What an end to the Shirley and District Monday Night League as the top two teams Highwood and Dunky’s Boys went into their final fixtures level on 54 points and the title dependent on the outcome of their two games. Both teams were playing against opponents from the bottom half of the table, Dunky’s Boys recording a convincing 8-1 win against Sharmans Cross but it was not enough as Highwood handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Shirley Golf Club to put them on the same 56 points as Dunky’s but with a six legs better average.
Third in the table Red Lion ended their campaign with a 7-2 win over Cider House to give them a total of 52 points.
The Shadow League title went to Saracens Misfits whose last game 7-2 win over Shirley Spartac took their points tally to 30.
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With a 3-0 win over both Jake Liggins and Ben Liggins, Luis Barberan took his points to an unbeaten 30 in the newly formed C’s Club Double Top League. Barberan has a four point’s buffer over second in the table Neil Parsonage after he beat Tom White 3-0 and then added a 2-1 success over Jake Liggins to his account. Despite the four points deficit Parsonage does have a game in hand on Barberan and he is two points to the good on third in the table Pete Kingdon who has also played one game more than Parsonage.
Week five produced five maximums supplied by Charlie Kingdon, Tom White, Jake Liggins, Jake Webster and Luis Barberan.
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Journeys End had an impressive 9-0 win over Highwood Exiles in group ‘A’ of the Forest of Arden Summer League to keep them in pole position with an unbeaten six points from their opening three games. New Inns have also won all three of their fixtures so far the latest of which was a 5-4 home win over Highwood KB who lose their number one spot and drop to third in the table, New Inns trail Journeys on average only.
Dunky’s Boys are the only unbeaten team in group ‘B’ but with a bye this week are second in the table one leg of average short of leaders Crown who won their fixture at Ivy leaf 5-4, both teams are on two points.
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The South Birmingham Winter League had cup semi-finals on their fixture card, first the Knockout Cup in which division one team Coleshill Social won 7-2 away division two leaders Iron Horse. The other last four game saw Crown at Shard End lose their home game with Banbury Club 6-3.
In the Jimmy Walker semi-finals the all division two fixture between Crown Jewels and C’s Arrows saw the former win 8-1 while division one’s bottom team The Trident lost 6-3 at home to second in the division two table The Dog.
Just one rearranged league division two fixture was played in which The Dog beat Toby Jug 5-4.
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The top two teams in the Camp Hill League Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Journeys End Lions squared up to each other in week two on the former’s board and it was the home team that got the very close 4-3 verdict to keep them top of the table, inflicting on their opponents their first defeat of the season.
Besides Sheldon Marlborough Flights there are now only two other undefeated teams in the league Emerald Club and Wagon and Horses both of them having played just one game so far.
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Just two fixtures played in the Small Heath League this week which saw second in the table Heartlands Club win their home tie with Cob’s Bar 8-1 to put them on 36 points from 22 games, six short of leaders East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association who have won all 21 of the fixtures and are on 42 points.
The other game played was between Wagon and Horses and Sheldon Marlborough Flights, both teams were only able to field eight players, the 5-3 result going to Sheldon Marlborough.
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The Boat had an important win in division one of the Sutton and District Summer League in week eight, a 5-4 result against third in the table Golden Hind to maintain their number one spot with a perfect score of 14 points plus a two points lead over second placed Erdington Club who were 6-3 winners away to bottom of the table Red Lion.
In division two leaders Pint Pot Flights did their title chances no harm at all with an 8-1 win against Rosey Mac’s, however the top team are closely followed by Boldmere Tap and Old Oscott WMC who are both on the same 12 points from seven games as Pint Pot Flights but with inferior averages after in turn Boldmere had a bye and Old Oscott WMC won 6-3 against The Boot.
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After the opening sixteen games only average separates Bulls Head (Netherton) and Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ at the top of the Brierley Hill Monday Night League. Bulls Head played at home against bottom placed Limes Club and won 9-0 to keep them just ahead of Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ who beat their visiting team Lamp Tavern 7-2.
Dudley Sports ‘A’ lost their third place to Roebuck after they went down 7-2 away to Portway who are some four places and six points behind them, Roebuck winning by the same 7-2 scoreline at Pensnett Liberal Club.
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Mark Henderson began week three of the Shirley Premier League top of the table and looked to be securing that position when he kicked off the evening with a 3-1 win over Leigh Clutterbuck, but he then lost by the same margin to Lee Harris to see him drop to sixth in the table on 18 points from six games. Taking over at the top of the table is John O’Sullivan who played three games in which he won 3-1 against Colin Geens, had a 4-0 win against Derek Harper and then finished the night with a 2-2 draw with Paul Harper to put him on 23 points from eight games.
Pete Silver moved up from ninth to second place on 20 points from his six games after he beat Neil Comerford 3-1 and then added 4-0 wins over both Kev Graver and Colin Geens to leave him one point ahead of Steve Sidwell, Phil Thomas and Gary Cleverley.
