After scraping a 5-4 win against the George last week, Midland Red, in the premier division of the Harborne and District Winter League, suffered a shock 5-4 defeat at home to Greenlands. T.Hill hit a maximum for Midland Red but that was little consolation for the reigning champions. J.Meredith (Ladywood Social) had a nine darts leg in his teams 8-1 win over the Raven.
In division one Hillyfields ‘A’ had a similar 8-1 win in their fixture at the Quinborne while 7-2 was the top scoreline in the second division, supplied by Avenue Social against Highlander Ladies.
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It was a bad week for A.Grainger in the Bass Breweries and Bristan Ltd sponsored Minworth Double Top League. Grainger after nine games was top of the table, still able to boast a 100% record. In the latest fixtures he lost both of his games against W.Chinn and M.Franks by 2-1. Nevertheless at this point he still holds on to pole position, but only by one point over A.Mayell, who with 41 points has the advantage of a game in hand. Mayell won his game against T.Whitehouse 2-1.
G.Clinton grabbed the only 180 of the week in his 3-0 win over D.Downes.
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Birmingham Vauxhall were held to a surprising 4-4 draw in the Warwickshire Men’s Super League by Rugby. Rugby, who recorded a draw in their opening game of the season against Kingstanding, until this week had lost every other match, unlike Vauxhall who lost their opener to Birmingham Midland Red and since then have chalked up four wins and two draws. Coventry Potters Green and Coventry Howitzers also finished all square while Birmingham Midland Red, Coventry Bishopsgate and Kingstanding all won 6-2 over respective opponents Tamworth, Kettlebrook Tamworth and Warwick Town.
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The county teams will be in action again this coming weekend. Warwickshire will be hoping to continue their fine form in division one which has seen them win both of their first two fixtures. Lincolnshire are the latest opponents and Warwickshire will take them on at the Belgrave Sports and Social Club, Tamworth. Team selections are, Men’s ‘A’:- K.Dowling, A.Sharratt, S.Hine, L.Thompson, S.Dwyer, C.Fowler, P.Rouse, M.Hollyoake, P.Brotherton, T.Brown, A.Smith, P.Koyce, Men’s ‘B’:- D.Clarke, C.Laffar, R.Shenton, M.Strong, G.Podmore, D.White, T.Frost, P.Merrett, C.Betteridge, D.Harris, P.Lloyd, S.Cain, Reserves:- M.Flood, M.Kane, A.Mountford, P.Cummings, B.Stephens, Ladies ‘A’:- T.Gulliver, T.Bellamy, C.Pike, C.Jackson, J.Liddell, T.Montgomery, Ladies ‘B’:- S.deery, C.Weston, M.Redmond, L.Butler, D.McPherson, P.Thornton, Reserves:- M.Jennings, D.Jones.
West Midlands are still looking for their first win in division two and will be trusting that their game against Cheshire will be the one to provide them with that win. Lining up for the various teams will be, Men’s ‘A’:- T.Aldridge, I.Jones, P.Johnson, D.Robbins, A.Singh, G.Taylor, M.James, S.Parkes, C.Davies, T.Walker, A.Arnold, A.Hammersley, Men’s ‘B’:- S.Brindley, J.Biggs, V.Lloyd, A.Bradburn, R.Johnson, A.Cockayne, B.Hadley, M.Tibbetts, S.Penwright, F.Johnson, P.Evans, M.Wellings, Reserves:- P.Hadley, S.Kendrick, K.Platt, S.Cheadle, Ladies ‘A’D.Holdcroft, P.Hooley, A.Perry, F.Allen, D.Tolley, J.Cox, Ladies ‘B’:- G.Cook, J.Denton, T.Johnson, R.Sanders, C.Downing, S.Smith, Reserves:- V.Arnold, D.Harvey, J.Clarke.
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It was strange that this week all of the top individual performances in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League belonged to players who finished on the losing side. T.Bellamy hit a 180 and M.Hicks had a nine darts leg for the Sheldon Heath Social Dukes who lost at Smiths Wood Snooker Club 6-3. J.Norris (Olton RBL) not only hit a maximum but also recorded an eight darts leg as his team lost at home 5-4 to the Three Horse Shoes. Saltley Amateur Gardeners won 6-3 at home to Stechford Social whose A.Grainger had a nine darts leg.
Not the same story in division two as R.Agar (Kingshurst Labour Club) found the three treble twenties in his teams 6-3 win at Chelmsley Con Club and Iron Horse’s R.Earl recorded a ten darts leg as his side won 5-4 at the Great Western.
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With leaders Selly Park having a bye this week in the Irish Centre Four a Side Ladies League, second placed Acocks Green had a chance to reduce the arrears. Playing against bottom of the table Sutton, Acocks Green chalked up a convincing 18-3 win giving them a total of 94 points just five adrift of Selly Park. Fourth placed Northfield also reduced the difference between them and third placed Sheldon to five points when they defeated them by 13-8.
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Round one of the Presidents Cup was on the agenda for the Forest of Arden League and all of the results went against the current league form. Stechford Social, unbeaten and leaders in the league lost 5-4 to Hobs Meadow Mixes who without a win so far in the league are bottom of the table. Second placed Red Arrows also lost by the odd game to the Harvester, in fact all of the results finished 5-4. Hobs Meadow, whose league form has left a lot to be desired this season went 3-0 and 4-1up against Silver Wings, but it took a last gasp win from E.McAlear over C.Busby to clinch the win. Cocks and Hens completed the round with a win at the Mackadown Sports and Social.
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