It was not a good finish to 2012 for Warwickshire in the premier division of the Riley’s BO Inter County Championships as they lost 17-19 away to Cheshire leaving them without a win in the first three fixtures of the season.
Saturday’s games saw the ladies lose for the first time this season, a 4-2 reversal with the two winners being Donna Pinch (Lady of the match 21.23) and Kat Spanswick. The men’s ‘B’ side finished all square at 6-6 after leading 6-3 at one stage. Top player for the ‘B’ team was Mark Westgarth with a great 30.26 average.
Sunday’s games saw the men’s ‘A’ emulate their ‘B’ teams performance and share a 6-6 result. Once again the man of the match, this time Nigel Heydon, recorded a superb average of 30.24. The ladies also had a draw Trina Gulliver (lady of the match 21.47) and Caroline Pike winning the final two games to share the honours.
Fortunately, despite the loss Warwickshire remained in the same position in the table, two places from bottom as the teams below them, Kent lost 19-17 away to Yorkshire and bottom team Surrey went down 21-15 at home to Glamorgan.
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It was good news for West Midlands in division one as they moved off the foot of the table with a 19-17 home win over Gwent. Staffordshire are now bottom on 45 points, Dorset are next on 48 points and West Midlands have 49.
Martin Angell (29.18) was the top player in Saturday’s 6-6 draw for the men, while Heather Wright made it three lady of the match award wins with her 15.12 average as the ladies ‘B’ lost 4-2.
Another player to chalk up the maximum three match awards so far this season was Jamie Hughes, who has been in outstanding form so far with previous averages of 32.85 and 30.43 plus the latest 31.07. The team recorded their first win in three 8-4. The ladies ‘A’ made it two 3-3 draws in a row with Diane Tolley showing experience counts with a 24.87 award winning average which included two maximums.
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It was cup week in the Sheldon and District Winter League, the quarter finals of the League Cup. In the premier division things went very much to plan with wins for Saltley Amateur Gardeners, Crown at Olton, Riley’s Arrows and Sheldon Dukes over Highwood ‘A’, Kingshurst and District Labour Club, Holy Souls and EBAHA.
Division one saw the top two teams and the bottom two teams play each other. Leaders Banbury Club won 5-4 against second placed Shirley RBL Flights, and at the other end of the table bottom team Ridgemere Social lost 5-4 away to next to bottom Yardley Ex Colts. Sheldon Social and Custard House also progressed into the next round with wins over Langley Hall Sports and Social and Castle Vale Residents Association.
The only shock of the round was provided by division two where second placed Willclare Sports and Social lost 5-4 at home to Crown Arrows, who are eighth in the table. Leaders George V beat third placed Maggies 7-2, while Small Heath Amateur Gardeners won 6-3 against Riley’s Wings and bottom team Ivy Leaf beat next to bottom Greville Arms 5-4.
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In division one of the Four Oaks and District League leaders Sutton Sports handed out a 7-2 defeat to Boldmere Sports and second placed Old Oscott Arrows, who trail Sutton on average only, beat local rivals Old Oscott WMC 5-4. The two top teams are two points clear of The Fox Flights who beat The Nomads 7-2.
In division two White Lion narrowly missed out on their first win of the season when they lost the last leg to Sutton Park Hotel to go down 5-4.In the local derby between Pint Pot Arrows and Pint Pot Flights, it was the latter who got the close 5-4 verdict.
The top two division three teams The Heartlands and The Beehive both had convincing 8-1 wins over respective opponents Plough and Barrows and Boldmere Oak. Bishop Vesey came back from 4-2 down at home to Bromford Club to snatch a 5-4 win.
All this week’s maximum’s were hit by first division players, N.Hawkley (Old Oscott WMC), I.Lloyd (Boldmere Sports), M.Ashton (Sutton Sports), C.Millward snr (The Fox Flights), J.Collins and D.Watkins, both from Red Lion Flights.
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The South Birmingham League played their Knockout Cup this week Punchbowl were the biggest winners handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors The Trident. The game included a tremendous 170 maximum finish by Punchbowl’s young rising star Daniel White.
Other teams to win through to the next round were, Banbury Flights, Smithswood Social, The Crown, Raven Flights, Mackadown Social and Riley’s Kings who had a walkover against Pavilions.
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Still just one leg difference between Riley’s Flights and Olton Crown at the top of the Forest of Arden Winter League after both teams won 5-4 in turn against Old Bill and Bull and The Grange.
In division two Highwood ‘C’ lost for the first time this season and also dropped a place in the table to third going down 7-2 away to Crown Arrows, who have taken over second place.
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Biggest winners in the opening games of the new Camp Hill League season were Scruffy Ringers who beat newcomers Bordesley Labour Club 6-1. The remaining three fixtures all finished 4-3 with wins for Midland Darts Centre, Redhill Tavern and Waggoners at the expense of Crown Arrows, Custard House and Devils Club.
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A 10-6 win by Belgrave Club over J.W.Belgrave has seen the division two side go top of the overall league table with a total of 11 points from the first seven games. Dosthill Club and Dolphin are both just two points behind Belgrave, each of the division one sides having a game in hand on the leaders
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The Rowley League are on the lookout for new teams to join them in the forthcoming season. Anyone interested in entering a team or requiring any further information should contact Chris Eaves on 07715-395892.
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