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Week seven of the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League saw Brickmakers Arms consolidate their position at the top of the table with a 9-0 win over Crestwood and take their unbeaten run to seven games, their nearest rivals Ten Arches ‘A’ have also won all seven games, the latest of which was a 7-2 win at Hop House leaving them just four legs of average short of Brickmakers.
It was lucky seven for Hare and Hounds ‘A’ who chalked up their first win of the season, a 5-4 home win over Garibaldi to lift them off the foot of the table, taking over in the bottom position is Kingswinford Conservative Club ‘B’ who lost 5-4 at Glasscutters.
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Tipton Sports held on to their four points lead at the top of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League with a 6-1 win over Wonder. Second in the table Dewdrop ‘A’ had a key 5-2 win over fourth in the table Island Inn to stay two points ahead of third placed Waggon and Horses who won 4-3 against Dewdrop ‘B’.
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Seventeen games have been played in the Rowley Monday Night League and the top two teams George and Bell are level on 32 points with George just having the edge on average. All of the top three teams won 7-2, George accounting for Whiteheath Tavern, Bell beat Tividale FC and third placed Cradley Liberal Club won against Lodgers, the Liberal Club trailing the top two by two points. A further two points adrift with 28 points is Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ who were the week’s biggest winners, 8-1 against Roost.
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Sadly and with regret I announce the passing away of Tom Bannister a man who has played darts for various teams and in numerous leagues around the Black Country for many, many years. Tom was a fine darts player and a true gentleman he will be sadly missed by all of his friends and darts colleagues. Condolences go to his wife and family.
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For a third time this season in the Netherton Thursday Night League all of the results have been the same for each game, on this occasion it was 6-3, leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club winning against White Horse to put them on 27 points from ten games while Riddins Tavern, in second place, beat Fairfield to go level on 27 points but from eleven games. Other winners were The Crown and Townsend Club who in turn defeated Bulls Head and Delph Bell.
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Woodside, reigning champions in the Silver End Sunday Morning League are not enjoying the best of results for the current campaign, their latest fixture seeing them lose 5-3 to the team just above them in second place, Netherton Cricket Club who with 35 points are now five to the good on their opponents.
Brickmakers Arms after their 5-3 win at Glasscutters are also on 27 points and remain top of the table with a slightly better average than Netherton Cricket Club.
The bottom two teams Kings Head and New Talbot squared up to each other, the result a 4-4 draw seeing both teams move up one place in the table and Three Crowns, who lost 7-1 at Pensnett Welfare Club dropping into the bottom place.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League have got their new season underway and the early pacesetters are Miners (Wollescote) who won 6-1 away to Brickmakers Arms ‘B’. Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ are second in the table, they had a 5-2 win at Ashwood. In the local derby between Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ and ‘B’ the ‘A’ team won 4-3 the same margin by which Delph Bell and Old Star in turn defeated Dudley Sports and Glasscutters.
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With Queens Head and The Office both winning 8-1 against respective opponents Dolphin Wanderers and Birchmoor Club there is no change at the top of either the division one or main division of the Pip Club League.
In the second division Old Liberal House continue to lead the field after a 5-4 win at Kettlebrook Club, they hold a four points lead over Red Lion, Pip Club and Wigginton Arms.
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The Yeltz Bar Tuesday Night 501 Singles League staged a Memorial Knockout for Brian Evetts which had a very high standard of play throughout with Jason Lowe the winner after beating Trevor Brennan 4-0 in the final. In the semi-finals Lowe beat Jamie Rollinson 3-0 and Brennan won 3-1 against Reece Colley.
The evening raised a terrific amount of £250 which will go to a designated charity.
The league got the second half of their season going and topping division one with 4-1 wins are Robert Smith and Neil Smith while Jason Lowe and Richard Reed with 5-0 wins top division two. Phil Harrold, Rob Gregory and Pete Harrold all won 4-1 to share the number one spot in division three.
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A 2-1 defeat for Riley’s ‘C’ by Railway in division one of the doubles league in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League as seen Riley’s ‘C’ get knocked off the top of the table and be replaced by Gilberts Bar whose 2-1 win over Riley’s ‘A’ has given them a two points advantage over Riley’s ‘C’ who drop to second place. However it’s not all bad news for Riley’s ‘C’ as they top the division one singles league with 20 points after their 4-3 win at Railway.
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ECC ‘A’ had a 6-1 win against Moreton to keep them in pole position in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League, they have 20 points and a two points lead over three chasing teams, second placed Whitmore Reans WMC who won 5-2 against McGhees, third placed Hurst Hill who with the week’s biggest win of 7-0 accounted for Royal, Albrighton and the Bull in fourth place who beat Brewood British Legion 5-2.
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