyndon Old Boys 7, Journeys End 4 (James Cassidy 120f) Hanpton and Solihull Cricket Club 4, The Irish Centre 2 Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 6.
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Dunky’s Boys have another five games to play in division one of the Shirley and District Monday Night League but an 8-1 win at Solihull Municipal has taken their unbeaten run to eleven games and gives them six points lead over second and third-placed Tippetts Bar and Lions. Tippetts, who have two games in hand on Dunky’s also won 8-1 as they defeated The Wharf at home while the Lions, who are on the same number of games as the leaders had a closer 5-4 home win over bottom-placed Wythall Legion.
It’s close in division two with just two points separating the top four teams. Top of the division Saracens Misfits suffered a 6-3 defeat at fifth in the division Yardley Wood Social but second in the division Highwood reduced the arrears as they beat fourth-placed Legion Royals 6-3. Third, in the table, Leo’s Vikings won 5-4 at HSCC. Highwood, Leo’s Vikings, and Legion Royals are all on ten points.
Full Results: Game 22:Division One:- Cider House 5 Saracens Swords 4 (N.Slattery 112b), The Lions 5 (S.Talbot 18 darts game) Wythall Legion 4 (J.Lee 15 darts game, R.Docker 180,15 darts game), Solihull Municipal 1 (C.Clarke 180) Dunky’s Boys 8 (S.Edwards 180,17 darts game, J.Jennings 17 darts game, R.Mills 112b), Tippetts Bar 8 (S.Harding 127f) The Wharf 1 (L.Hodges 100b), Lodge had a bye, Division Two:- Yardley Wood Social 6 (R.Hitchmough 180) Saracens Misfits 3 (J.Barrows 180,18 darts game), Legion Royals 3 Highwood 6 (N.Byrne 180, W.Cooper 108f), HSCC 4 (A.Easthope 106b) Leo’s Vikings 5, Saracens Slingers v Sharmans Cross postponed.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League played off the finals of their Doubles Knockout, the losing quarter-finalists were M.Pye and M.Purchase (Woodman), C.Hart and A.White (White Horse). B.Watts and J.Payne (Bell ‘A’) and K.Forrest and M.Fitzgerald (Cross, Oldswinford) had a bye. In the last four games J.Jackson and W.Incher (Cross, Oldswinford) lost 2-1 to K.Bambrick and J.Batham (White Horse), B.Watts and J.Payne (Bell ‘A’) lost by the same margin to K.Forrest and M.Fitzgerald (Cross, Oldswinford).
The final saw Bambrick and Batham clinch the title with a straight 2-0 results against Forrest and Fitzgerald.
Full Results:Quarter-Finals:- J.Jackson & W.Incher (Cross, Oldswinford) 2 M.Pye & M.Purchase (Woodman) 0, C.Hart & A.White (White Horse) 0 J.Batham & K.Bambrick (White Horse) 2, B.Watts & J.Payne (Bell ‘A’) and K.Forrest & M.Fitzgerald (Cross, Oldswinford) had a bye, Semi-Finals:- J.Jackson & W.Incher 1 K.Bambrick & J.Batham 2, B.Watts & J.Payne 1 K.Forrest & M.Fitzgerald 2, Final:- K.Forrest & M.Fitzgerald 0 K.Bambrick & J.Batham 2.
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As the Camp Hill League move into the second half of their season Aston Inn Nomads, who had their fixture with Clumsy Swan postponed lead the field with a perfect score of sixteen points from eight games, second in the league Tyseley Bears were 6-1 home winners over former second placed Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club to put them level on 14 points were their third-placed opponents but with a very close one leg of the average lead.
After the top three is a huge six points gap to Tyseley WMC and Clumsy Swan, Clumsy Swan having a game in hand on the three teams directly above them.
Full Results: Week 8:- Sedgemere Devils 2 Tyseley WMC 5, Aston Inn Nomads 4 Tyseley Bears 3, Week 9:- Tyseley Bears 6 Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club 1, Moseley Arms 2 Tyseley WMC 5, Aston Inn Nomads v Clumsy Swan and Sedgemere Devils v Peaky Blinder postponed.
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The AGM to form the new season for the Netherton Thursday Night League will be held at the Bulls Head Netherton at 7.30pm tomorrow night, Thursday 11th August.
Should you be looking to join another league or actually re-join the Netherton Thursday Night League then make sure your team is represented at the AGM, all teams are invited to attend.
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With Walmley CSC Flights losing 5-4 at home to Red Lion and Bishop Vesey winning their home tie with Plough and Arrows 6-3, Vesey have opened up a two points lead at the top of division one of the Sutton and District Summer League. Third placed Nomads had a 5-4 win at home against Highcroft Social to put them on the same sixteen points as Walmley and with a game in hand which could put them level on 18 points with Bishop Vesey.
