Following the festive season many of the West Midlands leagues restarted over the past two weeks.
As the Harborne and District League reach the quarter-way mark of their season there are still three teams battling it out at the top of the table, all of them having won their opening seven games. Copper Fox ‘R’ consolidated their number one spot by handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Weoley Castle WMC to put them two legs of average to the good on second placed Northfield Conservative Club who won their home tie with bottom of the table Windsor Complex 7-2. Third placed Northfield Darts Club are a further eight legs of average behind Northfield Conservative Club after they won 7-2 at Bourneville. Fourth in the league Copper Fox ‘M’ are another undefeated team but they have only played six fixtures so far, the latest of which saw them win their home game with The Mill 7-2. Smethwick Cricket Club lost their fourth place and dropped to fifth after they had a bye this week.
There were no fewer than seven maximums scored this week with Northfield Conservative Club player M.Lloyd notching two while his team-mate T.Shipley got one. Providing the other maximums were M.Collins (Bourneville), J.Hykin and N.Porter ((Copper Fox ‘R’) plus M.Hanley (Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club).
Full Results: Game 7: Bourneville 2 (O.Evans 100, A.Bailles 2×100,3×140, C.Evans 100,121, D.Miguel 100, M.Collins 3×100,180, P.Garvey 100) Northfield Darts Club 7 (L.Allen 5×100,3×140,16 darts game, L.Fowler 100,125,138, J.Evitts 2×100,120f, A.Faulkner 2×100,123, BP.Davies 100,140, J.Needham 2×100), Northfield Conservative Club 7 (M.Lloyd 100,116,2×180,2×14 darts games, A.Sutton 3×100, C.Steadman 2×100,140, T.Shipley 2×140, S.Jones 3×100, T.Shipley 180, T.Shipley / M.Lloyd 13 darts game) Windsor Complex 2 (S.Hopkins 100, P.Singh 2×100, L.Pearce 100,140), Weoley Castle WMC 0 (M.Warr 100,121, A.Heath 140, M.Bolton 2×100,105,121,140, A.Coombes 100,135f) Copper Fox ‘R’ 9 (E.Simpson 3×100,125,140, J.Hykin 3×100,137,3×140, N.Porter 100,134,140, T.Hamilton 100,102,114f,135,140, R.Mann 140, D.Marsh 3×100,140, J.Hykin 180, N.Porter 180, N.Porter / T.Hamilton 16 darts game), Harborne Social 4 (P.Sitshebo 2×100,133, M.Ram 154, D.Adams 118,132, S.McCrogan 100,140, B.Harding 2×100, K.Williams 100) Lion Bar 5 (D.McConomy 100, D.McDermott 108, D.Ingram 123), Copper Fox ‘M’ 7 (C.Fowler 140, K.Jukes 2×100,121,140, J.Loughran 2×100, J.Downer 100,140,156, K.Bedder 100,125,132, A.Harvey 2×100,121,140, D.Kent 100) Mill 2 (A.Beagrie 100, J.Golding 2×100,125,140, T.Goulding 100,140, K.Pearsall 100), Weoley Castle 1 (T.Godden 100, K.Pemberton 100, R.O’Neill 2×100,140, J.Best 2×100) Cock Inn 8 (L.Fox 2×100,140, John Fox 125,140, Joe Fox 2×100,121, L.O’Neill 2×100,114, D.O’Neill 100, A.Underwood 125), Avenue Social 2 (V.Gilliland 2×100, P.Gilliland 117, E.Spencer 115, T.Williams 156) Kings Norton EX Serviceman’s Club 7 (M.Hanley 180, J.Fisher 3×100, A.Deeley 100, K.Foxhall 2×100, B.Simkiss 100,135, E.Dearn 125, N.Reynolds 123), Smethwick Cricket Club had a bye.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League are up to week eight of their new campaign and of the twenty-eight starters in the league only two are able to boast a 100% win record and they are Sheldon Marlborough Arrows (premier league) and Smithswood Social Club (division one).
In the premier league, top side Sheldon Marlborough Arrows took their winning run to eight games with a close 5-4 home win over third in the division Raven Arrows, the win taking the leaders to fourteen points and giving them a lead of four over second placed Langley Arrows who had an 8-1 home win over bottom placed EBAHA. Raven Arrows defeat leaves them six points off the top as are fourth and fifth placed Highwood and RAFA, Highwood winning 5-4 at home against Banbury Club while RAFA had a bye.
