Leagues Thriving As New Seasons Commence

The Sheldon and District Summer League have got their new season underway and the encouraging news is that the league has swelled its numbers from eighteen, last season to twenty-three for this season the number of groups being extended from three to four. The early group one leaders are Raven Arrows, their 5-3 win at Willclare Sports and Social giving them a one point lead over Dingle and Yardley Ex Colts who played each other in what was a 4-4 draw, Colin Mace recording a maximum for Dingle.

In group two Hornet had a similar 5-3 win at Maggies to put them top of the group, again by just one point over Brian’s Flights and Shirley Misfits who in their game they also finished all-square at 4-4, the group three leadership is shared by three teams Trident Spears, Lyndon Old Boys and Langley Flights who all had 5-3 wins in turn against Bell Inn, Sheldon Marlborough Ridge and Kingshurst Labour Club. Stephen Shepherd (Kingshurst Labour Club) and Tom Cupkovic (Trident Spears) both found the three treble twenties while Richard O’Brian, also from Trident Spears had a 146 finish.

Raven top group four, their 5-3 home win over Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club giving them a one point lead over the rest of the field.

Full Results: Week 1:Group One:- Willclare Sports and Social 3 Raven Arrows 5 (Robbie Earl 100f), The Dingle 4 (Colin Mace 180) Yardley Ex Colts 4, Langley Arrows v Highwood was postponed, Group Two:- Maggies 3 Hornet 5, Shirley Misfits 4 Brian’s Flights 4 (Jamie Masefield 100f), Sheldon Dukes had a bye, Group Three:- Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 3 Lyndon Old Boys 5, Kingshurst Labour Club 3 (Stephen Shepherd 180) Langley Flights 5, Trident Spears 5 (Tom Cupkovic 180, Richard O’Brian 146f) Bell Inn 3, Group Four:- The Raven 5 Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club 3 (Mark Osbourne 102f), Smithswood Social Club 4 Sheldon Marlborough Flights 4, Moseley Rugby Club 4 Banbury Club 4,

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It’s week two in the Harborne and District League and a 6-3 home defeat by Northfield Conservative Club has cost Cock Inn the early leadership and sees them drop to fourth in the table, two points short of the three undefeated teams above them. Copper Fox ‘R’ have taken over in pole position, their 9-0 win at The Mill giving them a two legs of average lead over local rivals Copper Fox ‘M who were not far behind with an 8-1 home win over Quinton RBL. The only other unbeaten team in the league Northfield Conservative Club are third and a further three legs of average behind Copper Fox ‘M’.

On the individual scene D.Kent (Copper Fox ‘M’) scored a 180 as did A.Sutton and D.Hill (Northfield Conservative Club), other top scorer were E.Simpson and M.Hamilton (Copper Fox ‘R’), Simpson also recording wining legs of 14 and 17 darts.

Full Results: Game 2:- Copper Fox ‘M’ 8 (J.Downer 100, K.Jukes 100,125,3×140,17 darts game, T.Collier 140, D.Kent 2×100, G.Dews 3×100,135, A.Harvey 3×100,121, M.Davies 2×100, 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 3×100,120,2×125, A.Vaughan 2×140, A.Hopkins 100, M.Malone 140) Northfield Conservative Club 6 (R.Hosey 119,2×140, T.Shipley 2×100, A.Sutton 100,180, T.Garfield 100,2×140, D.Hill 140,180,15 darts game, I.Jones 100, C.Airey 100,123), Smethwick Cricket Club 9 (A.Beagrie 100, A.Bomber 2×100,105,128, M.Collins 140, P.Murphy 2×100, P.Brookes 125,133, V.Gould 2×100,140, M.Smith 140) Weoley Castle WMC 0 (S.Joyce 135, M.Simmonds 138, P.Coombes 2×100, T.Heath 100, S.Tyler 126), Northfield Town 6 (A.Busby 100,118, L.Allen 100, D.Hopkins 125, R.Needham 2×100, M.Hopkins 133, J.Best 100,121) Avenue Social 3 (A.Girling 3×100, P.Gilliland 121), The Mill 0 (J.Goulding 100,120, T.Goulding 100, N.Davis 2×100, R.Garrehy 135) Copper Fox ‘R’ 9 (E.Simpson 100,125,140,180,14 and 17 darts games, M.Hamilton 100,180, J.Hykin 105,123,140, T.Hamilton 127,140, R.Mann 100,123,140, D.Marsh 2×125,140).

