Week eleven saw the top four teams in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League all won this week. Leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners had a close 5-4 success at home to Highwood ‘A’, while second in the table Crown at Shard End won their home tie with Riley’s Arrows 6-3 to remain four points behind Saltley with a game in hand. Third placed crown at Olton, who are a further two points adrift of Crown at Shard End won their home game with Kingshurst and District Labour Club 5-4, and Old Bill and Bull, who like the three teams above them also played at home had a 6-3 win over EBAHA.
In a bottom of the table clash between Raven and Holy Souls it was the former who got the 6-3 verdict despite a maximum from A.Daly (Holy Souls).
In division one Shirley RBL Flights held on to their four points lead at the top of the table with a convincing 7-2 win away to lowly Yardley Ex Colts. Second place is being fiercely contested by three teams, Banbury Club, Langley Hall Sports and Social and Yardley Arms, all of them on 14 points.
Maggies lost ground in the division two title race, going down 6-3 away to leaders George V, who are now two points clear of Willclare Sports and Social who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Ivy Leaf, who are bottom of the table.
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Just two rearranged division two fixtures were played in the Four Oaks and District League this week involving the top three teams. The Leopard easily beat Erdington Arrows 8-1 to stay undefeated in seven games and lead the division. Drakes Drum and Deer’s Leap Stags, both two points behind The Leopard, met on the formers board and produced a classic. Staggs opened up a 3-0 lead, Drakes Drum then took the next three games to draw level. The match then went to 4-4 before Stags won the final game 2-1 to win the points and move into second place.
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The Tamworth League have played off the semi finals and final of their League Cup. In the last four league leaders Three Horse Shoes had an emphatic 4-0 win over Sports Bar ‘180’, while Globe Inn had a close 4-3 victory against the hosts Dolphin Inn.
The final once again saw Three Horse Shoes superiority winning again 4-0 with Globe Inn taking the runners up prize. This was Three Horse Shoes second cup win of the season so far and Dolphin’s efforts means there will be a new name on the runners up cup.
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After completing four fixtures two teams, Red Lion and Riley’s are locked together at the top of the Aston League, both having won all of the fixtures and having exactly the same eight points and average. In the latest round of games Red Lion beat Erdington Arrows 6-3 and Riley’s ran out 5-4 winners away to Aston Flights. Third placed Oscott Social suffered their first defeat of the campaign, a crushing 8-1 loss away to Heartlands Social. Nevertheless Oscott Social hold on to third place with six points and close behind them comes Heartlands Social, Sportsmans Rest, Old Oscott WMC and Safe Harbour, all on four points.
In the league’s 10 a side cup quarter finals there were wins for Sportsmans Rest, Riley’s and Safe Harbour. A.Stainfield hit a maximum for Sportsmans as did Riley’s R.Liggins.
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Riley’s Kings stretched their unbeaten run in division one of the South Birmingham League to five games with a 6-3 win over The Raven. Two players in top form for the Kings were Stuart Hazlett and Mark Birch. Hazlett recorded a 112 break, top score of 140 and a maximum checkout of 170, plus a nine darts game. Birch had a 120 break and chalked up two eleven darts games.
In the second division Banbury Flights continue to lead the way, a 5-4 home win against Yardley and District Rugby Club making it seven consecutive undefeated wins. In the second plays third match between Pavillions and Centurion the former were the 5-4 winners to put them two points behind Banbury and two ahead of Centurion. Toby Jug lost their fourth place and dropped to sixth after losing 7-2 away to The Trident, who have now taken over fourth position.
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Riley’s Flights march on in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League, a 5-4 home win over Highwood KB maintaining their unbeaten run, now five games and giving them a two points lead over their nearest rivals Olton Crown who surprisingly lost for the first time this season 5-4 away to Harvester, who are now placed fourth.
In the second division, The Crane have been ousted from the number one spot after losing their undefeated record going down 5-4 at home to Crown Arrows, who have won all five of the games and now take over the top spot.
Greville Arrows moved off the bottom when they chalked up their first win of the season, a 6-3 home win over Ivy Leaf Bulls, who have replaced their victors in the bottom spot.
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In the Pip Club League second division team Belgrave Club hold on to the number one position in the combined league table following their 12-4 home win over Pip Club. Dosthill Club, who lead the division one table are second in the combined league just one point behind Belgrave.
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In the Camp Hill League a 7-0 win by Midland Darts Centre over Devils Club gives them pole position over second placed Scruffy Ringers, who had a close 4-3 home win against Redhill Tavern.
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