Following their opening 18-18 draw away to Devon in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships, newly promoted West Midlands played a rearranged home fixture with Hampshire who were also promoted from division one last season as champions.
Saturday’s games saw both the ladies and men’s teams finish all square, the ladies with wins from Shannon Hall and Shellbie Simmons had to wait until the penultimate game before securing their 3-3 draw when lady of the match Jacqueline Maiden beat Sue Thompson 3-1 with an 18.57 average.
The men’s ‘B’ team had trailed 3-0, 4-1,5-3 and 6-5 before Neil Pointon came from 3-1 down to beat Andy Newcombe 4-3 and put the final score at 6-6, Robert Smith taking the match award with his 28.63 average.
Sunday produced some great results as the ladies won 4-2 with Heather Wright (18.67) their top player and the men came back from 5-4 down to win 7-5 with opener Nick Fullwell taking the match award for his 29.91 average.
The final score was 20-16 to put West Midlands top of the premier division table with 42 points, a fantastic start however its early days and they have played two fixtures compared to the majority having played just one.
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Erdington Members Club made it two wins in as many games in division one of the South Birmingham League’s winter season when they recorded an emphatic 7-2 victory over Crown at Shard End to keep them in pole position and lead the rest of the field by two points. Second placed Pavilions were also 7-2 winners in their tie at The Gate and although they trail Erdington by two points they do have a game in hand.
Just one leg of average separates the top two teams in division two Toby Jug leading the way with a 5-4 win at Crown Jewels giving them a maximum four points and on the same number of points is Iron Horse whose latest fixture saw them win by the same 5-4 margin against Chelmsley Conservative Club.
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In the opening week of the season in the Four Oaks and District League middle of the table Old Oscott Arrows held reigning division one champions The Boat to a close 5-4 result and then repeated the 5-4 result in week two against last season’s runners up Royal Sutton Flights (formerly Boldmere St Mikes), Royal Sutton having to win the last two games to secure their 5-4 victory, but despite their efforts Old Oscott are still seeking their first points of the season. Golden Hind have taken over the top spot from Royal Sutton in the division after handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visiting team The Boot
Red Lion clinched their 5-4 win at Pint Pot Arrows in the very last game to remain in pole position in division two putting them two points to the good on The Fox in second place who had a bye and now have a game in hand on the leaders.
Newcomers Oscott Social continue to perform well winning 6-3 at Boldmere Tap to top division three, two points ahead of Rosey Mac’s who had a bye.
S.Harvey from The Boat hit this week’s only maximum.
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Both of the Journeys teams chalked up big wins in the Forest of Arden Winter League n week twelve, leaders Journeys End winning 8-1 at Highwood Exiles to put them on 20 points from 12 games while Journeys End Flights in second place are also on 20 points following a 7-2 win against Highwood Arms and they have played two games fewer than their local rivals.
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Because he didn’t play in week thirteen Tom Bent has been ousted from the number one position in the Shirley Red Lion Premier League and drops to second place on 77 points one fewer than new leader Steve Sidwell who took his points tally to 26 when he recovered from a 3-1 defeat by Dave Heighway to go on and win 4-0 against Mike Forsyth and Tim Lowe. Bent is now one point off the top but with a game in hand.
It was unlucky week thirteen for Mark Gwalchmai who suffered 3-1 defeats at the hands of both fifth placed Paul Higgins and seventh in the table Phil Thomas to see him drop one place to third with 75 points.
The £5 prize for the highest finish went this week to Antony Daly who checked out on 109 in his 4-0 win over Karl Wilson.
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The South West Birmingham Clubs League have got their new season underway and an opening 6-2 win at Bartley Green FC ‘B’ has put Rubery RBL top of division one by one leg of average over Dingle who won 5-3 at West Heath CEM.
There was a similar situation at the top of division two where Bournbrook beat Stirchley Tascos 6-2 to go top and there were 5-3 wins for both Moseley Brunswick and Solihull Municipal who in turn defeated Perfection and West Heath Cobra to hold joint second place.
In the ladies section Longbridge Ladies handed out a crushing 7-0 defeat to Bartley Green FC ‘A’ to head the division.
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There were two losers in the top seven teams in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League and one of the two was leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club who lost 5-4 at home to second in the table Delph Bell. Ex Serviceman’s hold on to pole position but are now joined on the same 44 points by Delph Bell who only trail on average.
The other team to lose in the top seven was Dudley Sports ‘B’ who went down 5-4 away to fourth placed Mount Pleasant who are on the same 40 points as third in the table Bulls Head (Netherton) who won 5-4 at Dudley Sports ‘A’.
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The Pip Club League had round one of their Open Cup on the fixture card and winning through to round two were Winning Post, Birchmoor Club, The Office, Globe (Wilnecote), Kettlebrook Club, Old Liberal and Queens Head, Pip Club had a bye.
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The West Midlands Men’s Super League is up to week nine and leaders Lancaster for the first time in those opening nine games lost. It was a tough top of the table clash between Lancaster and second placed reigning champions Landywood ‘A’ and with home advantage it was Landywood who got the very close 4-3 verdict to put them on 48 points just four short of Lancaster who remain in pole position..