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Copper Fox took their undefeated run to nine games in the Kings Norton League when they won 5-2 playing away against Grant Arms. The win keeps intact the four points lead Copper Fox have over second placed Northfield who handed their visiting team, bottom of the table Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club a 7-0 whitewash. After the top two come four teams, Bournebrook, Rubery Social, Thurlestone and Bourneville, all on twelve points six off the top. Bournebrook played away against Thurlestone and lost 4-3 while Rubery Social Club had a convincing 7-0 win at Kings Norton Flights, Bourneville lost 4-3 away to Coppice.

Just the one maximum score this week supplied by Rubery Social Club’s R.Higgins but also worthy of note is the efforts of Thurlestone’s R.Waldron who had top scores of 2×100,125 and 137 plus a 117 checkout and a fifteen darts leg.

Full Results: Game 9: Coppice 4 (D.Hill 100, B.Heath 4×100, A.Ward 100,125,135, A.Aindow 2×100,121, S.Jacques 133, R.Packer 3×100,121, A.Phillips 100, C.Jacques 112) Bourneville 3 (M.James 5×100,16 darts game, G.Carver 100,125, A.Deeley 125, G.Bailes 100, A.Hughes 100,105, A.Bailes 100,120, N.Ferriday 2×100), Northfield 7 (R.Hitchmough 4×100, L.Allen 2×140, A.Busby 100,134, M.Lloyd 2×100,110,140,17 darts game, D.Hopkins 100, A.Busby 103f) Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 0 (S.Brown 100,102,120,121, J.Howell 100), Longbridge 4 (J.Woodward 125,140, N.Mellors 100, J.Steward 100,125, K.Malone 3×100,120, N.Harris 3×100,121, D.Watts 2×100,112) Cock Inn 3 (P.Hughes 3×100,119, A.Hopkins 101, L.Fox 3×100, A.Vaughan 140, K.Vaughan 100, D.Gibbs 121), Kings Norton Flights 0 (M.Hanley 100,106f,125, R.Fisher 100, D.Willis 114, C.Rigby 123, M.Fisher 100, L.Rooney 100) Rubery Social Club 7 (J.Grainger 2×100,140, J.Higgins 3×100,135,140, A.Faulkner 5×100, R.Higgins 135,2×140,180, K.Manger 5×100,140, M.Cormell 3×100,121, J.O’Neill 2×100,121,140, P.Medlicott 100, T.Davis 100), Grant Arms 2 (S.Hale 100, A.Dewsbury 3×100, N.Smith 3×100, M.Davies 100, V.Walton 100,140, P.Smith 3×100,132,140) Copper Fox 5 (E.Simpson 3×100,125,135, D.Marsh 2×100,134, G.Dews 3×100,134, T.Hamilton 100,125, D.McConomy 3×100,105, M.Hamilton 100, R.Mann 121,140), Thurlestone 4 (D.Newton 2×100, N.Watts 100, T.Garfield 2×100,140, R.Waldron 2×100,117f,125,137,15 darts game, B.Andrews 2×100,140, J.Downer 100, A.Savage 2×100) Bournebrook 3 (M.Welsh 5×100, T.Cullen 100,125,140, T.Jeffs 100,123, K.Mason 125, D.Collins 100,135, M.Bathurst 119,140, C.Smith 2×100, J.Stringer 100, D.Smith 100).

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It was cup semi-finals week in the Four Oaks and District League, first the Coronation Cup which in the semi-finals Bishop Vesey, who finished fourth in division one were held to a close 8-7 win by second division runners-up Oscott Social Club and in the all division one clash between Walmley CSC Flights and Old Horns Lion, Walmley who finished seventh in the division beat Old Horns Lions who were runners-up in the division 9-6.

In the last four games of the Norman Day Cup division two champions Minworth Flights won 8-1 against sixth in division one Highcroft Social and meeting them in the final will be Plough and Arrows. Plough and Arrows ended their campaign in division two seventh in the table, they won 8-7 against Scott Armers who finished third in the second division.

