Warwickshire’s latest fixture in the premier division of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships was an away game against Glamorgan and despite the terrible travelling conditions they returned with an excellent 23-13 victory. This win together with the previous one against Surrey had put them in a comfortable fourth position in the table, 21 points ahead of their nearest rivals Devon.
This coming weekend the local county will be travelling again, this time south to take on Essex at the Chelmsford Social Club, Springfield Road, Chelmsford. Players lining up for this fixture will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Mark Strong, Tom Aldridge, Mark Westgarth, Dave Sanders, Ian McFarlane, Peter Hughes, Noel Grant, Mark Carter, Tom McGlone, Richard Foster, Dave Harris, Colin Laffar, Men’s ‘B’:- Antony Allen, Jimmy Hill, Mark Birch, Steve Giddings, Luke Kennedy, Mark Archer, Dave Atkins, Rob Hawker, Paul Deslandes, Carl Green, Ian Shaw, Simon Power, Reserves:- Nigel Heydon, Kevin Dowling, Steve Hine, Matt Edgar, Jamie Atkins, Martin Tonks, Ladies ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Gulliver, Caroline Pike, Denise Burke, Angela Jones, Marian Conway, Ladies ‘B’:- Kat Spanswick, Donna Pinch, Louise Graham, Lisa Whitmore, Wendy Adams, Edwina Holdsworth, Reserves:- Natalie Gilbert, Terri Bellamy, Tracey Edgecombe, Melanie Hill.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League have played their doubles knockout down to the last 16 pairs and fighting it out for the title on finals night will be, Keith Loveridge & Nathan Jackson, George Green & Kris Green (Kingshurst and District Labour Club), Arthur Richards & Tony Whitehouse, Jason Prince & Neil Parsonage (Crown at Shard End), Tony Randell & Tom White, Pat Sinnett & Paul Webster (Saltley Amateur Gardeners), Simon Edwards & Lee Molyneux, Paul Sunner & Tony Fazakerley (Sheldon Dukes), Trevor Frost & Gary Fleetwood (Banbury Club), Jack Sidwell & John Sidwell, Andy Hutchings & Dave Duncan (Crown at Olton), Jack Savage & Scott Palmer, Clarke Horsley & David Sutton (George V), Jimmy Morrissey & Chris Vann (Crown Arrows), David Allen & David Reid (Willclare Sports and Social), Anthony Dews & Stuart Hazlett (Yardley Arms).
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The Sheldon and District Summer League are on the lookout for three more teams to join them in the forthcoming season. They will be holding their AGM at the Meadway Sports Club this coming Sunday at 10.30am. The league has requested that all teams who have entered should be represented and any other teams wishing to join can obtain details from either Alan Blythe 07976-629066 or David Sutton 07905-143032. There is also a request that all winter league trophies are returned at this meeting
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The Four Oaks and District League played their Challenge Cup down to the semi finals this week. In the quarter finals Plough and Barrows won the first two games against Brookvale, but were unable to stop their opponents winning the next five games and the match. Third division Heartlands won the opening four games against second division opponents Pint Pot Arrows and secured a semi final place with a further win in the seventh game. Pint Pot Flights fared better as they accounted for Erdington Arrows with a 5-4 result.
In the semi’s Brookvale defeated Drakes Drum from the second division 5-4, and making it an all third division final was The Heartlands, who won 5-4 against Pint Pot Flights.
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Langley Sports and Social Club was the setting for the Langley Open, the Easter Knockout being won by Matt “The Lad” Gallett. After beating Ian McFarlane 4-3 in the semi’s Matt squared up to reigning champion Ian “The Whippet” Jones, who had beaten Tony Randell 4-2 in his last four game.
The first five legs of the final saw both players produce some high scores and finishes with Jones just edging it at 3-2. Gallett then stepped on the gas to reel off four winning legs to clinch a 6-3 victory and claim the top prize of £300.
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No change at the top of the Netherton Thursday Night League as the top four teams all win. Leaders Brickmakers ‘A’ made it 20 consecutive wins when they knocked up a huge 8-1 win as hosts to Pensnett and Bromley, while their nearest rivals Dudley Ex-Serviceman’s won 7-2 away to Bull and Bladder to remain 12 points behind the top team.
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There was joy for the top three teams in the Small Heath League, leaders Gulp Tribe extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a 7-2 win at Midland Darts Centre, while Emerald Club, who are second and six points behind Gulp won by the same 7-2 margin at home to Sheldon Marlborough Flights. An 8-1 win at Custard House Flights by Wagon and Horses sees them in third place, while their hosts drop to bottom of the table after Clock Inn beat Redhill Wanderers to relinquish the bottom place.
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The Camp Hill League have staged the semi finals of their League Cup and Consolation Cup. In the former Crown Arrows beat Devil’s Club and meeting them in the final will be Midland Darts Centre, who took out Scruffy Ringers.
In the Consolation Cup there were wins for Custard House and Redhill Wanderers against respective opponents Waggoners and Bordesley Labour Club.
On the league front Midland Darts Centre made it ten wins in as many games when they handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Devil’s Club. However, they are still only two points ahead of second in the table Scruffy Ringers, who had a narrow 4-3 win at Redhill Wanderers.
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Congratulations to Bob Mills and Terry Stubbs (J.W.Belgrave) who with a final win over Mick Smith and Paul Webb (Belgrave Club) lifted the doubles title in the Pip Club League. Losing semi finalists were, Mark Martin and Phil Turner (Dolphin) and Mark Stringer and Steve Liddell (Bulls Head, Polesworth).
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The South Birmingham League are on the lookout for teams to join them in their forthcoming summer season. Anyone interested in entering a team or requiring further information should contact Sue Kingdon at [email protected]
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Division two of the Forest of Arden Winter League produced a nail biter of a match between the top two teams The Crane and Crown Arrows. Prior to the game Crane were just edging the top place with a better average, but their close 5-4 defeat sees them drop to second and Crown Arrows move up to top.
In division one Olton Crown strengthened their second place with a 5-4 win over fourth in the table Harvester.
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A maximum from J.Collins helped Red Lion, leaders of the Aston League, to a close 5-4 win at home to Old Oscott WMC, but they have to keep an eye over their shoulder as their nearest rivals Riley’s, who are some six points behind, do have three games in hand.
D.Pickering (Deer’s Leap) was another player to find the three treble twenties as his team won 7-2 at home to Aston Social.
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In the Vic Lloyd Thursday Night League, second in the table Quarry Bank won an important game against fourth placed Wolverhampton Sports Arena 5-1 to move two points ahead of their opponents and keep within two points of leaders Cleveland Arms, who won 6-0 away to Gilberts Bar ‘B’.
Not good news for Gilberts Bar ‘B’, but their was joy for their ‘A’ team who with a 4-2 win at Whitmore Reans recorded their first win in an eight game season so far.
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The Mike Lenton Memorial Trophy was the order of the day for the Tamworth League and taking the title with a final win over Victoria Jackson and Mark Tomlinson, were Donna Whitmore and Lee Kirkham.
Just one rearranged league fixture, which saw Globe Inn win 6-1 against Anchor Inn.
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Riley’s ‘A’ lost ground in the division two title race in the Wolverhampton Tuesday League, going down 5-2 at home to sixth placed Harrowby. Electric, who won 6-1 against Roebuck, now have a two points lead over the rest of the field.
Otter and Vixen dropped one place in division one to fourth after their surprising 4-3 home defeat by Victoria, who were sixth and now move up to third.
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