West Midlands Leagues Busy Festive Season

Many congratulations to Warwickshire County player Natalie Gilbert who reached the final of the Winmau World Masters in Assen Holland. Unfortunately for Natalie in the final, she came up against an in-form Aileen de Graaf who netted her fourth ranking title of 2022 when she went on to win 5-1 against the Warwickshire star.

—————————-

Current leaders of the premier division in the Sheldon and District Winter League Sheldon Marlborough Arrows opened up a two points lead in week seven when they beat one of their title rivals Dunky’s Boys 6-3. Sheldon took their unbeaten run to six games while this was Dunky’s first defeat in six, however they hang on to their third place in the division but are now level on ten points with second in the table Langley Arrows who had a bye this week. Neil Parsonage and Terry Webster both hit a maximum for Sheldon, Parsonage also recording an eight-darts game.

In division one Langley Flights remain in pole position following their close 5-4 win at Shirley Misfits who are third in the division with six points, four short of their victors but with two games in hand. Second-placed Yardley Ex Colts lost ground in the title race losing their home game 5-4 against to Journeys End who are just to places off the foot of the table. Fourth in the division Dingle with a 180 from Neil Warner beat fifth-placed Maggies 6-3. There were also maximums for John Bown (Shirley Misfits) and Neil Bradley (Journeys End).

Brian’s Flights lead the way in division two adding a 7-2 win at The Raven to their account to make it six straight wins to give them a two points lead plus a game in hand on second-placed Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club who take over the number two spot from Iron Horse Rebels after beating them 5-4. Fourth in division two Trident Spears had their fixture with Lyndon Old Boys postponed, they are on the same eight points as Iron Horse Rebels with a game in hand.

Full Results: Week 7:Premier Division:- Sheldon Dukes 4 Raven Arrows 5, Dunky’s Boys 3 Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 6 (Neil Parsonage 180,8 darts game, Terry Webster 180, Nigel Davies 100f) Highwood Gerry’s Boys 5 Hollywood Social 4, Kingshurst Labour Club and Langley Arrows had a bye, Division One:- Hornet 3 The Dingle 6 (Neil Warner 180), Maggies 3 Willclare Sports and Social 6 (Matty Holt 140f,9 darts game), Shirley Misfits 4 (John Bown 180) Langley Flights 5, Yardley Ex Colts 4 Journeys End 5 (Neil Bradley 180), Division Two:- Castle Bromwich WMC 2 The Irish Centre 7, Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club 5 Iron Horse Rebels 4 (Robbie Earl 100f), The Raven 2 Brian’s Flights 7, The Trident Spears v Lyndon Old Boys was postponed, Sheldon Marlborough Ridge had a bye.

—————————

The results from this week’s games in the Kings Norton League had no effect on the league positions whatsoever as leaders Copper Fox won 5-2 at E57 to remain four points to the good on second-placed Northfield who were 5-2 winners at Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club who are next to bottom of the table. Third and fourth-placed Bournebrook and Thurlestone are both on 28 points, just two behind Northfield but with a game in hand. Bournebrook had a 4-3 home win over Bourneville while Thurlestone had a more convincing 5-2 success at Cock Inn.

Full Results: Game 20:- Kings Heath 4 (R.Hitchmough 130, J.Tulloch 120, A.Homer 2×100, D.Parish 100,100b, T.Newbanks 100) Grant Arms 3 (P.Taylor 2×100,116, A.Dewsbury 2×100,120b, P.Taylor 180), Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 2 (S.Corbett 120b, C.Davenport 125) Northfield 5 (L.Allen 2×100, A.Busby 105, G.Webb 100, M.Lloyd 100,11 darts game), Cock Inn 2 (A.Harvey 3×100, Joe Fox 100,105b, A.Vaughan 112b, John Fox 3×100) Thurlestone 5 (T.Garfield 125, J.Downer 100, R.Waldron 100, B.Andrews 140, C.Airey 140, V.Pickford 100, R.Waldron 2×180), Bournebrook 4 (T.Cullen 121, D.Collins 2×100, T.Jeffs 100,121, M.Welsh 100,100b,101b,139) Bourneville 3 (M.James 100,120, A.Deeley 109b,110b, J.Guy 110,102f,140, A.Hughes 116, G.Carver 160b, D.Malone 100), E57 2 (D.Logan 105b, N.Porter 2×100) Copper Fox 5 (E.Simpson 2x120b, M.Hamilton 100, T.Hamilton 100, A.Beagrie 100b), Rubery Social Club 3 (J.Higgins 112b, J.O’Neill 112,120b, R.Higgins 120b,140, K.Manger 100) Coppice 4 (A.Chidley 100,101b, B.Heath 2×100,125, M.Mooney 100).