Full Results: Coronation Cup: Semi-Finals: Oscott Social Club 7 Bishop Vesey 8 (Dave Hodgkins & Robert Graham 0 Mark Wild & Stuart Abbott 3, Gary Bushell & Simon Shorthouse 2 Chris Sammons & Nigel Smallwood 1, Alan Whitehouse & Tom Purcell 2 Alan Jones & Nick Sammons 1, Alan Whitehouse & Gary Bushell 3 Nick Sammons & Stuart Abbott 0, Tom Purcell & Simon Shorthouse 0 Nigel Smallwood & Mark Wild 3), Walmley CSC Flights 9 The Old Horns Lions 6 (Kris Green & Jamie Meredith 2 Andy Kimberley & Barry Stephens 1, Billy Cadby & John Kavanagh 1 Barrie Linnecor & Pat. Byrne 2, Ben Liggins & Jake Liggins 2 Mark Ashton & Dave Pickering 1, Jake Liggins & Jamie Meredith 2 Tony O’Kereke & Barry Stephens 1, Kris Green & Ben Liggins 2 Barrie Linnecor & Andy Kimberley 1), Norman Day Cup:Semi-Finals:- Highcroft Social 1 Minworth Flights 8 (Karl Neale & Sid Pritchett 0 Zac Prince & Jason Prince 3, Scott Alexander & Jack Alexander 0 Martin Partridge & Neil Clarke 3, Lee Shorthouse & Kevin Shorthouse 1 Ryan Barritt & Keith Deeley 2), The Scott Armers 7 Plough and Arrows 8 (Luke Parry & Mark Felkin 2 Anthony Dews & Steve Johnson 1, Shane Kelly & Lee Gumbley 1 Adam Humphriss & Roxi Bennett 2, Tom Kelly & Ollie Day 1 Danny Hughes & James O’Connor 2, Mark Felkin & Tom Kelly 3 Roxi Bennett & Kieran Gow 0, Luke Parry & Lee Gumbley 0 Danny Hughes & Adam Humphriss 3).

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Cross (Oldswinford) stretched their unbeaten run in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League to twenty-seven games when they had an emphatic 7-0 win at Seven Stars, but keeping the pressure on the league leaders is second placed Old Liberal Club who also had a convincing 7-0 win at home over Church Tavern to keep within four points of Cross with a game in hand. Old Liberal Club continue to lead third placed Ten Arches by six points after they won 5-2 playing away against The Princess who as a result of their defeat drop from fourth in the league to sixth on the same thirty-eight points as fourth and fifth placed The Cottage and Netherton Conservative Club, Cottage winning 4-3 at Mount Pleasant and the Conservative Club winning 5-2 at home against Rose and Crown ‘A’.

Full Results:Game 28:- Raven 7 Britannia 0, Old Liberal Club 7 Church Tavern 0, Seven Stars 0 Cross (Oldswinford) 7, Old Cat Inn 1 Crestwood 6, Netherton Conservative Club 5 Rose and Crown ‘A’ 2, Rose and Crown ‘B’ 2 Gate Hangs Well 5, The Princess 2 Ten Arches 5, Mount Pleasant 3 The Cottage 4, Glasscutters 3 Bird in Hand 4, Fox Inn (Lye) had a bye.

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The top two teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ and Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ were due to play each other in game twenty-six but the fixture was postponed and although Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ hold on to their number one spot with forty points from twenty-four games Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ lose their second place dropping to third behind Bulls Head whose 8-1 win at Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ has taken their points tally to thirty-eight, two more than Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ but they have played twenty-six games which is two more than both the Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ and Netherton ‘A’.

Full Results: Game 26:- Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 1 Bulls Head 8, Hill and Cakemore 4 Spring Meadow 5, Townsend Social Club 9 Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ 0, Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ v Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ was postponed.

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Although Kirk Harrison hit a maximum and had a 152 break it was not enough to stop his team Whiteheath Tavern losing 7-2 at home against leaders of the Rowley Monday Night League Bell. Bell’s win keeps them top of the table but they still only lead on average as after the league have completed seventeen fixtures there are three teams all on the same thirty points. Gate Hangs Well are second in the table, twelve legs of average short of Bell after they won their home game against Rowley Labour Club 5-4. A 6-3 home win over Plough and Harrow including a 160 break from their Matt Wakefield as seen White Swan draw level on both points and average with Gate Hangs Well to share the number two spot. Fourth in the league Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club won 5-4 at Tividale FC to leave them two points behind the three teams above them.

Full Results: Week 17:- Romsley Cricket Club 4 Windmills End 5, White Swan 6 (Matt Wakefield 160b) Plough and Harrow 3, Gate Hangs Well 5 Rowley Labour Club 4, Tividale FC 4 (Jason Tart 9 darts game) Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club 5, Huntingtree 3 Loyal Lodge 6, Whiteheath Tavern 2 (Kirk Harrison 180,152b) Bell 7, Wonder 4 Spring Meadow 5, Waterfall 3 Rowley Bar and Grill 6.

