Warwickshire, with five wins in as many outings in division one of the BDO Inter Counties Championship this season, should be going into match six of a total of nine full of confidence. A win in their home tie at the Belgrave Sports and Social, Tamworth, against Northumberland this coming weekend would undoubtedly put them well on course for a return to the premier division. Team selections for the match are, Men’s ‘A’:- K.Dowling, A.Sharratt, S.Hine, C.Laffar, S.Dwyer, C.Fowler, P.Rouse, M.Hollyoake, P.Brotherton, T.Brown, A.Smith, P.Koyce, Men’s ‘B’:- D.Clarke, L.Thompson, R.Shenton, M.Strong, G.Podmore, D.White, T.Frost, P.Merrett, C.Betteridge, D.Harris, M.Kane, M.Flood, Reserves:- A.Mountford, P.Cummings, B.Stephens, P.Lloyd, S.Cain, Women’s ‘A’:- T.Gulliver, T.Bellamy, C.Pike, C.Jackson, J.Liddell, T.Montgomery, Women’s ‘B’:- S.Deery, C.Weston, M.Redmond, M.Jennings, D.McPherson, P.Thornton, Reserves:- D.Jones, L.Butler.
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West Midlands, in division two also have a home fixture. Playing at Chubbs Sports and Social, Wolverhampton they will take on Somerset. With only one win and one draw from their five games the Midlanders are having what can only be described as a nightmare season and a few wins are now required to fight off a relegation battle and survival. Lining up for West Midlands will be, Men’s ‘A’:- D.Platt, D.Robbins, M.James, I.Jones, A.Arnold, S.Parkes, T.Aldridge, A.Singh, P.Johnson, T.Walker, C.Davies, G.Taylor, Men’s ‘B’:- J.Biggs, P.Johnson, R.Johnson, M.Wellings, S.Penwright, V.Lloyd, A.Bradburn, S.Brindley, M.Tibbetts, J.Platt, A.Hammersley, B.Hadley, Women’s ‘A’:- D.Holdcroft, G.Cook, a.Perry, F.Allen, D.Toley, C.Downing, Women’s ‘B’:- R.Sanders, R.Mycock, T.Johnston, V.Arnold, S.Smith, B.Phillips, Reserves:- J.Cox, P.Hooley, J.Denton, D.Harvey.
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In the premier division of the Harborne and District Winter League, Bartley Green Social Club did their fight for honours no harm whatsoever when they chalked up a 9-0 whitewash against the Golden Cup. Another team challenging for the title is Ladywood Social who in turn defeated the Raven 7-2.
There was a top of the table clash in division two when the leaders Highlander entertained second placed Avenue Social and won 7-2. Hot on the heels of Avenue are Harborne Stores who had a 6-3 victory at the Travellers Rest. T.Collier (Village Stump) with a 180, helped his team to a similar 6-3 win over Stonehouse Flights.
Eric Bristow will be putting on a charity night at the Stonehouse on Saturday 4th March. All proceeds will go to the St Mary’s Hospice. Why not drop in, support a worthy cause and watch some top class darting at the same time.
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Staying with charity work, the Mercury Ladies charity team have been on the road again. This time the venue was the Stirchley United WMC where they took on a representative team from the South West Birmingham Clubs Winter League. With wins from Sylvia Kimberlee, Joyce Webster, Carole Fisher, Angie Bourne and Stephanie Bailey the charity team won 5-1, Barbara Andrews was the hosts only winner. The evening raised a fabulous £120 which will go to the Give a Child Health Fund.
The teams next match will be at the Hopwood where they will take on top charity raisers “May’s Hoppers”. This will be the last of the current series of exhibitions and could possibly be the last ever as the Mercury, sponsors since the team was formed some twenty years ago have decided that they will no longer be able to sponsor the team. So if there is anyone out there willing to pay the travelling expenses of the players don’t be shy contact Joyce Webster on 0121-604-5081 and she will fill you in on the details.
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Three out of four matches played in the Warwickshire Men’s Super League finished all square at four each, games between Coventry Bishopsgate and Coventry Howitzers, Bedworth Bank’s and Birmingham Midland Red and Coventry Potters Green and Warwick Town. The only game to produce a result was that with Kingstanding and Birmingham Vauxhall, the latter getting the massive 7-1 verdict.
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Alan Mayell leader of the Bass Breweries and Bristan Ltd sponsored Minworth Social Double Top League, marches on. In the latest fixtures Mayell played against Terry Clinton and Glen Clark and beat both 3-0, despite a maximum from Clark. Mayell now has 98 points, eleven more than his nearest rival Tony Pedley, who has played three more games. Third placed Alan Grainger is fourteen points adrift but has two games in hand on the leader. Other players to notch 180’s were Andy Smith, Mark Franks, Chris Packer, Richie Baker and Gordon Clinton, who also checked out on 152.
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There was disappointment for Bagot Arms in the Amber Windows League, as they went down 5-4 in a very close game at the Heartlands, their first defeat of the current campaign. A 160 break from G Gardner helped K.C.A. to a convincing 8-1 win at the Lyndhurst as did Vauxhall Social in their home tie with Seventh Trap. Old Oscott beat Yew Tree Colts 7-2 at home, while Woodman and Aston Social had 5-4 margins against respective opponents King Edward 7th and the Mitre.
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