———————————

Week twelve in the Harborne and District League was not a good one for leaders Bugle Horn as for the first time in twelve games they lost. Playing at home against their nearest rivals Northfield Conservative Club they went down 5-4 to leave them on the same twenty-two points as their visitors, only their four legs of average superiority seeing them hang on to pole position. The defeat for Bugle Horn now sees third in the table Smethwick Cricket Club, after their resounding 8-1 win away to next to bottom of the table The Mill, move to within two points of the top two teams and keeps them two ahead of fourth in the league Northfield Town who were 7-2 winners at Cock Inn.

Full Results:Game 12:- Bugle Horn 4 (A.Poolton 100, D.Nicholls 100,2×125,139,140,116f, J.Hykin 2×100,140, D.Marsh 4×100,125, P.Sitshebo 135, D.Marsh 180) Northfield Conservative Club 5 (T.Garfield 100,2×180, D.Hill 4×100,2×125,140, J.Hill 100,140, A.Sutton 100, S.Jones 100,106,140, A.Sutton 110f), Copper Fox ‘M’ 7 (K.Jukes 3×100,121,140, A.Harvey 140, M.Davies 140, J.Loughran 120, D.Kent 3×100,180, G.Dews 100) Quinton RBL 2 (P.Walsh 100, D.McConomy 2×100), Bourneville 3 (G.Bailles 2×100, A.Bailles 100, P.Smith 3×100,140, M.Hanley 100,116) Copper Fox ‘R’ 6 (E.Simpson 100,116,2×125, M.Hamilton 100,100f,101, N.Porter 4×100, R.Mann 100, J.Good 100), The Mill 1 (D.Davey 2×100, O.Gough 100,121, T.Goulding 100, K.Pearsall 100, J.Goulding 4×100) Smethwick Cricket Club 8 (M.Collins 130, A.Beagrie 100,140, M.Tibbetts 3×100,135,140, P.Brookes 100,125, V.Gould 4×100,100f,140,15 darts game), Avenue Social 2 (T.Crowley 100,105, C.Morgan 100, P.Gilliland 100,140, V.Gilliland 100,125) Weoley Castle WMC 7 (S.Joyce 3×100,118, S.Pasetti 100,2×135, M.Bolton 4×100, M.Simminds 100,116, P.Coombes 100), Cock Inn 2 (A.Underwood 100,120,125, A.Vaughan 3×100,125, L.Fox 100, M.Malone 114, Joe Fox 138, K.Vaughan 100, K.Vaughan 130F) Northfield Town 7 (S.Busby 125,2×140, R.Needham 2×100,140, A.Busby 120,125,128, M.Hopkins 100,125, M.Lloyd 2×100,140, D.Hopkins 100).

———————————

After the opening three games in the Shirley and District Monday Night League only two legs of average separate the top two teams in division one. A 7-2 home win over Shirley Legion Royals keeps Tippetts Bar top of the table with a perfect six points, they are closely followed by Dunky’s Boys whose 6-3 home win over Lions takes their unbeaten run to three games also and gives them six points from their three games. Lions defeat sees them drop one place to fourth on two points, two behind third in the league Sharmans Swords but with a game in Hand. Sharmans Swords moved ahead of Lions following their 7-2 win at College Arms who drop to the foot of the division. In the bottom-of-the-table clash between Vikings and Cider House, the 5-4 result went to Cider House, their first win in three which lifts them off the bottom spot and up two places with College Arms replacing them at the foot of the table.

Division two leaders Wharf had a bye this week, however with their superior average over Sharmans Cross and Shirley Misfits hold on to the number one position. Cross and Misfits are on the same four points as Wharf, Cross winning 5-4 at home over Saracens Slingers while Misfits had a 6-3 home win in their tie with Yardley Wood Social.

All division two teams should note that Wythall Legion have dropped out of the league and the remainder of their scheduled fixtures will be treated as a bye week.

Full Results: Game 3:Division One:- Tippetts Bar 7 Shirley Legion Royals 2, Vikings 4 Cider House 5, Dunky’s Boys 6 Lions 3, College Arms 2 Sharmans Swords 7, Solihull Municipal had a bye, Division Two:- Sharmans Cross 5 Saracens Slingers 4, Saracens Misfits 6 Yardley Wood Social 3, Highwood 7 HSCC 2, Saracens Head and Wharf had a bye.