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John Green managed to hold on to his number one spot in the Ashwood Premier League despite starting the latest round of fixtures on a low when he lost 5-2 to sixth in the league Cayden Smith. Green was quick to recover as he then accounted for Matt Davies, handing him a 7-0 whitewash. Second in the league Josh Pickett had a good night kicking-off with a 5-2 win over Ben Watts and then going one better with a 6-1 success against Matt Davies. Both of the top two players have played thirty-nine games, Green amassing a total of 214 points with Pickett having 210. Third placed Nick Fullwell started the night with a close 4-3 win over Chris Williams and then won 5-2 against Ben Watts to take his tally to 204 and although some ten points behind John Green Fullwell does have four games in hand which could quite easily see him take over the top spot in the league and put him well in line to retaining the title for a second successive season.

Full Results: Week 19:- Gavin Smith 6 Chris Williams 1, Rob Pierce 5 Jake Robinson 2, Kevin Harris 7 Jayden Harper 0, Paul Pollard 4 Tony Bennett 3, Andy Vellender 5 Mitch Pickett 2, Martyn Harper 4 Chris Manoila 3, Dave Simpson 4 Neil Murphy 3, Josh Pickett 5 Ben Watts 2, Craig Lowin 6 Tony Bennett 1, Ash Marson 4 Matt Davies 3, Nick Fullwell 4 Chris Williams 3, Andy Vellender 5 Carl Hipkiss 2, Cayden Smith 5 John Green 2, Jayden Harper 5 Chris Eacock 2, Rob Pierce 4 Kevin Harris 3, Chris Manoila 6 Paul Pollard 1, Shane Passey 5 Jake Robinson 2, Sam Aitken 6 Ash Marson 1, Cayden Smith 6 Jayden Harper 1, Josh Pickett 6 Matt Davies 1, Martyn Harper 5 Chris Fox 2, Alan Bate 6 Tony Bennett 1, Sam Aitkens 4 Craig Lowin 3, Gavin Smith 7 Andy Vellender 0, Dave Simpson 5 Chris Fox 2, John Green 7 Matt Davies 0, Alan Bate 6 Carl Hipkiss 1, Chris Manoila 6 Chris Eacock 1, Neil Murphy 5 Mitch Pickett 2, Nick Fullwell 5 Ben Watts 2.

The top four places in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League have been established as Nick Fullwell rounded off his thirty-two games with a 6-2 win over Danny Knight to give him a final total of 263 points, five more than runner-up Rich Bowen whose valiant effort of two 7-1 season ending wins over both Danny Bridgwood and Cheryl Allcock was not quite enough to catch Fullwell leaving him with a total of 258 points. Shane Price had a 7-1 win against Danny Bridgwood an 8-0 win over Alex Mason and a 7-1 win against Sarah Jane Parker to see him finish in third place with 244 points eighteen to the good on fourth in the league Gareth Johnston who rounded off his campaign with an 8-0 win over Ashley Ralph to take his number of points to 226.

Full Results: Game 16:- Shane Price 7 Danny Bridgwood 1, Cheryl Allcock 5 Sarah Jane Parker 3, Neil Murphy 5 Grace Angell 3, Rich Bowen 7 Danny Bridgwood 1, Nick Fullwell 6 Danny Knight 2, Cheryl Allcock 6 James Davies 2, Alex Howells 7 Sarah Jane Parker 1, Shane Passey 8 Grace Angell 0, Gareth Johnston 8 Ashley Ralph 0, Shane Price 8 Alex Mason 0, Alex Howells 6 Shane Passey 2, Cheryl Allcock 5 Danny Bridgwood 3, Danny Knight 8 Sarah Jane Parker 0, Neil Murphy 4 Alex Howells 4, Rich Bowen 7 Cheryl Allcock 1, Ashley Ralph 6 Alex Mason 2, Shane Passey 6 Benjamin Hollowood 2, Neil Murphy 7 Sarah Jane Parker 1, Grace Angell 8 Ashley Ralph 0, Danny Knight 5 Danny Bridgwood 3, Shane Price 7 Sarah Jane Parker 1, Shane Passey 7 Cheryl Allcock 1.

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The Black Country Men’s Super League is up to game number four and of the starting line-up of eighteen teams only three are able to boast a 100% win record. Allen’s Bar ‘C’ top the table with nineteen points after their most recent 5-0 win at home against Soccer Zone. Allen’s ‘C’ are two points ahead of their nearest rivals Whiteheath Tavern who added a similar 5-0 win over White Swan to their account to put them a slender one point to the good on third in the league Railway Tavern who had a much closer 3-2 home win over Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ who are seventh in the table with eleven points, five fewer than their opponents and eight off the top of the table.

