Thomas Bent continues to lead the Shirley Premier League after adding in week twelve three 4-0 wins over Derek Harper, Tony Daly and Chris Thomas snr to his account taking his points to 74 from 23 games. Despite starting the night on a low when he lost 3-1 to John Smyth, Mark Gwalchmai has taken over second place from Ken Hopton who didn’t play this week and drops to eight place. Gwalchmai was quick to recover from his loss as he then won 4-0 against Jack Barrows to put him on 67 points from 24 games.
Following his win over Gwalchmai, John Smyth then won 4-0 against Lee Lattimer which saw him move up two places to third on 63 points, four short of Gwalchmai and from the same number of games.
Dave Fisher recorded the best finish of the night a 117 checkout in his 3-1 win over Colin Geens, John Smyth narrowly missing out on the £5 prize with his 116 game shot against Gwalchmai.
Finding the three treble twenties were John O’Sullivan, Tony Daly, Mark Gwalchmai, Mick Bown and Thomas Bent. The best leg of the night went to Mark Gwalchmai who recorded his second thirteen darts leg for the season.
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In division one of the Four Oaks and District Winter League, leaders The Boat struggled in their away game against The Boot as they secured a narrow 5-4 win to keep them in pole position with 16 points and a game in hand on second placed Boldmere St Mikes who had a resounding 8-1 win over Pint Pot Flights.
After their 7-2 setback at The Boat last week Golden Hind bounced back with a similar 7-2 win against Red Lion to leave them in a mid-table position on 10 points six short of leaders Boat.
The top two teams in division two made hard work of their wins as leaders The Fox trailed 4-3 at Oscott Social and had to win the last two games to get the 5-4 result and second placed St Thomas’s Social Club also came back from 4-3 down at Boldmere Tap to win 5-4 and keep within two points of Fox but they have played one game more than the top side.
After beating division three leaders Oscott Sports last week The Towers almost made it two in a row as in their game against second in the division Rosey Mac’s they took their hosts to 4-4 but were unable to win the final game and lost 5-4 to remain at the foot of the division.
There were maximums for M.Willetts (The Fox) and W.Naylor (Golden Hind) while M.Partridge hit his second of the season for The Boat.
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With Avenue Social, leaders of the Kings Norton League having a bye in week 17 the seven teams nearest to them in the table all won. Second placed Rubery RBL have played two games more than Avenue but drew level on 30 points with them after they won 6-1 against Weoley Hill. Coppice are placed third and are a further two points adrift following their 4-3 win over Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club. Then comes a gap of four points to fourth placed E57 whose 4-3 win at Northfield was only their sixteenth game and have a game in hand on both Rubery and Coppice, however a win in that game would only reduce the arrears to two points on Coppice and would not lift them any higher in the table.
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Strangely in week 27 of the Shirley and District Monday Night League leaders The Highwood were only able to field five players and so were their hosts next to bottom of the table Saracens Jesters. The result was a 6-1 win for Highwood to give them 46 points from 25 games and with a two points lead over second in the table The Wharf and a far superior average all they need now to guarantee them the title is two wins from the remaining three games.
The Wharf are on 44 points after handing their visitors Shirley Spartac a 9-0 whitewash but to ensure at the worst the runners up spot they have to win all three games as third in the table Red Lion beat fourth placed The Bears 7-2 to keep the gap between them and Wharf to just two points, plus Red Lion have a narrow one leg of average advantage over The Wharf.
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The top three teams in the Small Heath League, East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association, Heartlands Club and Sheldon Marlborough Arrows all won in week 19. E.B.A.H.A had a 7-2 success away to Cob’s Bar to keep intact their four points lead and a game in hand on second in the table Heartlands Club who won their game at Emerald Club 8-1.
After winning 5-4 against Wagon and Horses third in the table Sheldon Marlborough Arrows remain a massive ten points adrift of Heartlands Club.
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Week four of the Camp Hill League saw Tyseley WMC lose their outright lead of the league and share it with Roost Rebels. Tyseley had a close 4-3 win over bottom of the table Emerald Club who are now the only team in the league without a win. Roost Rebels went one better than Tyseley and won 5-2 at Wagon and Horses to draw level on points and average with Tyseley, the top two teams the only ones in the league with a 100% win record.
It was a good week for North Star who chalked up their first win in four when they won 4-3 away to Sedgemere Devil’s Club to take them off the foot of the table.
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With 32 wins in 32 games Brickmakers Arms made a giant leap towards the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League title when they handed their hosts, second in the table Ten Arches ‘A’ a massive 8-1 defeat to open up a four points lead between the two teams.