In division one it’s Smithswood Social who top the table with fourteen points after they won their home game with Trident Spears 6-3 to keep them two points ahead of both second and third placed Langley Flights and Yardley Ex Colts. Langley Flights returned from Hollywood Social Club on the right side of the 7-2 result while Yardley Ex Colts lost ground on the leaders when they went down 6-3 in their home tie with Sheldon Marlborough Ridge, Ridge just two places off the foot of the table, this being only their second win in eight games. Old Salts Darts are fourth on ten points after adding a 5-4 away win over next to bottom of the table Hunters Moon.
Just two legs of average separate the top two teams in division two Sheldon Marlborough Flights keeping their place at the top the table despite having a buy this week. Second in the division Digby took full advantage of the leader’s bye to draw level on points with them with a 5-4 win at Castle Bromwich WMC. Third placed Moseley Rugby Club won 6-3 at Raven to leave them two points behind the top two teams but they have played two games more than them. Fourth in the division Lyndon Old Boys won 6-3 at Shirley Misfits to put them on the same eight points as the Rugby Club and with a game in hand.
Dean Grainger (Raven) recorded the only maximum of the week
Full Results: Game 8: Premier League: Langley Arrows 8 EBAHA 1, Highwood 5 Banbury Club 4, Mackadown Sports and Social Club 5 (Jake Savage 10 darts game) Brian’s Flights 4, Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 5 (Terry Webster 111f) Raven Arrows 4, RAFA had a bye, Division One:- Yardley Ex Colts 3 Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 6, Hunters Moon 4 Old Salts Darts 5, Holltwood Social Club 2 Langley Flights 7, Smithswood Social Club 6 (Lewis Franklin 114f) Trident Spears 3, KIngshurst Labour Club v Iron Horse Rebels was postponed, Division Two:- Raven 3 (Dean Grainger 180, Robert Vernon 100f) Moseley Rugby Club 6, Shirley Misfits 3 Lyndon Old Boys 6, Maggies 3 Langley Pints 6, Castle Bromwich WMC 4 Digby 5, Sheldon Marlborough Flights had a bye.
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Week four of the South West Birmingham Clubs Winter League saw the top two teams in division one square-up to each other, leaders Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ travelling to take on second placed Longbridge United. The result was a convincing 6-2 win for Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ to see them hold on to pole position with a single point lead over Northfield Darts Club who have replaced Longbridge United in second place after they won their home game with Stirchley United 7-1. Longbridge United with five points are now third in the division.
In the pre-match division one doubles league Stirchley United head the table with forty points, two more than second placed Northfield Darts Club who have a three points lead on third in the table Longbridge United.
There is no change in the top three places in division two Quarry Club adding a 7-1 win at Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’ to their tally to give them a perfect score of eight points from their first four games and a lead of two over their nearest rivals Perfection who won 6-2 away to third in the division Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club who are three points adrift of their opponents but with a game in hand, as are fourth placed Bartley Green FC after their 6-2 win at Moseley All Services Club.
Perfection and Quarry Club top the division two pre-match doubles table both with thirty-six points, third placed Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club have only played three games and they are also on thirty-six points.
There were three scores of 180 this week provided by M.Lloyd (Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’), A.Sims (Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’) and L.Coles (Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club). L.Little (Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club) recorded a 160 break.
Full Results: Game 4: Division One: Bournbrook 3 West Heath CEM 5, Longbridge United 2 Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ 6 (M.Lloyd 180), Northfield Darts Club 7 (M.Mooney 113,2×100,140) Stirchley United 1, Division Two:- Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’ 1 (A.Sims 180) Quarry Club 7, Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 2 (L.Coles 180, L.Little 160b) Perfection 6, Moseley All Services Club 2 Bartley Green FC 6, E57 had a bye.
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The Four Oaks and District League played off four rearranged fixtures, two from division one and two from division two. In the division one game’s Red Lion chalked up a 5-4 win at home over Rise Club to see them move up one place in the table to fourth with fourteen points, just two short of leaders Walmley CSC Flights, Rise Club are next to bottom of the table just one point to the good on bottom placed Plough and Arrows who lost their rearranged fixture at home to Old Horns Lions 9-0.
