Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will get 2018 underway with a premier division home fixture in the BDO Inter County Championships when the take on Lancashire at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV1 4JJ this coming weekend.
After the opening four games to the season Warwickshire have only won once which was against neighbouring West Midlands and will be keen to add to that win when they entertain Lancashire but it will be a tough game as their opponents are second in the table on 99 points with Warwickshire lying in sixth position and trailing by some 28 points.
Lining up for Warwickshire will be Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Hughes, Dean Stewart, Kevin Dowling, Mark Westgarth, Noel Grant, Antony Allen, Ian McFarlane, Tom Aldridge, Nigel Heydon, Prakash Jiwa, Steve Hine, Anthony West, Men’s ‘B’:- Tom Ryan, Simon Power, James Hykin, Carl Green, Ian Shaw, Karl Reynolds, Charlie Symons, Ashley Hykin, Rob Comben, Mark Carter, Mark Strong, Richard Foster, Reserves:- Ted Evetts, Tom McGlone, Matt Edgar, Luke Kennedy, Adam Paxton, Jack Wareing, David Hill, Women’s ‘A’:- Donna Pinch, Sue Gulliver, Natalie Gilbert, Marian Conway, Kat Spanswick, Nina Bolt, Women’s ‘B’:- Caroline Pike, Melanie Jones, Angela Jones, Wendy Adams, Lisa Deslandes, Chloe McKivett, Reserves:- Ann Rogers, Denise Keyte, Helen Rigg.
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With two wins, a draw and only one defeat West Midlands are enjoying their fine start in the Premier Division of the BDO Inter County Championships but this coming weekend they will have a real test to life in the top flight when they play hosts to reigning champions and current table toppers Yorkshire.
High riding in fourth place with 82 points the home side are 21 short of their illustrious visitors but a win or even a draw would be a real sign that the Premier Division is where they belong.
Selected to play for West Midlands are Men’s ‘A’:- Keith Allman, Gavin Baker, Richard Baker, Scott Baker, Mark Craddock, Nick Fullwell, Ian Jones, Liam Kelly, Ash Khayatt, Glen McGrandle, Dan Nicholls, Jonathan Platt, Men’s ‘B’:- Shaun Carroll, Adam Edgar, Alfie Jacques, Richard Platt, Neil Pointon, Paul Price, Avtar Singh, Jordan Singh, Matt Tedstone, Gary Watts, Paul Wells, Christopher Williams, Reserves:- Danny Coyle, John Mycock, Jamie Rollason, Mark Rollason, Women’s ‘A’:- Sarah Roberts, Gemma Barrett, Lisa Badger, Shannon Hall, Debbie Loon, Heather Wright, Women’s ‘B’:- Jacqueline Maiden, Sophie Singh, Kim Fellows, Shellbie Simmons, Kath Jenkins, Grace Angell, Reserves:- Lizzy Arnold, Kelly Dolman, Claire Hobbs.
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In week one of the Shirley Premier League Dave Heighway took ten points from a possible twelve to top the table with a single point advantage over Ken Hopton. Heighway had a 4-0 win over Lee Holtham and 3-1 wins against Chris Thomas snr and Karl Wilson while Hopton won 4-0 against Nick Walker, beat Karl Wilson 3-1 and was held to a 2-2 draw by Andy Thomas.
Despite losing 3-1 to Tony Daly Lee Holtham picked up £5 for the highest break of the night which was 154, the £5 for the highest finish went to Chris Thomas who checked out on 141 in his 3-1 win over Craig Johnson.
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The second round of the Four Oaks and District League’s Coronation Cup produced a clash of the Titans as the top two division one teams Royal Sutton Flights and The Boat squared up to each other. The match produced no fewer than 43 tons with Royal Sutton getting the 11-4 result.
St Thomas Social Club made their way into the semi-finals with a 10-5 win over Drakes Drum while second division leaders Red Lion lost 9-6 to their first division opponents The Boot.
In the Norman Day Cup The Oscott Social stormed into an unassailable 8-4 lead over Erdington Arrows but then lost the final game 3-0 to give them an 8-7 result. Plough and Arrows outscored neighbours Pint Pot Flights but couldn’t find their finishing doubles and eventually lost by a narrow 8-7 margin in a match that produced two 180’s N.Gilbert for Flights and J.O’Connor for Arrows.
The third division’s Fox put up a brave performance against their first division opponents Golden Hind but eventually had to concede an 11-4 defeat
Other player to find the three treble twenties on the night were D.Lowe (Brookvale Social) and K.Brown (Drakes Drum). .
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The South Birmingham League have been engaged in their Knockout Cup and winning through to the next round were Coleshill Social, Erdington Members Club, The Pavillions, The Raven, Iron Horse, Mackadown Social and Crown at Shard End who had a walkover as Toby Jug failed to turn up.
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Journeys End Flights have opened up a four points lead at the top of the Forest of Arden Winter League after winning a local derby against their nearest rivals Journeys End 6-3 and with just four more games to play appear to have the title sewn up.
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Studley Cricket Club march on in the Henley and District Winter League their latest 7-2 win at Village Inn being their seventh consecutive victory to keep intact their unbeaten record so far. With 14 points the Cricket Club are two to the good on second in the table Wharf Swifts who won their home tie against Dorridge 6-3 to keep them in turn two points ahead of third placed Studley Conservative Club who also won 6-3 at Wootton Bears.
