Kyle Bevan continued with his unbeaten run in the Shirley Legion Double Top League making it seven wins in seven games in week four of the new season and he has done that without dropping a single leg. He began this week’s fixtures with a maximum and a 4-0 win over Dave Heighway, he then continued with two more straight wins over Steve Harper and Jordan Ottley to see him resume his position at top of the table with a perfect score of 28 points, giving him not only a lead of five over his nearest rival John Smyth but he also has further advantage with a game in hand. Smyth has won six of his eight games and drawn one, his latest fixtures saw him suffer his first defeat as he lost 3-1 to John Bown and then win by the same margin against Lee Lattimer.
Last week’s table topper Mark Gwlachmai was absent this week and drops down third place, he is six points off the top with 22 points.
In addition to Kyle Bevan, Mick Bown and Tom Bent also chalked up maximums this week, the least darts, which was 14, going to Mick Bown.
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Nine of the twelve teams in the Kings Norton league got the new season underway and the early pacesetters are newcomers Bourneville who could not have wished for a better start as they handed their hosts Grant Arms a 7-0 whitewash.
Not far behind Bourneville comes reigning champions Copper Fox who began their retention of the title with a convincing 6-1 win at Bournebrook while E57 who finished last season as runners-up are currently third following their 5-2 home win over Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club.
Kings Heath, Rubery Social Club and Thurlestone didn’t play in the opening week’s games.
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There was just the one League Cup game result from the Shirley and District Monday Night League which saw division two team Saracens Misfits beat their divisional rivals Legion Royals 5-4,
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It was league game four in the Sutton and District Summer League and in division one Walmley CSC Flights lost not only their 100% win record but also their number one spot as they lost 6-3 to their nearest rivals Bishop Vesey. Vesey go top of the table on average from second placed Highcroft Social and now third in the table Walmley CSC Flights. However they have played one game more than Highcroft who had a bye this week. All of the top three teams are on six points two more than Nomads and Old Horns Lions who are placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Bottom of the division Plough and Harrow are the only team in the division without a win so far.
In division two a 6-3 home win over St Thomas Arrows keeps Golden Hind Lions in pole position having won all four of their games so far. Just one leg of average separates second and third placed Heartlands and Sutton Sharks, who in turn won 8-1 at Rosey Mac’s and 6-3 at home against Sutton Sports, with six points they are both two short of the leaders.
As in division one the bottom team, in this case Sutton Sports, are the sole team still seeking their first win of the season.
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The Netherton Tuesday Night League played their 3 A-Side Knockout down to the last eight teams and making the quarter-finals were Church Tavern ‘A’, Church Tavern ‘C’, Plough ‘A’, Bulls Head ‘A’, Bulls Head ‘B’, Wheatsheaf ‘B’, Netherton Sports ‘A’, Netherton Sports ‘B’.
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It was also cup week in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League, the quarter finals of their Memorial Cup which brought together the league’s top two teams, leaders Waggon and Horses and second placed Dewdrop ‘A’. The result was a terrific 5-2 win for Dewdrop to put them into the semis. In the local derby between Vine ‘A’ and Vine ‘B’ it was the ‘A’ side that got the close 4-3 verdict.
Miners Arms ‘A’ and Miners Arms ‘B’ both made the last four when in turn they won 6-1 against Tamebridge and 4-3 against Albion.
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White Horse moved another step closer to the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League title when they won 5-2 playing away against Seven Stars. The win puts White Horse two points clear of second placed Cross (Oldswinford) who had a bye this week and have two more fixtures to play whereas White Horse have three.
Third in the league Bell ‘A’ have only played 18 games and still have four more to play, they won 6-1 at Ten Arches but are still a huge eight points behind second placed Cross.
Rose and Crown moved one step further away from the bottom of the table and are now two points to the good on Fox Inn (Lye) after beating them 4-3, Fox Inn replacing Rose and Crown in the next to bottom position.
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The Camp Hill League fixtures produced a top of the table clash in week four with leaders Cotterills EBAHA Lane Club playing away against second in the table Aston Inn Nomads. The outcome was a close but nevertheless 4-3 win for the Nomads to see them leap-frog their opponents and take over in pole position with eight points, two more than their rivals, both are on exactly the same average. This was Cotterills first defeat of the campaign.
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Just the one rearranged fixture played in the Rowley Monday Night League which saw Wonder, who are two places off the foot of the table take on bottom placed Roost and beat them 5-4 to see both teams remain in exactly the same places as they were before the game.
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Week twelve of the Ashwood Premier League saw leader Nick Fullwell have a steady start to the evening as he narrowly won 4-3 against ninth placed Martyn Harper before ending the night with a more comfortable 6-1 win against Ash Marson to give him a total of 135 points from 21 games. Chris Manoila lost his second place despite a fine start when he beat Craig Lowin 6-1 but then lost 4-3 to Neil Murphy to take him to third place on 125 points from 23 games.
A former leader Connor Pickett has moved up three places to replace Manoila in second place after he chalked up wins of 4-3 against Chris Williams, 7-0 against Jayden Harper and 4-3 against Kevin Harris to leave him seven points adrift of Fullwell but from two more games played.
Congratulations to league late-comer Crag Lowin who recorded his first win in ten games when he beat Tony Bennett 4-3.
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Gilbert’s Bar laid on a Platinum Jubilee Knockout which attracted a total of 61 players. Going out in the last eight but receiving £20 were, Ian Jones, Rob Thompson, Chris Fox and Mick Baker. The semi-finals saw Sam Guest beat Gavin Baker 4-1 and Richard Platt win 4-3 against Ben Johnson with Baker and Johnson picking up £40 each.
The final was a very close affair with Richard Platt just getting the 4-3 verdict over Sam Guest to collect £200 as winner with Guest taking away £100 as runner-up.
Richard Platt (Winner) and Sam Guest (Runner-Up)
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The ECC Club was the setting for the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League Singles Knockout which attracted an encouraging 74 players. In the quarter finals there were wins for Neil Baugh (Moreton Arms), Ben Johnson (Gilbert’s Bar), Steve Jarvis (ECC) and Simon Pritchard (Railway) who in turn defeated Steve Field (Cleveland Arms), Jon Blakemore (Gilbert’s Bar), Richard New (ECC) and Russ Smith Wednesfield Legion).
Makng their way to the final at the expense of Neil Baugh and Simon Pritchard were Ben Johnson and Steve Jarvis.
The final result was a little one-sided as Steve Jarvis was crowned champion with a straight 3-0 win over Ben Johnson.
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Dudley Sports have lost their top spot in the Silver End Sunday Morning League after they somewhat surprisingly lost 5-3 at home to New Talbot who are some eight places below them in the table and have thirteen fewer points. Taking over form Dudley Sports in pole position is Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club added a 5-3 home win to their account to give them a total of 27 points, two more than the previous leaders who drop to second place just one point to the good on Old Star whose 5-3 win over Crestwood has lifted them two places to third in the league.
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I unhappily have to end this week’s column on a very sad note as I report the passing of John (Jack) Jones. John lived and loved darts managing teams, organising matches and acting as MC on many, many occasions, in fact he was MC of many of my Highgate/Tennants Mitchells and Butlers exhibition games.
Although he didn’t actually play himself he was dedicated to the sport and did everything he could not only to promote the West Midlands County, Super League and many local leagues but also the many players he helped to reach the standard of play they are still achieving today.
Condolences to John’s family, he will be missed by all of his friends and acquaintances both near and far.
Rest in Peace John Jones darts is a far lesser place with your premature departure.
John Jones
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