In the division two games, leaders Drakes Drum had an 8-1 win playing away against bottom of the division St Thomas Misfits to give them a two points lead over second in the division Erdington Arrows. The second fixture saw Beggars Bush win 5-4 at St Thomas Arrows to lift them from sixth to third in the table with twelve points, some six short of Drakes Drum and four fewer than second placed Erdington Arrows.
Red Lion’s Tim Vickers recorded a maximum.
Full Results: Rearranged Fixtures: Division One: Game 5: Plough and Arrows 0 (Ricky Niner 118,125, Roxy Bennett 100, Oli Cook 100,120b, Nigel Robbins 100) Old Horns Lions 9 (D.Wilson 100, A.Heslip 101b,100, Barry Stephens 120b,100, Paul Seadon 100, Andy Kimberley 121,120f,134), Game 6:- Red Lion 5 (Dane Vickers 2×100, Tim Vickers 100,180, Robert O’Brien 100, Richard O’Brien 100, Lee Vickers 101b) Rise Club 4 (Lee Gumbley 119, Ollie Day 140,100, Colin Davis 140, Jamie Sabin 100, Mark Felkin 120b, Justin Bowen 137,140), Division Two:Game 5:- (St Thomas Arrows 4 (Rob Nelson 106b, Gill Lynch 128b,112b, Paul Andrews 104,100, Dean Wakelam 113) Beggars Bush 5 (Ian Lloyd 100, Ryan Comiskey 100, Des Shannon 100, P.Hodgkins 111), Game 9:- St Thomas Misfits 1 (John Paul Roddy 100) Drakes Drum 8 (Carig Turner 100).
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In their latest fixture in the Silver End Sunday Morning League second placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club recorded a 7-1 home win over Pensnett Liberal Club to reduce the arrears on leaders Dudley Sports ‘A’ to four points as Dudley Sports ‘A’ were held to a 4-4 home draw by fifth placed Mount Pleasant. Third in the league Old Star won their home game against New Talbot ‘B’ 6-2 to leave them six points behind the leaders but twelve points ahead of fourth placed Old Liberal Club despite their latest 8-0 win at new Talbot ‘A’.
Full Results:Game 35:- Old Liberal Club 7 Rose and Crown 1, Brier Rose 5 New Talbot ‘A’ 3, Dudley Sports ‘B’ 3 High Acres ‘A’ 5, Raven 1 High Acres ‘C’ 7, Mount Pleasant 4 Tenth Lock 4, High Acres ‘B’ 1 Dudley Sports ‘A’ 7, New Talbot ’B’ 3 Church Tavern 5, Pensnett Liberal Club 3 Old Star 5, Brickmakers Arms 2 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club 6, Old Cat Inn had a bye, Game 36:- Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club 7 Pensnett Liberal Club 1, Old Star 6 New Talbot ‘B’ 2, Church Tavern 7 High Acres ‘B’ 1, Dudley Sports ‘A’ 4 Mount Pleasant 4, Tenth Lock 5 Raven 3, High Acres ‘C’ 5 Dudley Sports ‘B’ 3, High Acres ‘A’ 4 Brier Rose 4, New Talbot ‘A’ 0 Old Liberal Club 8, Rose and Crown 5 Old Cat Inn 3, Brickmakers Arms had a bye.
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Leaders of the Brierley Hill Monday Night League Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ travelled to take on fourth in the league Bridge in their most recent fixture but it was not a good result for them as they returned after suffering a close 5-4 defeat, only their second reversal in twenty-nine fixtures. Nevertheless despite the defeat Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ still top the table and still have a lead of eight points over second in the table Maverick who lost by the same 5-4 margin in their game at Pensnett Liberal Club ‘B’ who are seventeenth in the league. In the local derby between Roebuck ‘B’ and Roebuck ‘A’ the 6-3 result went in favour of the ‘B’ side to leave them third in the league with forty-four points, just two shy of the team directly above them Maverick. Fourth placed Bridge may be four points short of Maverick but they have two games in hand and wins in those games would see them replace second placed Maverick.
