Baker Tops League After Perfect Moment

Highlights this week included the game between Scott Baker and Simon Pritchard in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League. Baker began week eight third in division one with his opponent sixth. Baker went one up in seventeen darts with Pritchard left on 83, the second leg was something really special as Baker kicked off with a maximum and then followed that with another maximum to leave him requiring 141 which he despatched on his next visit to the oche to record a perfect game of 501, an outstanding NINE darts leg, he then went on to win the tie 7-1.

Prior to his game with Simon Pritchard, Scott Baker had won 5-3 against Phil Clarke, the two wins seeing him move up into pole position with a total of fifty-five points from eight games. Former leader Ben Johnson and second placed Jon Blakemore didn’t play this week and in turn dropped to second and fourth in the table with Pritchard going down one place to seventh. Johnson is five points behind Baker but he does have a game in hand.

In division two with the top three players Colin Wood, Clark Cook and Jason Hough not playing wins of 8-0 over Luke Shinton and 6-2 against Keith Hollowood has seen former leader Tony Singh return to the top of the table with sixty points from eight games giving him a lead of seven over now in second place Colin Wood. Clark Cook who is third is on fifty-one points and is nine off the top but both Wood and Cook have a game in hand on Singh.

Despite losing 6-2 to Gemma Barrett Jenkins, Michele Pritchard continues to lead division three with seventy-one points from ten games, her opponent who has played nine games is third with 58 points. Taking over in second place is Alan Melling who on the night won 6-2 against Gemma Barrett Jenkins and then handed out an 8-0 defeat to Artur Lubkowski to put him on sixty points from only seven games.

Full Results: Week 8:- Scott Baker 5 Phil Clarke 3, Rushpal Bhogal 1 Simon Mountford 7, Scott Baker 7 Simon Pritchard 1, Steve Lynch 5 Adam Teasdale 3, Luke Shinton 0 Tony Singh 8, Keith Hollowood 5 Jason Lloyd 3, Jon Williams 1 Baljinder Gill 7, Neville Quinton 3 Nathan Jones 5, Tony Singh 6 Keith Hollowood 2, Luke Shinton 6 Nathan Jones 2, Malcolm Pugh 1 Jason Lloyd 7, Jamie Aplin 7 Helen Sims 1, Gemma Barrett Jenkins 2 Alan Melling 6, Artur Lubkowski 6 Sandra Beardsmore 2, Joe Bartolo 7 Helen Sims 1, Warren Bower 7 Andy Poole 1, Alan Melling 8 Artur Lubkowski 0, Michele Pritchard 2 Gemma Barrett Jenkins 6.

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The Sheldon and District Winter League played round one of their Sheldon Shield with the biggest win of the round 7-0 going to Highwood Gerry’s Boys who beat Lyndon Old Boys. Of the other seven games, four of them produced 6-1 results in favour of Yardley Ex Colts, Dunky’s Boys, Sheldon Dukes and Willclare Sports and Social who in turn defeated Langley Flights, The Raven, The Dingle and Journeys End. Brian’s Flights won their tie with Maggies 5-2 while Sheldon Misfits and Iron Horse Rebels both had close 4-3 wins in their respective games with Sheldon Marlborough Ridge and The Irish Centre.

Just the one rearranged premier division fixture was played in which the division’s top two teams squared up to each other, it produced some high-quality darts with no fewer than twenty-one scores of a ton or more for leaders Sheldon Marlborough Arrows and fifteen from second-placed Langley Arrows. Individually for Sheldon, Paul Wallace had a 118 checkout and Terry Webster finished on 110 while for Langley there was a 160 break for Lee Nixon and a nine darts leg for Richard Nixon. The result was a close 5-4 victory for Sheldon Marlborough Arrows to keep them top of the table and now four points to the good on both second and third-placed Langley Arrows and Dunky’s Boys.

Full Results: Sheldon Shield: Round One: Brian’s Flights 5 Maggies 2, Shirley Misfits 4 Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 3, The Irish Centre 3 Iron Horse Rebels 4, Langley Flights 1 Yardley Ex Colts 6, Dunky’s Boys 6 The Raven 1, The Dingle 1 Sheldon Dukes 6, Willclare Sports and Social 6 Journeys End 1, Lyndon Old Boys 0 Highwood Gerry’s Boys 7, Rearranged League Fixture:Premier Division:- Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 5 (Paul Wallace 118f, Terry Webster 110f) Langley Arrows 4 (Lee Nixon 160b, Richard Nixon 9 darts game).

