Both local county teams ended the millennium on a winning note in the BDO Inter Counties Championships. Warwickshire playing at home at the Belgrave Sports and Social Club, Tamworth took on Norfolk. It was a success story all the way. The two men’s teams continued their impressive start to make it four consecutive victories. The ‘A’ side won 8-4 with Kevin Dowling (31.31), for the second consecutive fixture, taking the match award. Richie Shenton was the ‘B’ side’s top man, with a 28.36 average as his team went on to win 7-5.
In the ladies games the ‘A’ team kept up their unbeaten run with a 5-1 win, Trina Gulliver, yet again the lady of the match averaging 22.01. Trina has now won all four of this seasons match awards. A 4-2 win also maintains the ‘B’ teams undefeated run. Mo Redmond (19.85) took the match award.
Warwickshire with 110 points now lead the promotion table by two points over local rivals Staffordshire.
West Midlands also had a home tie, their venue Chubbs Sports and Social Club, Wolverhampton. The fixture with Buckinghamshire got off to a somewhat shaky start when the ladies ‘B’ team finished on the wrong side of a 5-1 scoreline, Sue Smith (15.38) the only winner. By the end of the day things were a little brighter as the men’s side chalked up a 7-5 victory, their first win since the opening day of the season. Top man was Vic Lloyd (25.91).
The ladies ‘A’ got off to a great start Diane Tolley, Dawn Holdcroft (20.59) and Frances Allen putting them 3-0 up. However, the visitors won the following three games and the match finished all square at 3-3.
With the overall scoreline at 13-11 in favour of the away team the men’s ‘A’ needed an 8-4 result to gain an overall win. That is just what they did. With a man of the match performance from David Platt (31.68) the men won 8-4 to give the West Midlands their first win points of the campaign.
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There were shocks in the Forest of Arden Winter with leaders Stechford Social losing 5-4 at Mackadown Social, only their second defeat of the season. G.Tegg hit a maximum for the Mackadown. Hobs Meadow are the only other team to beat Stechford but they also finished on the wrong side of a 5-4 result in their encounter with rivals Hobs Meadow Mixes. Poor finishing was Hobs downfall, however, if any team is going to beat them it is usually Hobs Meadow Mixes. K.Bunce recorded a nine darts leg for Hobs while P.Taverner (Cocks and Hens) had a 160 break as his team lost 6-3 at home to the Harvester.
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There were shocks also in the Harborne and District Winter League when in the first round of their Skipp Cup Greenlands, Bugle Horn and Bartley Green Social Flights all lost. With a 9-6 result Stonehouse beat Greenlands, Highlander, in the tie with Bugle Horn went one better, winning 10-5. Harborne Stores, with a 12-3 scoreline accounted for Bartley Green Social Flights.
Other teams to win through to the next round are Bartley Green Social Club who won 15-0 against Stonehouse Flights, Travellers Rest with a 14-1 verdict over Highlander Ladies and Golden Cup with a narrow 8-7 win against Village Stump.
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It was top versus bottom in the Warwickshire Men’s Super League as leaders Bedworth Bank’s played hosts to Warwick Town. The result was a resounding 8-0 whitewash for Bedworth giving them a total of 82 points, seven more than their nearest rivals Birmingham Vauxhall. Vauxhall also played at home, in a tough battle with third placed Coventry Howitzers. The match which produced in excess of one hundred tons plus four maximums from C.Fowler, S.Cain and M.Kane (Vauxhall) and P.Merrett (Howitzers), ended all square at four each leaving Howitzers three points adrift of Vauxhall on 72 points.
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Vauxhall Social were on the wrong side of an 8-1 scoreline in the Amber Windows League when Bagot Arms with a 101 break, 140, 180 and a nine darts leg from T.Frost were their victors. T.kelly (K.C.A) recorded a 160 break in his team’s 6-3 win at the Heartland.
Woodman, Yew Tree Colts and Old Oscott Social were 6-3 winners against in turn Aston Social, Lyndhurst and the Mitre while King Edward 7th just got the 5-4 edge on Seventh Trap.
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It was 180’s galore in the Bass Breweries and Bristan Ltd sponsored Minworth Double Top League. M.Elkin hit one in his 3-0 win over T.Ryland, as did A.Grainger in a similar win over T.Pedley. Another three treble twenties man was T.Whitehouse as he defeated G.Clinton 2-1 but the man of the night was D.Marshall who beat B.Brooks and A.Mayell 3-0 and hit a maximum in both games. Unfortunately after that Marshall lost 3-0 to A.Smith.
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