Full Results: Game 28: Dud Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 5 Glasshouse ‘A’ 4, Glasshouse ‘B’ 3 Old Bush 6, Brickmakers Arms 4 Starving Rascal 5, Mount Pleasant 1 Bridge 8, Maverick 5 Pensnett Liberal Club ‘A’ 4, High Acres ‘B’ 4 Raven 5, Pensnett Liberal CLub ‘B’ 2 Rose and Crown ‘B’ 7, Roebuck ‘A’ 8 Tommy Turners ‘A’ 1, Dudley Sports ‘B’ 5 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 4, Rose and Crown ‘A’ 4 Dudley Sports ‘A’ 5, Tommy Turners ‘B’ 3 Roebuck ‘B’ 6, High Acres ‘A’ had a bye, Game 29:- High Acres ‘A’ 3 Mount Pleasant 6, Starving Rascal 6 High Acres ‘B’ 3, Glasshouse ‘A’ 4 Rose and Crown ‘A’ 5, Raven 7 Tommy Turners ‘B’ 2, Roebuck ‘B’ 6 Roebuck ‘A’ 3, Old Bush 2 Brickmakers Arms 7, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 3 Glasshouse ‘B’ 6, Rose and Crown ‘B’ 6 Dudley Sports ‘B’ 3, Bridge 5 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 4, Dudley Sports ‘A’ 7 Pensnett Liberal Club ‘A’ 2, Pensnett Liberal Club ‘B’ 5 Maverick 4, Tommy Turners ‘A’ had a bye.
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With games now fast running out in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League leaders Old Liberal Club ‘A’ added a 6-1 home win over fifth in the league Fox Inn (Lye) to their account to put them forty-four points from twenty-four games with six more to play. Second in the league Swan won 5-2 at home against Brickmakers Arms to give them the same forty-four points as the leaders but they have played one game more than their rivals. Third placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ had a bye and although they have a game in hand on Swan they are six points behind them.
The league recently played off the semi-finals of their 3 A-Side Knockout in which Old Liberal Club ‘A’ beat Bird in Hand ‘E’. Old Liberal Club ‘B’ failed to make it an all Old Liberal Club final as they lost out to Swan, making it a final between the league’s top two teams.
Full Results: 3 A-Side Knockout: Semi-Finals: Old Liberal Club ‘A’ beat Bird in Hand ‘E’, Swan beat Old Liberal Club ‘B’, Game 27:- Swan 5 Brickmakers Arms 2, Beech Tree Miners 5 Mount Pleasant 2, Old Liberal Club ‘A’ 6 Fox Inn (Lye) 1, Stourbridge FC 5 Five Ways ‘B’ 2, Hollybush 4 Plough 3, Netherton Conservative Club 3 Wheatsheaf 4, Ashwood 7 Red House 0, Old Liberal Club ‘B’ and Bird in Hand ‘E’ had a bye.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ took their unbeaten run in the Netherton Thursday Night 501 League to nine games in style as they handed their hosts Cottage Spring a 9-0 whitewash. Despite their big win the leaders didn’t gain any further advantage as their two nearest rivals, second placed Old Liberal Club and third in the league British Oak also won by the same 9-0 margin. Old Liberal Club kept within three points, one win, of the leaders beating bottom of the league Netherton Conservative Club while British Oak won against Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club. British Oak and fourth placed Bulls Head are both on twenty-one points six off the top, Bulls Head’s latest fixture seeing them win 7-2 at Spring Meadow Pub.
Five players found the three treble twenties this week B.Young and B.Neale (Bulls Head), J.Southall and B.Lewis (Plough and Harrow) plus R.Johnson (Netherton Conservative Club).
Full Results: Game 9: Old Glasshouse 7 Mount Pleasant 2, Netherton Sports and Social Club 6 Rose and Crown 3, Cottage Spring 0 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 9, Spring Meadow Pub 2 Bulls Head 7 (B.Young 180, B.Neale 180, S.Tipper 130b), British Oak 9 (D.Hand 118f, R.Lowe 107f) Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club 0, Spring Meadow Social 8 (J.Brookes 139f,15 darts game, C.Hadlington 16 darts game Townsend Social Club 1, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 1 Plough and Harrow 8 (J.Southall180, B.Lewis 180), Netherton Conservative Club 0 (R.Johnson 180) Old Liberal Club 9 (G.Moreton 13 darts game),
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The West Midlands Ladies Super League have got their new season underway and the early pacesetters are Evonne Taylor, Kat McLean, Gemma Barrett and reigning champion Jacqueline Maiden who all have eight points from their opening two fixtures. Close behind with six points are Sarah Maybury, Claire Hobbs, Chloe Woodman and Sarah Barrett.