———————————

In the latest round of fixtures in the Camp Hill League the top two teams Erdington Nomads and Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club both won 5-2 and the bottom two teams Sedgemere Devils and Moseley Arms both lost 6-1. At the top of the table Erdington Nomads have a slender one leg lead over Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club after handing out a first defeat of the season to Tyseley WMC while second-placed Cotterills Lane won their home tie with Peaky Blinder, both of the top two teams are undefeated in the opening three games of the season. At the other end of the table bottom team Moseley Arms after losing their home game with third in the table Sheldon Marlborough Flights remain one leg short of the team just above them Sedgemere Devils who lost at Clumsy Swan. The bottom two teams are still seeking their first points of the season and have only played two games as have second-from-bottom Peaky Blinder.

Full Results: Game 3:- Moseley Arms 1 Sheldon Marlborough Flights 6, Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club 5 Peaky Blinder 2, Clumsy Swan 6 Sedgemere Devils 1, Erdington Nomads 5 Tyseley WMC 2, Tyseley Bears had a bye.

———————————

Only a handful of games played in the Four Oaks and District League this week, just two in division one and two. In the top division leaders, Old Oscott Arrows played and won 6-3 at home against Charley’s Flights while second in the division Nomad Flights had a somewhat close 5-4 home win over Heartlands to make it three wins in as many games for the top two teams, Third and fourth in division one Highcroft Social and Old Horns Lions are the only other teams in the division not to have lost so far but they have both only played two games.

In division two Oscott Social Club top the table with an undefeated six points from their opening three games the latest seeing them beat bottom of the division Sutton Sports and Social 9-0. The chasing pack of three Minworth Flights, St Thomas Arrows and Scott Armers have all only played and won two games. The other game played saw Rosey Mac’s chalk up their first win in three as they accounted for their visitors The Funky Bear with a 5-4 scoreline.

Full Results: Game 3:Division One:- Nomad Flights 5 Heartlands 4, Old Oscott Arrows 6 Charley’s Flights 3, Division Two:- Oscott Social Club 9 Sutton Sports and Social 0 Rosey Mac’s 5 The Funky Bear 4.

———————————

In the Stourbridge and District, Monday Night League Old Liberal Club won their first nine fixtures dropping just seven legs in the process but their tenth game was against Cross (Oldswinford) their nearest rival in the league who had also won all of their opening nine games. Playing at home Cross handed out a 6-1 thrashing to Old Liberal Club to replace them at the top of the table with a perfect ten points from their ten games with their opponents dropping to second place now two points short of the new leaders. After the top two there are four teams all on sixteen points just two short of Old Liberal Club, third in the table Ten Arches, like the top two have only played ten games, they were the team with a bye this week but the next three teams Bell, Gate Hangs Well and Bird in Hand have all played eleven. Bell’s most recent fixture saw them go down 4-3 at home to Netherton Conservative Club who are seventh in the table, Gate Hangs Well won their home tie with Seven Stars 5-2 and Bird in Hand had a narrow 4-3 success at home against Mount Pleasant.

In the lower end of the table Britannia and Cat Inn squared up to each other and with the 4-3 result going in favour of the hosts Britannia they swapped places with their opponents and move up to third from bottom and the losers dropped to second from bottom of the table.

Full Results:Game 11:- Britannia 4 Cat Inn 3, Crestwood 6 Rose and Crown ‘B’ 1, Gate Hangs Well 5 Seven Stars 2, Rose and Crown ‘A’ 3 Princess 4 (D.Moreton 153f), Bell 3 (R.Riaz 152f) Netherton Conservative Club 4, Bird in Hand 4 Mount Pleasant 3, Cross (Oldswinford) 6 Old Liberal Club 1, Fox Inn (Lye) 4 Church Tavern 3, Raven 6 Glasscutters 1, Ten Arches had a bye.

———————————

Big wins for the top two teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League in week nine’s fixtures as leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ won 7-2 at Spring Meadow and second placed Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ did even better handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visiting team Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ to leave them on the same fourteen points as the leaders, trailing on average but with a game in hand. Third in the table Townsend Social Club fell two points behind the top two teams as they suffered a 6-3 defeat away to Bulls Head who are two places below them in the table and two points behind them, Bulls Head’s K.Wright and P.O’Brien both found the three treble twenties.

Full Results: Game 9:- Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ 9 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 0, Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ 1 The Clock 8, Spring Meadow 2 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 7 (M.Kendall 120b), Bulls Head 6 K.Wright 180, P.O’Brien 180) Townsend Social Club 3.

———————————

After chalking up their twenty-second win in as many games in the Black Country Men’s Super League the big question is with only eight more fixtures to play can leaders Allens Bar ‘A’ go through the season undefeated? In the latest round of fixtures the leaders added a perfect 5-0 result over Rowley Bar and Grill to their account to preserve their eighteen points lead over second in the table Railway Tavern who also 5-0 in their home game against Horse and Jockey ‘A’ who are next to bottom of the table.