Full Results: Game 4:- Quarry Bank Liberal Club 3 Allen’s Bar ‘B’ 2, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 3 The Vine, Blackheath 2, Railway Tavern 3 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 2, Old Bulls Head 3 Ashwood 2, Allen’s Bar ‘C’ 5 Soccer Zone 0, Whiteheath Tavern 5 White Swan 0, Townsend Social Club 3 Halesowen Cricket Club 2, Coseley Tavern 3 Townsend Social ‘A’ 2, Allen’s Bar ‘A’ 5 Horse and Jockey 0.

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Dog and Partridge continue to impress in the West Midlands Men’s Super League making it fifteen straight wins when they won their home tie with Corpus Christi 5-0. The win gives Dog and Partridge a nine point’s buffer over second in the league Kings Head ‘A’ who also played at home and also won 5-0 against Chase Social. Third in the table Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ are just one point behind Kings Head ‘A’ but have played one game more than them, the latest of which saw them also win 5-0 in a home tie with Three Crowns who are bottom of the table and the only team in the league without a win so far.

Full Results: Week 18: Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 5 Three Crowns 0, Kings Head ‘A’ 5 Chase Social 0, Dog and Partridge 5 Corpus Christi 0, Gilbert’s Bar ‘C’ 3 ECC 2, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 3 Gilbert’s Bar ‘D’ 2, Bridgtown Social 5 Staffordshire Knot 0, Kings Head ‘B’ had a bye.

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The Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League has reached week sixteen and leader of division one Scott Baker made it thirteen wins, two draws and just the one defeat when in his latest fixture he won 5-3 against Rushpal Bhogal to take his points total to 123. Second in the division Ben Johnson didn’t play this week but his ninety-five points was enough for him to hold on to second place and keep him seven to the good on third in the division Jon Blakemore who was held to a 4-4 draw by John Simms. Although twenty-eight points short of Baker, Ben Johnson has three games in hand on him.

It’s close in division two with only three points separating the top three players. Clark Cook tops the division with 105 points with Jason Hough second on 104 points after adding his latest 7-1 win over Keith Hollowood to his account. Third in the division Baljinder Gill suffered a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Malcolm Pugh and missed the opportunity to takeover at the top of the table leaving him on 102 points.

Although he didn’t play this week Alan Melling is sitting comfortably at the top of division three with 131 points from fifteen games and has a lead of seven over second placed Michele Pritchard, plus he has four games in hand on Michele.

Full Results: Week 16:- Ben Hollowood 2 Ian Stanton 6, Reece Cook Lucas 5 Steve Lynch 3, John Simms 4 Jon Blakemore 4, Scott Baker 5 Rushpal Bhogal 3, John Simms 5 Reece Cook Lucas 3, Malcolm Pugh 8 Nathan Jones 0, Jason Hough 7 Keith Hollowood 1, Max Law 3 Neville Quinton 5, Baljinder Gill 2 Malcolm Pugh 6, Allan Davies 3 Colin Wood 5, Malcolm Pugh 3 Max Law 5, Max Law 4 Jon Williams 4, Jon Williams 4 Allan Davies 4, Jacqui Simmons 1 Thomas Hollowood 7, Sara Emma Jones 3 Warren Bower 5, Alex Bryant 4 Sandra Beardsmore 4, Michele Pritchard 6 Andy Poole 2, Robert Harris 6 Eddie Gripton 2, Artur Lubkowski 5 Joe Bartolo 3.

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Week eight results brought about no changes in the top five places in the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League with Woodfield continuing to lead the field with sixteen points after beating their hosts Railway 5-2, however they only top the division with a two legs of average lead on Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ whose 6-1 home win over Three Crowns gives them the same sixteen points as the leaders. Third placed ECC ‘A’ won the local derby with their ‘B’ side 6-1 to give them fourteen points, just two short of the two teams above them.

In the doubles division ECC ‘A’ top the table with sixteen points, they handed their ‘B’ side a 3-0 defeat to keep them two points ahead of second in the division Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ who had a similar 3-0 win over Three Crowns.

Full Results: Game 8: Singles Division:- Corpus Christi ‘B’ 2 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 5, ECC ‘A’ 6 ECC ‘B’ 1, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 6 Three Crowns 1, Railway 2 Woodfield 5, Ring of Bells 1 Corpus Christi ‘A’ 6, Wednesfield Legion 4 Dog and Partridge 3, Doubles Division:- Corpus Christi ‘B’ 1 Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 2, ECC ‘A’ 3 ECC ‘B’ 0, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 3 Three Crowns 0, Railway 1 Woodfield 2, Ring of Bells 2 Corpus Christi ‘A’ 1, Wednesfield Legion 2 Dog and Partridge 1.

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Image: AIM

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