The top two teams in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League, Shirley RBL and Shard End RBL ‘B’ squared up to each other on the latter’s board. The home advantage proved to be decisive as Shard End ran out winners in a very close 5-4 verdict. The result has seen Shard End draw level on both points and average with Shirley to now share the number one spot. Brook Meadow, who were formerly in the number two position lost 5-4 at Olton RBL and have now dropped four places in the table to sixth.
In division two, Kingshurst Labour Club suffered their first defeat of the campaign when they went down 6-3 at Golden Acres and are now in third place with the same eight points as leaders Glebe Community Association and Willclare Sports and Social who are second.
This coming Friday the league will be taking on the Sports Argus Charity team at Sheldon Heath Social Club, the team will be selected from Mark Birch, Ian McFarlane (Brook Meadow), John Buckingham (Hobs Meadow), Alan Caddick, John Randell, Tom White (Saltley Gardeners), Ian Durrington (Small Heath Gardeners), Martyn Heaven, Tom Kelly (Mackadown Social), Paul Nunn (Olton RBL), Neil Parsonage, Jason Prince (Shard End RBL ’B’), Barry Salter (Stechford Social).
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Ross Macken did his title hopes in the Brook Meadow Individual League no harm at all this week when he produced two 4-0 wins against John Masefield and Terry Blakemore to give him a total of 141 points from 30 games. Macken was in tremendous form against Blakemore, his win containing no fewer than three Maximums. Currently Macken’s nearest rival is Jason Evans who beat Jake Smith 4-0 and Gordon Clinton 3-1 to leave him seven points adrift of Macken and having played two games more. Third placed and reigning champion Trevor Frost is third on 120 points but has five games in hand on the leader. His games in hand could net him a possible 30 points and put him back on track to retain his title.
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Boldmere Sports have lost their pole position in division one of the Four Oaks and District League following their first defeat of the campaign. Playing at home Boldmere took on second place Midland Red and lost out by a somewhat surprising massive 8-1 margin. The Red’s have now taken over the number one spot on eight points, Boldmere have a similar number of points but have played one game more then the leaders. M.Westmorland starred for Boot Flights in their 6-3 win over Hill Social. The match contained two 160 breaks, a 180 and a twelve darts game of doubles, 152 break, 140,100 and 109 finish. Reigning champions Sportsmans Rest just kept their title hopes alive with a last gasp win in the deciding leg of the final game against Red Lion Flights.
It was also first defeat for Cross Keys in division two, their 5-4 reversal at Anvil Nomads seeing them drop to fourth place with Aston Social taking over the top spot after a 6-3 home against Old Oscott WMC.
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Just five legs of average separate the top three teams in the Small Heath League. A 7-2 win against Potcheen Still puts reigning champions Mitre top of the table closely followed by Victoria 301 Club and Emerald Club who had respective 8-1 wins over Victoria Flights and the Victoria.
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A 180 from Stuart Latham helped the Globe Inn to a 4-4 draw with Red Lion ’A’ in division one of the Pip Club League and see Globe move off the bottom of the table and replaced by Two Gates Club who lost 5-3 at table toppers Queens Head.
Wiggy 180 continue to lead the field in the second division, a 5-3 win at Red Lion (Polesworth) maintaining their four points advantage over Boot Inn who beat Red Lion ’B’ 6-2, Boot also have a game in hand on Wiggy, tomorrow night the league will be staging the division two Divisional Cup, the draw is, Red Lion (Polesworth) v Wiggy 180, Winning Post v Wigginton, Boot Inn v Royal Oak (Kingsbury). Red Lion ’B’ have a bye.
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