Division two leaders Golden Lion Arrows had a 5-4 home win over Scott Armers to keep them four points to the good on second in the division Heartlands who were 6-3 winners at third in the table Oscott Social Club who have a game in hand but are now six points behind their victors.
Full Results: Game 11:Division One:- Bishop Vesey 6 Plough and Arrows 3, Walmley CSC Flights 4 Red Lion 5, The Nomads 5 Highcroft Social 4, The Old Horns Lions 4 Old Oscott Arrows 5, Pint Pot Flights had a bye, Division Two:- Sutton Sharks 3 Bill’s Arrows 6, Golden Lion Arrows 5 Scott Armers 4, Oscott Social Club 3 Heartlands 6, Rosey Mac’s 5 Erdington Arrows 4, St Thomas Arrows 5 Sutton Sports and Social 4.
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For the first time in the opening eight games Rubery Social Club, leaders of the Kings Norton League lost, and surprisingly it was a 5-2 defeat playing away to next to the bottom of the league Coppice, their first win in six games. In spite of the loss, Rubery remain in pole position but have now had their lead cut to just two points over Copper Fox who have a game in hand which could see them return to the top of the table.
After the top two there are four teams Bournebrook, Thurlestone, E57 and Northfield all on ten points four short of Rubery, Bournebrook won 6-1 away to Bourneville, Thurlestone won by the same 6-1 margin against Cock Inn, there was no result in for E57 and Northfield beat Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 4-3.
Full Results:Game 9:- Grant Arms 4 (P.Taylor 180, S.Hale 140, P.Smith 100,121, M.Ellis 121, V.Walton 100) Kings Heath 3 (D.Parish 110, R.Hampton 100,104f, J.Desai 107), Northfield 4 (M.Lloyd 100,140, A.Busby 100,125, J.Taylor 100, P.Draper 140, D.Hopkins 144,11 darts game, H.Taylor 140) Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 3 (R.Fisher 100,100b, T.Shaw 140), Thurlestone 6 (R.Waldron 108b,140, T.Garfield 152b,8 darts game, D.Garfield 100b, J.Downer 100,140,11 darts game, S.Deeley 140, B.Andrews 140, R.Waldron 180) Cock Inn 1 (K.Jukes 100, D.Vaughan 121, L.Fox 112b,139, A.Harvey 2×140,120b, Joe Fox 121), Bourneville 1 (A.Deeley 140) Bournebrook 6 (K.Mason 135,12 darts game, T.Jeffs 132, M.Bathurst 100,100b, C.Ryan 115b, J.Stringer 126, M.Henson 135), Coppice 5 (A.Ward 100, R.Packer 100, S.Jacques 100, A.Chidley 140,152b, D.Fogerty 100) Rubery Social Club 2 (R.Higgins 124, A.Faulkner 100,120b, J.Grainger 100, J.Ford 100b).
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The Harborne and District League have got their new season underway and what a start it was for Smethwick Cricket Club who handed their visitors The Mill, a 9-0 whitewash to put them top of the league. Close behind Smethwick come’s Copper Fox ‘M’ who won their fixture at Quinton RBL 8-1. Bugle Horn and Northfield Town in turn won 6-3 against Northfield Conservative Club and Cock Inn while Weoley Castle WMC had a close 5-4 success against Avenue Social.
Full Results: Game 1:- Northfield Conservative Club 3 (J.Hill 100,120, S.Jones 2×100, T.Garfield 2×100,101,114,131,140,130f,15 darts game, D.Hill 4×100, S.Cartwright 100,135,2×140, W.Marshall 2×100, T.Shipley & T.Garfield 14 and 15 darts games) Bugle Horn 6 (N.Steventon 3×100, D.Nicholls 3×100,125,140, M.Poolton 125, J.Hykin 4×100,125,140,180, R.Smith 2×100,111,125,140, P.Sitshebo 2×100,121), Quinton RBL 1 (P.Stokes 100,134, D.McDermott 100,108, D.McConomy 100,100f, F.Goldsby 105,115) Copper Fox ‘M’ 8 (D.Kent 100, J.Downer 100,125, K.Jukes 2×100, A.Harvey 2×100, G.Dews 3×100, M.Davies 134), Smethwick Cricket Club 9 (A.Beagrie 140, M.Collins 3×100,140, P.Brookes 180, T.Brennan 2×100,140, F.Johnson 2×100,2×140, V.Gould 140, F.Johnson 180) The Mill 0 (J.Goulding 100, O.Gough 100,120), Weoley Castle WMC 5 (M.Bolton 100, S.Joyce 2×100, S.Pasetti 125,140, A.Heath 2×100, P.Coombs 100, T.Heath 2×100,121, D.Cornwell 100) Avenue Social 4 (P.Gilliland 100,125,135), Northfield Town 6 (M.Hopkins 128,135, A.Busby 4×100,105, S.Busby 100,120, M.James 3×100, D.Hopkins 2×100,140) Cock Inn 3 (M.Malone 125, L.Fox 121,3×140, Joe Fox 2×100,135, K.Vaughan 100).
