Wernley, premier division leaders in the Harborne and District Winter League, were taken to the wire by the Bell, just edging through with a 5-4 win. Bell’s J.New produced a fabulous 161 game shot. In the same division Londonderry suffered a shock 6-3 home defeat at the hands of the Red Lion team.
Close 5-4 wins for Plough, Avenue Social and Beeches in division one at the expense of Kings Highway, Brook and Bartley Green Social Flights. Divisional champions Bartley Green Social Club were awarded a 5-4 win as their opponents, Weoley Castle failed to turn up.
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In the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League, a 160 break, 100 finish and a nine darts leg from M.Birch, plus a 180 by M.Vale helped EBAHA to a 6-3 win at home to Olton RBL. Hitting the magical three treble twenties in division one was Harvester’s P.Staite, unfortunately his team went down 5-4 at Chelmsley RBL.
Best win in division two was supplied by Silver Wings who beat Heathway 8-1, P.Maund hitting a maximum in the process. Great Western and Kierans both recorded 7-2 wins against respective opponents Lyndon Arms and Lyndon Arrows. The two winners also had another similarity; they each had a player who broke with 160, for the Great Western M.Welsh and Kierans N.Parsonage.
B.Wilson was division three’s top shot hitting his 180 as his team lost 6-3 at home to Lea Hall Mixed.
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Selly Park, Reigning Irish Centre Four a Side Ladies League champions, have begun the new campaign with two opening victories, the latest being a crushing 17-4 success against Ward End. Lesley Newcombe (Selly Park) has continued where she left off last season, again the star of the show hitting 3×100,120 and 2×125. Last season’s runners up, Northfield have not had such a good start, they lost the first fixture to Selly Park and followed that with another defeat, 11-10 to Sheldon. Handsworth have taken up the number two spot, their 14-7 win over Perry Barr giving them 24 points, four adrift of the leaders.
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The Forest of Arden Winter League staged their Men’s and Women’s doubles knockouts at the Sheldon Ivy Leaf. Taking the ladies title with a final win over Margaret Wheeler and Wendy Davies were Pat Hussey and Stephanie Didierserre. The men’s event was won by Red Arrows pair Brian Twist and Craig Hall, runners up were Richie Heaven and Dave Field (Mackadown Social).
On the league front leaders Red Arrows returned to winning ways after suffering their first defeat of the season when they lost 5-4 to Silver Wings. Silver Wings have now made it a unique double as not only are they the only team to beat Arrows in the league they also recently knocked them out of the league cup.
Barry Salter (Hunters Moon) was in top form as his team beat Sheldon Ivy Leaf 6-3, hitting a maximum and recording an eight darts leg in the process.
League secretaries should note that the Highwood have dropped out of the league.
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Jeanette James began the new season of the Birmingham Ladies Double Top League with a 3-0 win against Sheila Smith and then followed that with a 2-1 success against the reigning champion Joyce Webster, despite Joyce hitting a maximum plus 140 and 100.Janet Dudley was another player in fine form, winning both of her matches against Kay Chambers and Sheila Smith 3-0.
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The Sheldon Charity team have been out again raising money for their two chosen charities, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Birmingham University Hospital Burns Unit. The latest venue to be visited by the charity team is the Gables, Small Heath. The hosts continued their fine form against the charity squad chalking up an 11-3 win in the darts and then went on to win the pool match 8-3.
Special thanks go to mine hosts Jim and Diane who together with the players and many helpers raised a tremendous £182.
The charity team will be in action again on Saturday 17 April when they will be appearing at the Vauxhall Club, Neachells.
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