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The Four Oaks and District have been engaged in the first round of their Brian Goodman and Ken Rust Cups, first the Brian Goodman in which division one side The Old Horns Lions won 7-2 against their division two opponents The Scott Armers. Despite outscoring The Funky Bear, Minworth Flights lost 5-4 in what was the last game of the match.

In the Ken Rust Cup despite being 3-1 down division two leaders Oscott Social Club rallied and won the next four games for a 5-4 win at Erdington Arrows. Congratulations to Sutton Sports and Social as they chalked up their first win of the season at Rosey Mac’s, winning the game in the seventh with a final score of 5-4.

In a catch-up division one match Golden Hind Lions took the final two games to beat Red Lion 5-4, J. Clarke was outstanding for the Lions recording a 180, two 156 breaks, 113 break and 100.

Full Results: Brian Goodman Cup: Round One: The Old Horns Lions 7 (A.Kimberley 104, F.Naylor 100, M.Ashton 2×100, P.Byrne 2×100, D.Pickering 100) The Scott Armers 2 (O.Day 2×100, L.Parry 2×100), The Funky Bear 5 (G.Robotham 100, E.Stambollin 100, L.Williams 100) Minworth Flights 4 (M.Partridge 137, J.Prince 100,134, N.Clarke 100,140, Z.Prince 100,118, K.Reynolds 140), Ken Rust Cup:Round One:- Rosey Mac’s 4 (M.Clarke 120b, Bradley 120b, J.Cox snr 140, D.Sargent 118, S.Wintle 140) Sutton Sports and Social 5 (D.Boyle 100, R.Snelson 100, P.Coleling 134), Erdington Arrows 4 (A.Linehan 100,145, H.Sadler 100, K.Tooze 128, M.Phillips 121,137, L.Dells 125,180) Oscott Social Club 5 (P.Graham 2×100, S.Shorthouse 140,101, T.Purcell 100, I.Lloyd 112b,100, G.Bushell 107b), Rearranged League Fixture: Division One:- Golden Hind Lions 5 (N.Goldie 120b,100, R.Hasluck 105b, J.Clarke 2x156b,113b,180,100, D.Haynes 100, M.Pearce 100b,121,125, A.Lilley 140) Red Lion 4 (R.Lowe 132,128, L.Vickers 134,117, J.Collins 108b,140, T.Vickers 125,120b,140,100, I.Matthews 109b, D.Vickers 100,140).

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It was cup semi-finals week in the Harborne and District League with all of the results going in favour of current league standings with the highest placed team winning in all of the encounters. In the League Cup second in the league Northfield Conservative Club won 6-1 against fifth-placed Copper Fox ‘R’ and meeting them in the final will be third in the table Smethwick Cricket Club who with a similar 6-1 result accounted for fourth-placed Northfield Town.

In the consolation Cup surprisingly 6-1 was once again the scoreline for both games as Cock Inn defeated Avenue Social and Copper Fox ‘M’ beat The Mill.

Full Results: League Cup: Semi-Finals: Copper Fox ‘R’ 1 (E.Simpson 3×100,180,14 darts game, T.McGlone 2×100,140, M.Hamilton 122,140, T.Hamilton 2×100, R.Mann 100,140,125, J.Good 2×100, N.Porter 2×100) Northfield Conservative Club 6 (S.Jones 100,110f,140,180,15 darts game, T.Garfield 100,140, D.Hill 100,130,2×140,13 darts game, S.Cartwright 2×100,121, T.Shipley 100,121,122f,140, R.Hosey 2×140), Smethwick Cricket Club 4 (A.Beagrie 121,2×125,180, M.Collins 100,135, T.Brennan 180, F.Johnson 7×100,135,159, V.Gould 5×100,140, M.Tibbetts 100) Northfield Town 3 (M.Hopkins 3×100,140, A.Busby 100,121,140,180, S.Busby 3×100,119, D.Hopkins 140, M.Lloyd 100, R.Needham 2×100), Consolation Cup:Semi-Finals:- Cock Inn 6 (M.Malone 100,129, A.Underwood 125, L.Fox 100,2×140, Joe Fox 128,180, A.Vaughan 125, K.Vaughan 100,140, John Fox 2×100) Avenue Social 1 (A.Williams 119,140, P.Gilliland 100,123), The Mill 1 (D.Davy 100,125,140, J.Goulding 100, T.Goulding 100,108, J.Harris 2×100, N.Davis 100) Copper Fox ’M’ 6 (D.Kent 2×100,109f,123,125,140,15 and 18 darts games, J.Downer 121, K.Jukes 100,125, J.Loughran 100, A.Harvey 100,140, G.Dews 100, K.Bedder 100,180).