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In the Silver End Sunday Morning League leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club missed the opportunity to widen the gap between themselves and second placed Old Star much further as they were held to a 4-4 draw at Black Horse ‘A’ who are next to bottom of the table with just one win and five draws from their seventeen games. Even so the Ex Serviceman’s Club did extend their lead by one extra point to four as Old Star lost 5-3 at third in the league Dudley Sports who are now just one point behind their opponents with a game in hand.
Full Results: Game 17:- Bell ‘A’ 5 Brickmakers Arms 3, Black Horse ‘A’ 4 Dudley Ex Servicemen’s Club 4, Dudley Sports 5 Old Star 3, Crestwood 3 Kings Head ‘A’ 5, Kings Head ‘B’ 3 Black Horse ‘B’ 5, Tenth Lock 6 New Talbot 2, Bell ‘B’ had a bye.
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There was a first win in seven games for Shovel in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as they won 4-3 at Dudley Sports to lift them off the bottom of the table and up three places in the table, Dudley Sports dropping to a next to bottom position.
At the other end of the table, leaders Labour Club made it seven straight wins when they beat second-placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ 4-3 to open up a two-point advantage over them. Third-placed Ten Arches won 4-3 at Bell ‘A’ while fourth in the league Fox Inn (Lye) won an important battle with fifth-placed Ashwood 4-3.
Full Results: Game 7:- Stourbridge FC 4 Raven 3, Bell ‘A’ 3 Ten Arches 4, Dudley Sports 3 Shovel 4, Fox Inn (Lye) 4 Ashwood 3, Hollybush 6 Black Horse 1, Brickmakers Arms 3 Bell ‘B’ 4, Labour Club 4 Bird in Hand ‘E’ 3.
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No change at the top of the Rowley Monday Night League with all of the top three teams winning to put them all on 36 points from 21 games. Leaders Bell extended their average lead by just one leg when they won 8-1 against Spring Meadow and second placed Clock (Whiteheath) won 7-2 against Ex Serviceman’s Club, third in the table Plough and Harrow added a 6-3 win Gate Hangs Well to their account, Gate Hangs Well are fourth in the league but trail the top three by some six points.
Full Results: Game 21:- Loyal Lodge 3 Cradley Sports and Social 6, Bell 8 Spring Meadow 1, Gate Hangs Well 3 Plough and Harrow 6, Tividale FC 3 Roost 6, Romsley Cricket Club 7 Hare and Hounds 2, Three Diamonds 4 Windmills End 5, Clock (Whiteheath) 7 Ex Serviceman’s Club 2, Wonder v White Swan was postponed.
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Nick Fullwell added 6-1 wins against Josh Pickett and Chris Manoila to his tally in the Ashwood Premier League to keep him top of the table with 254 points. Sam Aitkens didn’t have the best of nights as he lost 4-3 to Kevin Harris and then 5-2 to Andy Vellender to see him drop from second to fifth in the table on 202 points. Taking over in the number two position is Chris Williams, Chris kicked off with a 6-1 win over Andy Vellender and then won 4-3 against Neil Murphy before adding another 6-1 win over Matt Davies and rounding off his evening with a 5-2 success over Josh Pickett to take his number of points to 213, six more than third-placed Dave Simpson who added a 7-0 win over Ash Marson and a 4-3 win against Martyn Harper to give him 207 points. Geoff Marson was previously third in the league but he lost 6-1 to Tom Stockton before beating Jayden Harper by the same score to leave him two points short of Simpson in fourth place.
Full Results: Week 25:- Chris Fox 6 Mitch Pickett 1, Chris Williams 6 Andy Vellender 1, Mark Glaze 4 Tony Bennett 3, Kevin Harris 7 Jon Underhill 0, Dave Simpson 7 Ash Marson 0, Matt Davies 5 Gaz Cartwright 2, Tom Stockton 6 Geoff Marson 1, Rob Pierce 6 Mitch Pickett 1, Chris Williams 4 Neil Murphy 3, Martyn Harper 4 Shane Passey 3, Nick Fullwell 6 Josh Pickett 1, Chris Manoila 7 Tony Bennett 0, Gaz Cartwright 4 Craig Lowin 3, Chris Fox 5 Ash Marson 2, Dave Simpson 4 Martyn Harper 3, Shane Passey 6 Jayden Harper 1, Kevin Harris 4 Sam Aitkens 3, Chris Williams 6 Matt Davies 1, Rob Pierce 7 Mark Glaze 0, Tom Stockton 7 Jon Underhill 0, Nick Fullwell 6 Chris Manoila 1, Andy Vellender 5 Sam Aitkens 2, Chris Williams 5 Josh Pickett 2, Neil Murphy 6 Craig Lowin 1, Geoff Marson 6 Jayden Harper 1.