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Week eleven of the Erdington Red Lion Double Top League brought together the league’s top two players Will Naylor and Dean Bayliss, the result was a 2-1 win for Naylor to take him to 56 points and extend his undefeated run to 21 games. Bayliss holds on to second place but the defeat has left him nine points behind Naylor, however he still has a four points cushion on third in the table John Frost who had 3-0 wins over Clive Austin and Lewis Bayliss the latter result seeing him replace Bayliss in third place with a one point advantage over him.
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It was week twelve of the Shirley and District Darts League and top team Highwood made it eleven wins in twelve games with an 8-1 win over next to bottom of the table Plume of Feathers to keep them two points clear of Dunky’s Boys, Red Lion, Cider House and Drawbridge Bears. Dunky’s Boys inflicted a 9-0 defeat on Shirley Spartac while Red Lion were not far behind with an 8-1 success over Saracens Misfits. Cider House ran out 5-4 winners at Blue Bell despite a 180 from the hosts Tom McCabe and Drawbridge Bears won 7-2 away to Legion Royals.
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West Heath lost ground in the Kings Norton League title race when in week ten they surprisingly lost 4-3 at home to fifth in the table Rubery RBL. West Heath remain in second place with 16 points but now third in the table Bournbrook, with a 6-1 home success over Thurlestone have joined them on the same number of points and only trail on average. Avenue Social after their 5-2 win against Weoley Hill are now clear leaders by two points over both West Heath and Bournbrook.
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The top two teams in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League both have just four fixtures to play and leaders Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ with their latest 4-3 win away to Dudley Sports require wins in just half of those games to secure the title as second placed Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’, despite winning 7-0 at Delph Bell trail by six points and being as the leaders have lost just one of their 18 games so far the title does appear to be wrapped up.
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With games running out in the Winmau Centre Thursday Night Champions League West Midlands player Mick Baker looks odds on at this point to clinch his fourth successive title as he has an 18 points lead over second in the table and long-time former leader Tony Randell. Randell does have a game in hand on Baker but a 7-0 win would still leave him 11 points off the top. However there are still around 50 points to go for and anything could happen in those final few games.
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Journeys End Lions began the second half of the Camp Hill League season where they left off the first half as they extended their unbeaten run to nine games with a 6-1 win away to bottom of the table Station Wagon to keep them six points ahead of respective second and third placed Holy Souls and Crown Jewels. Holy Souls won their game away against fourth in the table Tyseley WMC 5-2, the same margin by which Crown Jewels defeated their visiting team Emerald Club.
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Wins for the top six teams in week 39 of the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and with five games remaining the title is still up for grabs as the top two teams Ten Arches ‘B’ and Ten Arches ‘A’ are both locked together on 68 points with only average giving the ‘B’ side the edge and the number one spot. The latest round of fixtures saw the ‘B’ team win their home tie with Fox Inn (Lye) 9-0 while the ‘A’ team were not far behind with a 7-2 success at \the Swan.
After the leading duo comes Gate ‘B’ in third place, still eight points adrift after beating their opponents Crestwood 7-2, the same scoreline by which fourth in the table Brickmakers Arms beat Queens.
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East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association took their lead to six points at the top of the Small Heath League when they beat their nearest rivals Heartlands Club 7-2 and although Heartlands have four fixtures remaining as opposed to E.B.A.H.A. having five it does look as though they are now fighting for the runners up spot as third in the table Sheldon Marlborough Flights are on the same 12 points following their 8-1 win against Emerald Club.
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The Silver End Sunday Morning League have got their new season underway and the leaders after playing the opening fixture is reigning champions Woodside who won their first game of the season against Railway 8-0. The other five teams to win their first game and follow in order of average behind Woodside are Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club, The Bell, Netherton Cricket Club, Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ and Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ who in turn won 7-1 against Glasscutters, 6-2 against Old Star and Portway and there were 5-3 wins for both Brickmakers against Kings Head (A) and Three Crowns (B).
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Average is the only difference between The Office and Queens Head in division one of the Pip Club League, both teams are on 10 points after Office won 8-1 against Belgrave Club with Martin Edwards notching a maximum for the winners.
It’s a similar situation at the top of the Main Division with Office top on average and Queens Head second both teams having 18 points.
In division two Red Lion lead the way, again only on average as second placed Old Liberal House are on the same 8 points.
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Parkes Hall have been ousted from their number one spot and drop to third place in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League after going down 5-4 at Coseley Tavern who are fifth in the table. A 6-3 win at Pensnett Liberal Club has seen Old Bulls Head move up to the top of the table with 18 points, the same number as second and third placed Ashwood and Parkes Hall, Ashwood having a 6-3 home win over Jolly Crispin.
Week eleven was a good week for Fellows Club as they chalked up only their second win in eleven games when they won 7-2 away to bottom of the table White Lion and now move up one place above Red Cow to join Pensnett Liberal Club on four points.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League kicked off their new season with the preliminary round of their Black Country Windscreens Trophy and winning through to the next round were Island Inn, Wonder, Dewdrop ‘A’, Vine and Tipton Sports, Waggon and Horse and Horseley Tavern both had a bye.
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