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Of the four games played in the Camp Hill League this week three of them finished with a 7-0 result. League leaders Erdington Nomads opened up a four points lead when they won at home, a fantastic clean-sweep win against second in the table Clumsy Swan who now drop one place to third on the same twelve points as Tyseley WMC who have overtaken Clumsy Swan on average after they won 7-0 against bottom of the table Sedgemere Devils. Fourth in the league Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club had a bye but fifth placed Tyseley Bears won their home tie with Moseley Arms 7-0 to move to within two points of Cotterills. The only none 7-0 result was between Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Peaky Blinder which saw the latter record their first win in eight when they beat their hosts 5-2.

Full Results: Week 9: Tyseley Bears 7 Moseley Arms 0, Sedgemere Devils 0 Tyseley WMC 7, Sheldon Marlborough Flights 2 Peaky Blinder 5, Erdington Nomads 7 Clumsy Swan 0, Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club had a bye.

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Dunky’s Boys took their undefeated record to eight games in division one of the Shirley and District Monday Night League when they won 5-4 away to third in the division Sharmans Swords. Dunky’s win kept intact their four points lead at the top of the table over Sharmans Swords and second placed Tippetts Bar who won 6-3 at Magpies.

A 7-2 home win over second in the division two table Wharf has seen leaders Saracens Misfits open up a two points lead over their opponents and also third placed Highwood who won 6-3 at Saracens Head.

Full Results: Division One: Game 8: Magpies 3 Tippetts Bar 6, Sharmans Swords 4 Dunky’s Boys 5, Solihull Municipal 3 Vikings 6, Shirley Legion Royals 3 Lions 6, Cider House had a bye, Division Two: Game 7:- Saracens Misfits 7 Wharf 2, Saracens Head 3 Highwood 6, Yardley Wood Social Club 4 Sharmans Cross 5, Saracens Slingers and HSCC had a bye.

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Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League played off the finals of their Doubles Knockout with both of the semi-finals going to a third leg decider as D.Dimmock and K.Aspinall (Bell) won 2-1 against M.Jones and G.Marson (Ten Arches) and A.Moreton and C.Moreton (Ten Arches) lost 2-1 to N.Cooper and D.Appleby (Quarry Bank Labour Club).

The final was a straight 2-0 win for D.Dimmock and K.Aspinall with N.Cooper and D.Appleby finishing as runners-up.

Full Results: Doubles Knockout:Semi-Finals: D.Dimmock & K.Aspinall (Bell) 2 M.Jones & G.Marson (Ten Arches) 1, A.Moreton & C.Moreton (Ten Arches) 1 N.Cooper & D.Appleby (Quarry Bank Labour Club) 2, Final:- D.Dimmock & K.Aspinall 2 N.Cooper & D.Appleby 0.

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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League staged the quarter-finals of their Black Country Windscreens Trophy in which current league leaders Allen’s ‘A’ beat Vine ‘B’ 7-0. Third in the table Ivy Bush suffered a 5-2 home defeat at the hands of the Vine ‘A’ side who are three places and two points behind them in the league table. The other two games also finished 5-2 with Horseley Tavern winning at Waggon and Horses and Allen’s ‘B’ winning at Tamebridge.

Full Results: Black Country Windsreen Trophy: Quarter-Finals:- Allen’s ‘A’ 7 Vine ‘B’ 0, Waggon and Horses 2 Horseley Tavern 5, Ivy Bush 2 Vine ‘A’ 5, Tamebridge 2 Allen’s ‘B’ 5.

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As the Netherton Thursday Night League moved into the second half of its season there was a shock for league leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ as they lost 5-4 playing away against Bulls Head who are, even after their win, three places and four points behind their opponents. The Ex Servicemen’s ‘A’ hold on to pole position but have now had their lead halved to just two points as second in the table Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ won 6-3 away to Hill and Cakemore who are fifth in the league on the same twenty points as Bulls Head as are third placed Townsend Social Club after their 6-3 win away to Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’.

Full Results: Game 15: Hill and Cakemore 3 Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ 6, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 3 Townsend Social Club 6, Bulls Head 5 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 4, Spring Meadow 6 Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ 3.

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Cross (Oldswinford) kicked off their second half of the season in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League with an emphatic 6-1 win at Britannia to make it an unbeaten nineteen games giving them a two points lead over second placed Old Liberal Club who went one better with a 7-0 success at Mount Pleasant. Third in the league Netherton Conservative Club won their home game with Seven Stars 5-2 to put them on thirty-two points, four fewer than Cross but two more than fourth in the table The Princess who take over the fourth place after their own 5-2 win at Rose and Crown ‘B’ and the 4-3 defeat of Ten Arches by Bell. Both T.Cunningham and K.Safe hit a maximum for Ten Arches.

