Warwickshire will be travelling away to the March USC, Cambridgeshire this coming weekend when they take on the local county in the fourth fixture of nine in the premier division of the Rileys BDO Inter Counties Championships. Without a win in three games and currently lying uncomfortably at the foot of the table nine points behind their nearest rivals Hampshire, now is the time for their season to kick start and move up the table.
Selected to play in this vital fixture are, Men’s ’A’:- Lee Harris, Mark Carter, Nigel Heydon, Noel Grant, Bob Nixon, Tom McGlone, Jim Norris, Tom Ryan, Prakash Jiwa, Dave Harris, Tom Aldridge, Mick Gorst, Men’s ’B’:- Colin Laffar, Martin Brown, Rob Hawker, Mark Kane, Mark Birch, Steve Giddings, Dave Atkins, Tony Brown, Jamie Atkins, Tony Nolan, Scott Rand, Mark McGeeney, Reserves:- Darren Swords, Mark Sidgwick, Tom Martin, Jim Young, James Young. Women’s ’A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Biddle, Viki Franklin, Wendy Adams, Louise Graham, Julie Dwyer, Women’s ’B’:- Trish Roberts, Denise Burke, Donna Pinch, Lyn Arnold, Tracey Edgecombe, Caroline Pike, Reserves:- Ann Rogers, Pat Thornton, Sue Symons.
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West Midlands begin the New Year in division two and the second third of the season with a home tie against bottom of the division Buckinghamshire. With only one win from three games West Midlands will be hoping that their Gilberts Bar, Willenhall home advantage will stand them in good stead for another win to help lift a little higher up the promotional table as currently they are 19 points behind leaders London and 8 adrift of second in the table Lincolnshire.
Team selections are, Men’s ’A’:- Andy Forrester, Nicky Bache, Avtar Singh, Chris Plumpton, Danny Coyle, Ian Jones, Jamie Hughes, Lol Frazer, Mark Rollinson, Peter Wyse, Dean Stewart, Stephen Farmer, Men’s ’B’:- Paul Price, Ian Hartland, Ian Stanton, Martin Angell, Viv Gould, Richard Foster, Richard Platt, Jason Gilbert, Trevor Carter, Neil Pointen, Matt Dicken, Peter Edmonds, Reserves:- Mark Watkiss, Shane Price, Jack Routledge, Robert Carr, Martin Tibbetts, Lance Hackett, Women’s ’A’:- Leanne Jennings, Diane Tolley, Catherine Jenkins, Sarah Robbins, Jane Stubbs, Lisa Astbury, Women’s ’B’:- Jacqueline Simmons, Tammy Chance, Kim Fellows, Claire Hobbs, Claire Ford, Heather Wright, Reserves:- Liz Arnold, Natalie Harrison, Gemma Poole.
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First round cup matches were on the agenda for the Four Oaks and District League, firstly the Coronation Shield in which second division’s Pint Pot Flights put on a valiant performance but could not stop first division leaders Sutton Sports running out 9-6 winners. An in form Oscott Social put out third division outfit Safe Harbour with a comfortable 11-4 win. Other teams to win through to the next round were Boldmere Sports, Old Oscott Arrows and Sportsmans Rest.
In the Norman Day Cup unlucky Red Lion Flights went 7-5 up against Drakes Drum, but were unable to field players for the pairs game and lost 8-7. Brookvale had a convincing 12-3 win over Reddicap Tavern and also progressing through the first round was White Lion who beat Sutton Town F.C. 9-3.
E.Atkins (Old Oscott Arrows) and G.Gaughan (Anvil Nomads) both scored a maximum.
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After completing twelve fixtures Leamington, with 91 points lead the way in the Warwickshire men’s super league. Second placed Coventry Cherry Tree are only five points adrift but they have played one more game than Leamington. Third placed Cherry Tree are a further eight points behind second place.
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Dudley are the current leaders of the men’s league in the West Midlands Super League with 53 points from seven games. Second placed Tipton are just two points off the leaders with a game in hand.
In the women’s league Bloxwich are leading the field with 37 points, Darlaston are the nearest threat, but they, despite having played one game less than Bloxwich are a massive ten points adrift.
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