Ten Arches ‘B’ are third in the table and have moved to within two points of their ‘A’ side following their convincing 9-0 win at Kingswinford Conservative Club ‘B’ and will now be battling it out with their local rivals for what could be the runners up position for one of them.
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Only four of the starting line-up of eighteen teams remain unbeaten as early as the third week in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League. The Swan lead the way on average after their 8-1 home win over King William with High Oak and Rose and Crown level on points and average in second place after in turn winning 5-4 against Dudley Sports ‘B’ and 6-3 away to Bull and Bladder.
Reigning champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ are in fourth place trailing only on average, their latest success being a 5-4 home win over Mount Pleasant, this being Mount Pleasant’s first defeat of the campaign so far.
There were first wins in three for Brickmakers Arms and Portway as Brickmakers had a substantial 8-1 win over Lamp Tavern and Portway won 5-4 against Delph Bell.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League staged the first leg of the first round of their Andy Bastable Trophy and both Bulls Head and Riddins Tavern will take a commanding 7-2 lead into the second leg against respective opponents Saracens Head and Fairfield.
White Horse had a comfortable 6-3 win against Netherton Conservative Club while Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club had a close 5-4 home win over Townsend Social Club and face a tough away game in the second leg.
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The Bell narrowly lost out on the Rowley Monday Night League title last season when they finished on the same 56 points as champions George but were just three legs of average short of their rivals. This season after the opening three games Bell are leading the way on average, they added an 8-1 win over Fairfield to their account to give them a two legs of average lead over George who moved up one place from third after their 6-3 win at Wonder. Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ surrendered their number two spot when they went down 8-1 at Ivy Bush who take over third place and their opponents drop to fourth.
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With a 180 from Steven Tipper Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ have taken over pole position in the Cradley Tuesday Night League. The Social Club beat former leaders Wheatsheaf 5-4 who drop down to fourth in the table.
Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ are the only team in the league besides Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ who have won both of their opening games the latest of which was a 5-4 home win over Riddins Tavern with Reece Colley hitting a maximum for the winners. Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ are third two points behind the top two teams after winning 8-1 at Dudley Labour Club.
John Slim (Gate Hangs Well) was another player to find the three treble twenties in his team’s 5-4 win at Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League will be holding their AGM at Dudley Sports, DY5 3QT on Sunday 10th march at 11.00am, all teams both old and new are cordially invited to attend the meeting with a view to formatting the forthcoming season.
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After the opening four fixtures in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League The Vine and Miners Arms top the table with a perfect score of eight points. Vine lead Miners by just one leg of average after they won 4-3 against New Talbot and Miners had a 5-2 home success over Court House.
The leading two teams have a two points advantage over Tipton Sports, Merry-Go-Round and Island Inn. Tipton Sports like the two team above them, have won all of their games but have only played three the latest of which saw them win 5-2 at Ivy Bush while Merry-Go-Round and Island Inn in turn won 4-3 against Wonder and 5-2 over Horseley Tavern.
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Old Bulls Head continue to dominate the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League, their most recent fixture seeing them win 8-1 at Meadow Lark, the win keeping them two points ahead of Gornal Labour Club who went one better than their rivals by handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visiting team Hilly House.
Coseley Tavern fell two points behind Gornal Labour Club after suffering a 6-3 home defeat at the hands of the Gornal British Legion team who are placed fifth on 22 points, two short of Coseley and six behind the leaders.
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The Henley and District Winter League were engaged in their doubles knockout and making their way into the semi-finals were Dale Evans & Dave Tabberner, Paul Fackrell & Dean Harris, Paul Bright & Jack Smith plus Richard Envine & Billy Quinn
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An 8-1 win at Wigginton Arms keeps Queens Head top of the Pip Club League’s Main Division and also two points ahead of second placed Belgrave Sports and Social Club who won 6-3 against Globe (Wilnecote).
It’s a similar situation at the top the Seeded One section of the league with Queens Head on 12 points and Belgrave Sports and Social Club second with 10 points, both having played six games.
In the Seeded Two section Pip Club lead the way with 10 points, their latest game seeing them win 7-2 against Progressive Club. With a game in hand second placed Globe (Wilnecote) are just two points behind the leaders.
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Top of the West Midlands Men’s Super League table Allen’s Sports Bar ‘A’ had a vital 3-2 win over fourth in the table Landywood in their latest fixture to make it 24 straight wins and take their lead to a massive 16 points over second in the table Yeltz Bar who had a more convincing 4-1 success against Staffordshire Knot. Woodside held on to their third place, a 4-1 win away to King Arthur leaving them four points behind Yeltz Bar.
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