Warwickshire will be playing their final fixture of the 2012/2013 season in the premier division of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships this coming weekend. The local county will be playing hosts to Kent at the Foleshill Club, Coventry. Languishing in a comfortable fourth place in the table and two places and 20 points ahead of their rivals, the home side should be looking to end the campaign on a high.
Lining up for Warwickshire will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Ian McFarlane, Nigel Heydon, Dave Harris, Mark Carter, Steve Hine, Kevin Dowling, Tom McGlone, Noel Grant, Richard Foster, Mark Westgarth, Tom Aldridge, Jamie Atkins, Men’s ‘B’ Dave Atkins, Simon Power, Rob Hawker. Mark Archer, Steve Giddings, Antony Allen, Paul Deslandes, Jimmy Hill, Ian Shaw, Carl Green, Matt Edgar, Mark Strong, Reserves:- Martin Tonks, Dave Sanders, Luke Kennedy, Mark Birch, Peter Hughes, 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:- Tracey Edgecombe, Natalie Gilbert, Melanie Hill, Teri Bellamy.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League have completed their league fixtures with only cup finals now to be played off. The domestic issues have all been sorted, Saltley Amateur Gardeners having won the premier division title with 34 points, two more than runners up Old Bill and Bull. Shirley RBL Flights are the division champions, finishing with 34 points, four ahead of their nearest rivals Banbury Club.
George V were unable to finish the season on a winning note as they went down 5-4 away to Maggies, who ended the season in third place. Despite the defeat, only their second in 20 games, George V won the division with a total of 36 points, Willclare Sports and Social took the runners up spot with 32 points.
Greville Arms finished their fixture card with a 6-3 home win over Meadway Sports and Social Club to lift them off the foot of the table, Ivy Leaf, who lost 7-2 at home to Willclare taking the wooden spoon.
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The South Birmingham League have been engaged in cup matches this week. The first round of the Jimmy Walker Cup produced no shocks as division one teams Raven and The Digby Hotel in turn accounted for Centurion (8-1) and The Trident (7-2). The all division two fixture between Toby Jug and Yardley and District Rugby Club was a 6-3 win for the former.
It was round two for the Knockout Cup and again no major shocks however, division two leaders Banbury Club did win 5-4 against Punchbowl, who are bottom of the first division. There was a top of the division one table clash between leaders Riley’s Kings and second placed The Crown Shard End, which saw the “Kings” go through 5-4. Mackadown Social had a convincing 8-1 win over Smithswood Social and Raven Flights progressed to the next round with a 6-3 win against Kingfisher.
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League played their singles knockout down to the last sixteen and going through to the finals are, M.Rutter (Roost ‘B’), J.Sharratt, A.Turley (Brickmakers), R.Lenton, G.Baker (Boat), T.Aston (Bulls Head), W.Merrick, N.Priest (Jays Bar), M.Gregory (Hawne Lane Tavern), M.Bedford (Vine), M.Roberts, G.Billingham, S.Roberts (Gate, Colley Gate), D.Arnold (Victoria), S.Barratt (Yeltz Bar), M.Jones (Quarry Bank Liberal Club).
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The Netherton Thursday night League produced a couple of surprising results this week, second place Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club losing 6-3 away to Springfield Social, who are below mid way in the table and Victoria, who drop one place to fourth after losing 6-3 at home to Prince of Wales, who are fifth.
Leaders Brickmakers ‘A’ had another comfortable 6-3 win against Fairfield and now with five games remaining are almost certain to win the league title as Dudley Ex Serviceman’s are a massive 18 points adrift with six to play, mathematically possible, but realistically not so. Brickmakers need just one more win to secure the title.
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The quarter finals of the Consolation Cup was the order of the day for the Forest of Arden Winter League and going into the last four are Riley’s Wings, Ivy Leaf, Highwood ‘A’ and Harvester.
Winners of the Presidents Cup were The Crane.
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Week nine in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League and division one leaders Village ‘A’ suffered their second defeat in nine games. Playing away to Bushbury Arms Village ‘A’ lost 4-3, their victors moving up one place in the table to fifth. Two other teams also moved up one place, Wednesfield Legion ‘A’ beat Otter and Vixen 6-1 to go into third spot, while Victoria had a 4-3 win over second in the table Wolverhampton Sports Arena to move up into fourth place.
In the second division a 6-1 home win over Castle made it nine consecutive wins for Electric to keep them four points ahead of Bull and Village ‘B’.
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After playing nine previous fixtures without a win Otter and Vixen chalked up their first victory in the Tettenhall Wednesday night League when they won their away tie with Round Oak 5-2. The win lifts Otter and Vixen off the bottom spot and taking over is their opponents Round Oak.
At the other end of the table Wednesfield FC made it ten straight wins with a 5-2 home success against Royal Oak putting them two points clear of both Riley’s ‘A’, Riley’s ‘B’ and Moreton.
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Big wins for the top two teams in the Pip Club League this week, leaders Dolphin won their home game with Royal Oak 11-5 and with second placed Belgrave Club having a bye this week, Bulls Head, Polesworth took over the second place with a huge 15-1 win at Two Gates Club to leave them just two points off the top. Birchmoor Club were also 15-1 winners in their match against Old Liberal, while it was 11-5 for Travellers and Dosthill Club, who defeated respective opponents Gate Inn and Pip Club.
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Three teams are out in front on 26 points in the Rowley Monday Night League. Leaders (on average) Bull Terrier had a clear cut 8-1 win against Golden Cue, while second placed Bulls Head (Rowley) were close behind with a 7-2 win at Ex-Serviceman’s. Third in the trio Bell had the best win of the night, handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Fairfield.
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For the first time in thirteen games Gulp Tribe have lost in the Small Heath league, in a home tie with third placed Custard House the leaders finished on the wrong side of a close 5-4 result. Despite the loss Gulp Tribe hang on to pole position, their lead now being cut to two pints over Emerald Club.
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With just one fixture remaining in the Camp Hill League, Midland Darts Centre’s 7-0 win over Custard House confirms them as champions. They have a four points lead over their nearest rivals Scruffy Ringers, who also recorded a 7-0 win away to Devil’s Club.
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With few games remaining to the end of the Tamworth League’s season Three Horse Shoes have a massive 30 points lead over the rest of the field. Their latest success was a 6-1 win at Tam O’Shanter to take their total points to 143. Second in the table Old Liberal House had their game with Wigginton cancelled, but a 7-0 win in that game would still leave them trailing by 20 points.
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The Warwickshire Men’s Super League title is going down to the wire. Coventry Bishopsgate have completed their fixtures and are top on 136 points. Second placed Rugby have one game to play and could overtake the current leaders if they beat Leamington. Third in the table Castle Vale also have one fixture remaining but with 121 points look to be out of the frame. However, fourth placed Leamington are on the same 121 points as Castle Vale, but have two matches still to play, the one against Rugby and another against Bishopsgate, two wins could easily see them come from behind and take the title. What a fantastic and intriguing finish to the season.
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