Third in the table Allens Sports Bar ‘A’ moved to within two points of Landywood ‘A’ with a convincing 5-0 win at Gilberts Bar.
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Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ made it ten wins in as many games in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League when they won 5-2 at home against Fox Inn ‘B’ (Lye) keeping them four points ahead of their nearest rivals Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ who won their home tie with Pensnett Welfare Club ‘B’ 6-1.
Third and fourth placed Miners (Wollescote) and Pensnett Welfare Club ‘A’ played each other and swapped places after the Welfsre Club won the match 5-2 to just edge their opponents on average, both teams having 12 points.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League played the second legs of two cup semi finals and winning through in the League Cup were league winners Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and league runners up Riddins Tavern which should produce an entertaining and nail biting final.
The Shadow League Cup final will be battled out by Townsend Club and Delph Bell.
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The Bell with a 7-2 win at the Roost together with the 5-4 defeat for Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ by Cradley Liberal Club have now gone eight points clear at the top of the Rowley Monday Night League. The Bell have 48 points and Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ are on 40 with Cradley Liberal Club now just two points behind them. Ivy Bush are on the same 38 points as the Liberal Club and won 6-3 away to Yeltz Bar.
At the other end of the table bottom team Loyal Lodge chalked up their first win in the season’s 25 games so far, a 5-4 success against Tividale FC who are some nine places and 26 points above them.
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Week four in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League and only Gornal Labour Club from the starting sixteen teams remain unbeaten. The leader’s latest fixture saw them win 7-2 at home to Jolly Crispin while the only other undefeated team to go into the latest round of games Old Bulls Head lost 5-4 at Parkes Hall.
It was a good week for White Lion as they recorded their first win in four, a 5-4 success away to Hilly House.
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No change at the top of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as all of the top four teams won. Table toppers Dewdrop won 5-2 at home to New Talbot while second in the table Waggon and Horses, who are eight points behind Dewdrop won 6-1 against fifth in the table Old Hop Pole. Third placed Island Inn had a close 4-3 win over Wonder and fourth in the table The Vine had a comfortable 6-1 win against bottom of the table Hayes Social.
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Due to only a small turnout it was decided to play a “Round Robin” in the Colebatches Club’s knockout. The first of the semi finals matched Steve Gillam and Nick Fullwell which saw Gillam win 4-2. The second of the semi’s between Mark Craddock and Shane Price went the full seven legs distance with Craddock just getting the close 4-3 verdict.
The final also went to a deciding leg which saw Mark Craddock winning the seventh leg in 18 darts and taking the title with a 4-3 result. As winner Craddock received £150, runner up Steve Gillam had £80 and there was £40 each for Fullwell and Price.
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After the opening eleven games in the Bilston and District League Tilted Barrel top both the 301 and the 501 divisions, In the 301 section a 5-2 win away to fourth in the table Allens Sports Bar ‘A’ put them on 20 points, two clear of The Nutan and Lanesfield RBL. In the 501 division they beat Allens Sports Bar ‘A’ 3-0 to open up a two points lead over their opponents who are second in the table.
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With just a couple of fixtures remaining in division one of the Yeltz Bar Tuesday Night 501 Singles League Tommy Johnson with two maximums and a 4-1 win over Richard Duncan (who also hit a maximum) has one hand on the winners silverware as he now has a total of 118 points seven more than second in the table Neil Steventon who added a 5-0 win against Alister Duncan to his tally.
In division two Mark Bayliss continues to lead the field his 4-1 win over Stuart Stanton taking his points to 48 and giving him a massive twelve points lead over second in the table Ash Portman who despite hitting a 180 lost ground as he went down 3-2 to John Simpson.
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Only average separates the top three teams in the division one doubles section of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League, Riley’s ‘C’ are top on average after winning 3-0 against Village Inn with Riley’s ‘B’ second just three legs of average short of the ‘C’ team after their similar 3-0 win at Penn Bowling. Making up the top three and a further three legs adrift is the Bull who had a 2-1 success against Pavilion.
No such problem in the division two doubles division as a 2-1 win over Bird in Hand has given leaders Wednesfield Legion 46 points a huge ten more than second placed Roebuck who lost their home tie with Woodfield Social 2-1.
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Black Country Belters played their tenth game of the Black Country Premier League season against OQH Hunters and won 10-5 to put them on 18 points at the top of the table. Second placed Blackheath Beechers have played one game less than Belters and their 10-3 win against Brickmaker Big Dogs leaves them just one point off the top with a game in hand.
Third and fourth placed Silver End Sharpshooters and Halesowen Hunters are both on 15 points and in turn won 10-5 at Woodside Poachers, who are placed fifth and 10-4 against Vintage gamers who are next to bottom of the table.
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There was a top of the table clash in the Wednesbury and Darlaston Wednesday Night League when leaders The Nutan took on their nearest rivals Staffordshire Knot ‘A’. The result was a 6-3 win for Nutan which saw their opponents drop to third place behind Black Horse who won 6-3 against Horse and Jockey.
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