Full Results:Game 23:- Allens Bar ‘C’ 4 Yeltz Bar 1, Railway Tavern 5 Horse and Jockey ‘A’ 0, The Maverick 3 Allens Bar ;B’ 2, Allens Bar ‘A’ 5 Rowley Bar and Grill 0, Yeltz Bar ‘A’ 5 The Ashwood 0, Halesowen Cricket Club 3 Bell, Kingswinford ‘A’ 2, Gilbert’s Bar 5 Horse and Jockey ‘B’ 0.

———————————

With only another five fixtures to be played in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League just two points are the difference between the top two teams. Quarry Bank Labour Club are in pole position with 38 points from their twenty-one games the latest of which saw them win 7-0 at home against Bell ‘B’. Second in the league Bird in Hand ‘E’ also played at home and won 5-2 against Raven to keep them two points ahead of third in the table Ten Arches after they beat Dudley Sports 6-1. There was a shock result for fifth placed Fox Inn (Lye) as they went down 6-1 at home to Shovel who are just four places off the foot of the table and have only won six of their twenty-one games.

Full Results:Game 21:- Bird in Hand ‘E’ 5 Raven 2, Quarry Bank Labour Club 7 Bell ‘B’ 0, Brickmakers Arms 0 Black Horse 7, Hollybush 5 Ashwood 2, Fpx Inn (Lye) 1 Shovel 6, Dudley Sports 1 Ten Arches 6, Bell ‘A’ 3 Stourbridge FC 4.

———————————

The new season of the Ashwood Premier League is up to week four and the early pacesetter is last season’s runner-up Tom Stockton who has amassed 49 points from his eight games so far. Stockton’s latest outing saw him follow up a 4-3 win over Ben Watts with a 6-1 success against Dave Simpson, he has a three points lead over second placed and one of this season’s new entries John Green who began his night by handing Martyn Harper a 7-0 whitewash and rounded off his evening beating Paul Pollard 5-2.

Full Results:Week 4:- Rob Pierce 4 Josh Pickett 3, Neil Murphy 4 Shane Passey 1, Kevin Harris 4 Ade Colley 3, Chris Fox 5 Alan Bate 2, Cayden Smith 6 Andy Vellender 1, Reece Colley 7 Jon Underhill 0, Jake Robinson 4 Craig Lowin 3, Chris Manoila 5 Wozza Pritchard 2, Chris Williams 7 Ash Marson 0, Reece Colley 6 Geoff Goodyear 1, Dave Simpson 4 Paul Pollard 3, Gavin Smith 7 Tony Bennett 0, John Green 7 Martyn Harper 0, Chris Eacock 5 Jack Pritchard 2, Nick Fullwell 6 Jayden Harper 1, Tom Stockton 4 Ben Watts 3, Jake Robinson 6 Alan Bate 1, Chris Fox 5 Wozza Pritchard 2, Chris Williams 4 Kevin Harris 3, Josh Pickett 4 Shane Passey 3, Nick Fullwell 4 Rob Pierce 3, Chris Manoila 4 Sam Aitkens 3, Cayden Smith 6 Ade Colley 1, Jayden Harper 5 Jon Underhill 2, John Green 5 Paul Pollard 2, Ben Watts 4 Ash Marson 3, Jack Pritchard 5 Geoff Goodyear 2, Tom Stockton 6 Dave Simpson 1, Reece Colley 7 Tony Bennett 0, Andy Vellender 6 Chris Eacock 1, Gavin Smith 4 Sam Aitkens 3, Martyn Harper 5 Neil Murphy 2.

———————————

Gilbert’s Bar are in the process of kicking-off season three of their Monday Night Singles League with an already confirmed entry of forty-four players. The deadline for entries is this coming Sunday (18^th December) with the anticipated start to the new season being 9^th January 2023. The league will comprise of three divisions with the format being the best of eight legs of 501 with all games to be played. There will be a weekly £3 match fee with prize money being paid out all down the leagues. Should you require any further information message Simon (Wookiemon) Pritchard or Michele Pritchard on Facebook.

———————————

Just a note to everyone who supplies me with their weekly darts results etc, there will be a two weeks break for the darts column in the Birmingham Mail over the festive period but please continue to send me all of your results as they will all be included in my next round-up which will be on the 4^th January 2023.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors and readers of my various columns for their support over the last year and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

————–ENDS—————–

Alan Towe writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts

Grab your copy of Darts World 581 here while stock lasts: