In their latest BDO Inter Counties Championships Division One fixture, Warwickshire played hosts to Northumberland. With both teams challenging for the title and promotion a very close result was envisaged, and that was exactly how it turned out.
Saturday’s games were somewhat of a disaster as the ladies ‘B’ went down 4-2, their first defeat of the season and the men lost 8-4, their second consecutive defeat after opening the season with four straight wins. Taking the match awards were Carol Weston (20.88) and Mark Flood (30.67).
Sunday was a different story, in fact a complete reversal. The ladies won 4-2, with Trina Gulliver (25.05) taking the lady of the match accolade for the six time in as many outings. The men made it four 8-4 wins in a row with Mark Hollyoake the outstanding player with a 32.18 average.
So not a win as in the previous five games, but nevertheless it was not a defeat and the points tally for Warwickshire now stands at 155, just two short of promotion leaders and local rivals Staffordshire. Northumberland are third on 134 points.
In division two West Midlands, also with a home tie, took on bottom of the table Somerset. Both West Midlands ladies teams suffered 6-0 whitewashes, leaving the men with a mountain to climb. However, the ‘B’ side, with top man Jonathon Platt (25.49) went on to win 10-2, their best of the season and with a superb 11-1 success by the ‘A’ team pulled off what can only be described as the great escape to snatch a remarkable 21-15 victory. For the second successive match Tom Aldridge won the player award with a 29-47 average.
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The Irish Centre Four a Side Ladies League staged their singles and doubles knockouts at the club in Digbeth. Winner of the singles competition with a final success against Noreen Harris was Lesley Newcombe. Losing semi finalists were Margaret Roberts, who went out to Lesley and Jean Mulholland.
Lesley made it a double by teaming up with Vicky Hanlon to take the doubles title. Vicky Byrne and Claire Barber finished as runners up.
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The Birmingham Ladies Double Top League are looking to get back into action and have arranged their AGM for Monday March 27th at 8-30pm.
Matches are played at the Irish Centre, Digbeth, and the league cordially invite all players wishing to join the league to attend this meeting. Alternatively should anyone require any further information contact Joyce Webster on 0121-604-5081.
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In the Harborne and District Winter League, Midland Red had a comfortable journey into round three of the Wadsworth Cup as they demolished Village Stump with a 9-0 scoreline. In form for Midland Red were Colin Hall with a 160 break, Mark Hollyoake who hit a maximum and Tom McGlone as he recorded an eight darts leg.
Bartley Green Social Club were also 9-0 winners, beating Highlander Ladies.
Hillyfields ‘B’ with a 180 from L.McDonald won 6-3 against Raven Ladies, while a 160 break from J.Titley helped Highlander to a shock 6-3 win over Hillyfields ‘A’. Other teams to win through to round three are, Stonehouse, Greenlands and Avenue Social.
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Birmingham Vauxhall, second in the table in the Warwickshire Men’s Super League, reduced the arrears to just one point when they gained a vital 6-2 away win over current leaders Bedworth Bank’s. Having played one less game than bedworth, Vauxhall are now in a good position to take over pole position. However, Birmingham Midland Red, who are third in the league, also kept their hopes of honours alive as they beat Coventry Potters Green 6-2. Red are only four points behind Vauxhall and they in turn have a game in hand on them, should be quite an interesting last few fixtures with any one of the top three teams able to walk away with the title.
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That certainly does not appear to be the case in the West Midlands Men’s Super League as Tipton, after eight of eighteen fixtures already have a massive 16 points lead over their nearest rivals Wednesfield, who in the latest round of games Tipton beat 7-2.
A much closer affair in the ladies as Wednesbury lead the field on 25 points with Blakenhall breathing heavily down their necks with 24 points.
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Divisional Cup semi finals were on the agenda for the Forest of Arden Winter League. In the league cup Stechford Social’s dismal run continued when they lost 11-4 to Silver Wings. The other semi was a much closer affair with Hobs Meadow gaining a last gasp 8-7 victory over Red Arrows, Hobs second win over Arrows in as many weeks. The final of the competition will be staged at the Three Horse Shoes on Tuesday 14th March.
In the shadow league semi’s Harvester beat Hobs Meadow Mixes 10-5 and on the 14th March at the Silver Wings will face Mackadown Social in the final. Mackadown scoring a 9-6 win over Cocks and Hens.
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The Forest of Arden Summer League will be holding their AGM on Wednesday 15th March at the Mackadown Sports and Social Club, Mackadown Lane, Tile Cross. The league invite all teams to the meeing both old and new who wish to enter a team in the forthcoming season.The meeting will commence at 8-00pm, but if anyone requires any further information they can contact Pat Whing on 0121-608-5821
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