Without an opening day win in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships since September 2008 when Warwickshire beat Hertfordshire 20-16 in division one, the local county will be hoping for a good start to the new campaign this coming weekend when they take on reigning premier division champions Yorkshire at the Glasshoughton WMC, Castleford.
History is not good however as Warwickshire have played Yorkshire in the curtain raiser for the last three seasons without beating them, but this is a new season and who knows.
Selected to play are, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Richard Foster, Tom Aldridge, Tom McGlone, Noel Grant, Kevin Dowling, Ian McFarlane, Peter Hughes, Dave Harris, Steve Hine, Bob Nixon, Matt Edgar, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Archer, Martin Bowley, Mark Westgarth, Antony Allen, Dave Sanders, Steve Giddings, Mark Birch, Colin Laffar, Dave Atkins, Steve Berrill, Paul Deslandes, Carl Green, Reserves:- Mark Carter, Nigel Heydon, Jimmy Hill, Josh Jones, Matt Gallett, Ladies ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Terri Bellamy, Caroline Pike, Denise Burke, Angela Jones, Donna Pinch, Ladies ‘B’:- Kat Spanswick, Louise Graham, Marian Conway, Kim Morris, Wendy Adams, Tracey Edgecombe, Reserves:- Lisa Whitmore, Clare Evans, Edwina Holdsworth.
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In division one West Midlands will play hosts to Hampshire, a tough fixture as the visitors were a premier division side last season and will be looking for a quick return to the top flight. However, West Midlands can never be ruled out and with home advantage that could be the deciding factor.
Teams selected for the first match of the new season are, Men’s ‘A’:- Ian Jones, Dougie Thompson, Jamie Hughes, Nick Fulwell, Mark Rollinson, Matthew Dicken, Dean Stewart, Peter Wyse, Neil Pointon, Martin Angell, Danny Coyle, Jake Jones, Men’s ‘B’:- Lance Hackett, Glen Cullen, Ian Stanton, Viv Gould, Greg Parkes, Mark Watkiss, Ryan Herrington, John Platt, Micky Baker, Richard Platt, Avtar Singh, Reserves:- Gavin Baker, Jason Kesterton, Matt Dennant, Ladies ‘A’:- Kim Fellows, Lisa Astbury, Jackie Crew, Sarah Thorbury, Kath Jenkins, Diane Tolley, Ladies ‘B’:- Heather Wright, Shellbie Simmons, Gemma Barrett, Jacqueline Maiden, Samantha Maiden, Lisa Maiden, Reserves:- Gemma Poole, Doreen Kaye, Jacqui Simmons, Jenna Couch, Natalie Harrison.
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Riley’s Red Arrows, leaders in division one of the Forest of Arden Summer League suffered something of a setback to their title hopes this week when in their home tie with fifth placed Harvester they lost 4-3, only their second loss of the season . The defeat leaves Red Arrows with 12 points from 8 games and their local rivals and nearest challengers for the title Riley’s Flights, who had a bye this week are on 10 points with a game in hand, but would need a 7-0 win to put them on level terms with Arrows.
In division two, Highwood KB lost ground on leaders Highwood when they surprisingly went down 6-1 away to Riley’s Wings, who are fifth in the table and this was only their second win in the seven games played.
Leaders Highwood had a convincing 6-1 home win over Sheldon Flights and now have a six points lead over Greville Arrows, who have replaced Highwood KB in the number two spot.
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The Small Heath League staged the quarter finals of their League Cup and Custard House had a relatively easy passage into the last four with an 8-1 win at Cobs Bar. Scanlons were the visitors at Emerald Club, both teams played well but it was the hosts who snatched a closely run 5-4 victory. The Mitre had a 6-3 home win over Sheldon Marlborough Flights, while Midland Darts Centre booked their semi final place with a comfortable 7-2 win at Wagon and Horses.
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The quarter finals of the Mrs F.Richman Cup were on the agenda for the Sheldon and District Summer League and the biggest winners of the round were Highwood ‘A’ and Riley’s Castle Vale, both of them winning 6-1 against respective opponents Shirley RBL Flights and Highwood Flights.
The biggest shock of the round was provided by George V ‘A’ from group three, ho had a 5-2 win over their group one opponents Iron Horse. %-2 was also the margin by which Crown at Olton defeated Sheldon Dukes.
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The Camp Hill League produced a top of the table clash this week between leaders Forgers and the hosts and second in the table Scruffy Ringers. The result was a convincing 5-2 win for Forgers to put them on 26 points from 14 games. Scuffy’s dropped to third place behind Custard House who also 5-2 in their fixture at Langley Lads. Custard House are now eight points adrift of Forgers but do have three games in hand which with three wins they could reduce those arrears to just two points.
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