Full Results: Game 20:- Rose and Crown ‘B’ 2 The Princess 5, Raven 3 Church Tavern 4, Crestwood 2 Gate Hangs Well 5, Mount Pleasant 0 Old Liberal Club 7, Glasscutters 2 Rose and Crown ‘A’ 5, Netherton Conservative Club 5 Seven Stars 2, Bell 4 Ten Arches 3 (T.Cunningham 180, K.Safe 180), Britannia 1 Cross (Oldswinford) 6, Bird in Hand 6 (F.Jones 136f) Fox Inn (Lye) 1, Old Cat Inn had a bye.

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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League played their singles knockout down to the last four and their doubles knockout down to the last two pairs.

T.Edwards, C.Sparrow, H.Gregory and L.Cross won their way through to the semi-finals of the singles knockout and making up the final of the doubles will be D.Sears and S.Hillman vs C.Sparrow and T.Bissell.

All finals will be played at The White Horse, Sedgley on presentation night Tuesday 30^th May.

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Bell, leaders of the Rowley Monday Night League were the only unbeaten team in the league until their latest fixture when they lost game number six at home to fourth in the table Gate Hangs Well 5-4. Five teams are now on ten points at the top of the table, Bell still hold on to pole position on average from White Swan who won 8-1 at Spring Meadow, Hill and Cakemore who had a 6-3 home win over Rowley Labour Club, Gate Hangs Well and Windmills End after they won their home game with Tividale FC 5-4. Wonder and Huntingtree are the only two teams still seeking their first points of the season.

Full Results: Game 6: Windmills End 5 Tividale FC 4, Waterfall 6 Huntingtree 3, Romsley Cricket Club 6 (T.Pike 180) Wonder 3, Hill and Cakemore 6 Rowley Labour Club 3, Loyal Lodge 4 Plough and Harrow 5 (B.Young 160b), Spring Meadow 1 White Swan 8, Bell 4 (B.Gillies 8 darts game) Gate Hangs Well 5, Rowley Bar and Grill 2 Whiteheath Tavern 7.

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There was just one result from the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League this week which saw Danny Bridgwood win 7-1 against Ashley Ralph.

Full Results: Week 4: Danny Bridgwood 7 Ashley Ralph 1.

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After the opening five games in the West Midlands Men’s Super League new season, leading the field is Bridgtown Social who have a total of 22 points from their first four fixtures and a lead of three points over both Kings Head ‘A’ and Dog and Partridge. Kings Head ‘A’ had a 4-1 away win over Chase Social while Dog and Partridge went one better with a straight 5-0 win at home over Corpus Christi. Staffordshire Knot are fourth on seventeen points from four games, their home fixture with top-of-the-table Bridgtown Social was cancelled this week.

Full Results: Week 5: Chase Social 1 Kings Head ‘A’ 4 (George Coulter 0 Richard Platt 4, Adam Johnson 4 Chris Standby 3, Kieron O’Mahoney 1 Owen Maiden 4, Sean Graig 2 Mark Maiden 4, Jordan Craig 0 Matthew Dennant 4), Gilbert’s ‘A’ 4 Gilbert’s ‘D’ 1 (Steve Lynch 4 Connor Abercrombie 2, Jon Blackmore 0 Lee Shaw 4, John Simms 4 Chris Hill 3, Paul Harrison 4 Chris Evans 3, Simon Mountford 4 Rushpal Bhogal 1), Dog and Partridge 5 Corpus Christi 0 (Ash Khayat 4 Craig Jones 1, Sam Guest 4 Dave Lucas 2, Wayne Jones 4 Andrew Javis 1, Darren Willams 4 Mark Frumenzi 3, Dean Simmons-Fullwood 4 Kieron O’Driscoll 0), Three Crowns 0 Gilbert’s ‘B’ 5 (Riley ward 0 Rob Thompson 4, Paul Penfold 1 Jon Platt 4, Roger Ward 2 Ben Johnson 4, Emmet Leonard 1 Ryan O’Connor 4, Jon Williams 1 Martin Price 4), ECC 3 Gilbert’s ‘C’ 2 (Karl Hughes 4 Keith Hollowood 0, Luke Griffiths 4 Tom Hollowood 1, Jay Woodhouse 3 Doug Cotton 4, Ryan Locker 4 Alex Simmons 3, Jack Aldridge 3 Adam Teasdale 4), Staffordshire Knot v Bridgtown Social was cancelled, Kings Head ‘B’ had a bye.

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Alan Towe writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts

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