Full Results: Game 1: Jacqueline Maiden 3 Julie Emery 1, Gemma Barrett 3 Hannah Davies 2, Kat McLean 3 Sarah Barrett 2, Claire Hobbs 3 Sarah Maybury 2, Chloe Woodman 3 Jacqui Simmons 2, Evonne Taylor 3 Jodie Rowlands 0, Sam Rowley 3 Debbie Davies 1, Julie Emery 3 Claire Hobbs 2, Sarah Barrett 3 Hannah Davies 2, Sarah Maybury 3 Chloe Woodman 2, Evonne Taylor 3 Tara Simmons-Fullwood 0, Jacqueline Maiden 3 Kath Jenkins 1, Kat McLean 3 Sam Rowley 0, Jodie Rowlands 3 Debbie Davies 1, Tara Simmons-Fullwood 3 Kath Jenkins 1, Gemma Barrett 3 Jacqui Simmons 0.
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Such is the popularity of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League that there are many new faces in the new campaign, the numbers for the opening games of the new season having swelled to fifty-seven from a closing fifty players at the end of last season.
After the opening night’s fixtures Ben Johnson who finished fourth last season in division one, is leading the field with thirteen points after a 4-4 draw with David Robbins and a 6-2 win over Dave Lopez. Chris Manoila and Simon Mountford are joint second and both are on nine points after only one fixture, Manoila beating Andy Matthews 7-1 and Mountford winning by the same margin against Chris Evans.
Jon Williams and Reece Cook Lucas head division two, Williams having a 7-1 over Claire Hobbs and Cook Lucas winning by the same margin against Warren Bower. Jimmy Stackhouse and Wayne Barratt are joint third their 6-2 wins coming in turn over Joe Bartolo and Ashley Marklew.
As I division two there are joint leaders of division three with Lauren Kempson and Michele Pritchard leading the field following their 7-1 respective wins over Ffoebi Bower and Becky Lopez. Three players are on eight points, one fewer than the top two and they are Gareth Walsh, Jade Wellings and Joanne Meachin who in turn won 6-2 against Liam Davis, Eddie Gripton and Alex Bryant.
Full Results: Game 1: Shane Passey 3 Alan Melling 5, Ben Johnson 4 David Robbins 4, Steve Lynch 4 Brian Dolman 4, Chris Manoila 7 Andy Matthews 1, Chris Evans 1 Simon Mountford 7, Justin Evans 6 Jon Blakemore 2, Simon Pritchard 3 Allan Davies 5, Kurt Wright 3 Josh Pickett 5, Dave Lopez 2 Ben Johnson 6, Malcolm Pugh 5 Martin Smith 3, Jimmy Stackhouse 6 Joe Bartolo 2, Richard Brown 5 Neville Quinton 3, Michael Smith 4 Kevin Bate 4, Reece Cook Lucas 7 Warren Bower 1, Jon Williams 7 Claire Hobbs 1, Andrew Kavanagh 4 Michael Franks 4, Ashley Marklew 2 Wayne Barrett 6, Artur Lubkowski 5 Ben Wright 3, Eddie Gripton 2 Jade Wellings 6, Liam Davis 2 Gareth Walsh 6, Ffoebi Bower 1 Lauren Kempson 7, Dave Akers 4 Keogh Bate 4, Josh Rowley 3 Sarah Barrett 5, Joanne Meachin 6 Alex Bryant 2, Michele Pritchard 7 Becky Lopez 1, Jennie Seedhouse 4 Tanya Dolman 4.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night Darts League staged their Singles Knockout which attracted a total of fifty-five players. Making their exit in the quarter-finals were Simon Pritchard (Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’), Marc Smith (Milestone), Chris Hill (Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’) and Gavin Baker (New Gate Inn ‘A’). Just losing out on a place in the final were Craig Locker (Corpus Christi ‘A’) and Brian Dolman (Hotshots) who both lost in the last four games.
The final was an all Junction ‘B’ affair and saw Dean Simmons-Fullwood beat team-mate Callum Parkes 3-0 to claim the title with Parkes runner-up.
Full Results: Singles Knockout: Losing Quarter Finalists: Simon Pritchard (Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’), Marc Smith (Milestone), Chris Hill (Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’), Gavin Baker (New Gate Inn ‘A’), Losing Semi Finalists:- Craig Locker (Corpus Christi ‘A’), Brian Dolman (Hotshots), Final:- Dean Simmons-Fullwood Junction ‘B’) 3 Callum Parkes (Junction ‘B’) 0.
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Images: AIM
