Week ten fixtures in division one of the Sheldon and District Winter League brought together the top two teams, Banbury Club and Shirley RBL Flights. Prior to the game Banbury were top on average only and Shirley second. Shirley were the hosts and also the 6-3 winners, the result seeing them leap frog Banbury and open up a two points advantage over their rivals.
A strange point was that Shirley RBL Flights win and Greville Arms 8-1 win over Shirley RBL Misfits in division two, were the only two home wins in a total of fourteen games played.
In the premier division leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners held on to their four points lead with a close 5-4 win at EBAHA, while in division two a similar 5-4 win by George V away to bottom team Ivy Leaf keeps them in pole position having a two points more than both Willclare Sports and Social and Maggies.
Just one maximum was recorded this week and that was supplied by Banbury Club’s G.Fleetwood.
———————————
The Four Oaks and District League have had their Cooper Cup and the first round of the Challenge Cup on their agenda. In the Cooper Cup, which is a first division competition the semi finals all went the three games distance and saw The Nomads ‘A’ and The Fox Flights ‘B’ in turn defeat The Fox Flights ‘A’ and Sutton Sports ‘B’.
The final also went the full distance with The Nomads ‘A’ taking the title. On the night T.Frost hit no fewer than three maximums for the champions, while S.Andrews (Red Lion Flights ‘B’) and L.Harris (Sutton Sports ‘B’) both hit one each.
The Challenge Cup was a contest for the second and third division teams and saw third division team Brookvale win the last game against Deer’s Leap Stags from division two to seal a 5-4 victory. The Heartlands and Plough and Barrows were the only other third division survivors, both of them winning their away games against respective opponents Bishop Vesey and Highcroft Dragons.
Erdington Arrows were the rounds biggest winners handing out a crushing 8-1 defeat to Boldmere Oak. Other teams to progress into round two were, The Leopard, Pint Pot Arrows, Pint Pot Flights and Drakes Drum.
I.Taylor (White Lion) hit his second 180 of the season and R.Bazeley (Erdington Arrows) got the only other top score of the night.
———————————
In the Tamworth League Paul Smallwood (Tam O’Shanter) and Pete Cheneler (Mile Oak Rovers) both lost ground in the players league title race as in turn they lost to Kev Lawrence (Three Horse Shoes) and Geggy Wright (Globe Inn), the two losers are now three points adrift of leader Ash Bowyer (Wigginton) who beat Boot Inn’s Ron Hunt.
In the league Three Horse Shoes took their winning run to seven games with a convincing 6-1 home win over bottom team Tam O’Shanter. Second placed Boot Inn kept up the chase with a 5-2 win as hosts to Wigginton, but are now eight points behind the leaders.
———————————
The Emerald Club was the setting for the Small Heath League’s Christmas 501 Knockout Competition and taking the title with a final victory over Ian Jones from the Mitre, was the hosts Peter Yardley. Only a few weeks ago Yardley also won the league’s End of Season 501 Knockout.
Losing semi finalists were Matt Murrin (Sheldon Marlborough Flights) and Joe Fox (Emerald Club).
———————————
The Pip Club staged the quarter finals of their Open Cup and making their way through to the semi finals were, Belgrave Club, Two Gates Club, Bulls Head (Polesworth) and Dolphin, who won at the expense of Old Liberal Club, Gate Inn, Sports Bar ‘180’ and Birchmoor Club.
———————————
The Presidents Cup preliminary round was the order of the day for the Forest of Arden Winter League. Just two games were played in which Olton Crown beat The Grange 7-2 and Old Bill and Bull won by the smallest of margins, 5-4 against Highwood ‘A’.
———————————
The Crown, Shard End hold on to pole position in division one of the South Birmingham League after a 7-2 home win over the Digby Hotel, but with eight points from six games their lead is on average only from Riley’s Kings, who have the same eight points with two games in hand.
A 6-3 home win over Coleshill Social takes Banbury Flights to a perfect twelve points form six games in division two. Pavilions who are two points behind the leaders won 7-2 at Yardley and District Rugby Club. Smithswood Social moved off the foot of the table, recording their first win in six, a 6-3 home win over The Kingfisher, who replace them in the bottom spot.
———————————
Week two in the Camp Hill League and the new leaders are Midland Darts Centre after they handed out a 7-0 whitewash to newcomers to the league and currently bottom of the table Bordesley labour Club. Although Darts Centre lead the field it is on average only as the team they replaced, Scruffy Ringers won 4-3 away to Waggoners, they drop to second place, two points ahead of their hosts who are third in the table.
———————————