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Rich Bowen was the only player to actually play in the top nine players in the Black Country Thursday Night league in week 20 and he lost both of his games against Justin Evans and Heather Wright 5-3. Bowen is on 256 points, he is twelve short of leader Nick Fullwell and has played three more games than Fullwell.
Full Results: Week 20:- Justin Evans 8 Paul Dicken 0, Grace Angell 5 Paul Dicken 3, Justin Evans 5 Rich Bowen 3, Paul Harrison 7 James Davies 1, Justin Evans 8 Grace Angell 0, Alex Mason 6 Paul Dicken 2, Heather Wright 5 Rich Bowen 3, Justin Evans 7 James Davies 1, Paul Harrison 5 Grace Angell 3, Heather Wright 5 Paul Dicken 3, Martin Angell 6 Alex Mason 2.
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Is any team going to stop the charge of Allens Bar ‘A’ in the Black Country Men’s Super League as they added another 5-0 win over local rivals Allens Bar ‘C’ to their account to give them a total of 59 points from nine games and an impressive lead of ten points over second-placed Railway Tavern who beat Bell, Kingswinford ‘A’ 4-1. Bell, Kingswinford ‘B’ handed out a surprising 3-2 defeat to their guests Gilbert’s Bar who prior to the game were second in the league but after the defeat have dropped to fifth. Thanks to a 3-2 home win over Halesowen Cricket Club Yeltz Bar ‘A’ have taken over second place, their 47 points two short of Railway.
Full Results: Game 9:- Yeltz Bar 3 Allens Bar ‘B’ 2, Whiteheath Tavern 3 The Ashwood 2, Bell, Kingswinford ‘B’ 3 Gilbert’s Bar 2, The Maverick 5 Horse and Jockey ‘B’ 0, Rowley Bar and Grill 3 Horse and Jockey ‘A’ 2, Railway Tavern 4 Bell, Kingswinford ‘A’ 1, Allens Bar ‘A’ 5 Allens Bar ‘C’ 0, Yeltz Bar ‘A’ 3 Halesowen Cricket Club 2.
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Scott Baker with a 7-1 win over Andy Jervis made it twenty wins and one draw from the 21 games he has played in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League and gives him a lead of some 45 points over second in the league Jon Blakemore. Blakemore also won his game on the night 7-1 against Warren Bower to give him a slender one-point lead, but with a game in hand on third in the table John Simms who didn’t play this week.
Full Results: Week 24: Board 1:- Steve Lynch 6 Mal Pugh 2, Keith Hollowood 2 Jamie Webb 6, Warren Bower 1 Jon Blakemore 7, Reece Cook-Lucas 8 Michele Pritchard 0, Board 2:- Artur Lubkowski 2 Tom Hollowood 6, Roger Ward 6 Gemma Barret Jenkins 2, Sandra Beardsmore 2 Sarah Maybury 6, Board 3:- Scott Baker 7 Andy Jervis 1, Ray Gutteridge 3 Jon Williams 5, Simon Pritchard 8 Eddie Gripton 0, Board 4:- Neville Quinton 7 Riley Ward 1, Jamie Aplin 2 Phil Clarke 6, Simon Mountford 4 Chris Hill 4.
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Woodfield not only lost 5-2 to Railway in week thirteen of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League but also lost their number one spot in the singles division to their victors. Railway with 22 points now have a two-points lead over second-placed Woodfield who only have an average lead over third in table Gilbert’s Bar who won 5-2 at Dog and Partridge.
ECC had a somewhat comfortable 5-2 win over Hurst Hill in the singles division but lost 2-1 to them in the doubles division to fall two points behind Hurst Hill who head the table with a perfect twenty points from ten games with ECC second on eighteen points from eleven games.
Full Results: Week 13: Singles Division:- Dog and Partridge 2 Gilbert’s Bar 5, ECC 5 Hurst Hill 2, Moreton Arms 2 Cleveland Arms 5, Red Lion 1 Wednesfield Legion 6, Woodfield 2 Railway 5, Jack’s Bar and Stile had a bye, Doubles Division:- Dog and Partridge 2 Gilbert’s Bar 1, ECC 1 Hurst Hill 2, Moreton Arms 2 Cleveland Arms 1, Red Lion 1 Wednesfield Legion 2, Woodfield 3 Railway 0, Jack’s Bar and Stile had a bye.
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Alan Towe writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts
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