There were mixed results for out two local counties in the opening fixtures of the season in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships. Warwickshire, playing in the premier division played hosts to reigning champions Yorkshire, which was never going to be an easy game.
Over the weekend’s fixture the ladies came out with two encouraging draws, top lady for the ‘A’ team, which almost goes without saying was England international Trina Gulliver with a 24.86 average in her 3-1 win over Rachel Brooks. The ‘B’ team’s lady of the match award went to Edwina Holdsworth, who like Trina was first to the oche for her team, her 3-2 beating of Ann Chilton and her 17.92 average winning her the award.
It was a different story for the men as the ‘B’ side lost 9-3 and the ‘A’ 7-5, with Antony Allen (27.35) the top player for the ‘B’ and newcomer Jamie Hughes, transferred from West Midlands taking the ‘A’ award with a 29.31 average.
The final score was a 22-14 win for the visitors, however that was not the only disappointment of the weekend, the other being the poor turn out to support the county.
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In division two West Midlands travelled the short distance to Leicestershire and returned with a very favourable result. The fixture saw both ladies team’s chalk up wins, something neither achieved throughout the whole nine games last season. The ‘B’ side won 4-2 with Kim Fellows (18.79) their lady of the match. The ‘A’ team went one better and won 5-1, Sarah Roberts in great form beating Kelly Welsh 3-0 and averaging 25.05.
In the men’s games Martin Angell (25.91) was the man in form for the ‘B’ team although they finished on the wrong side of an 8-4 scoreline, while the ‘A’ had a 7-5 win with Mark Jones (29.65) man of the match.
The overall score was 20-16 to West Midlands, a very encouraging start and putting them on the right track for a quick return to division one.
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In a near to bottom of the table clash in the Small Heath League, Redhill Wanderers, who are next to bottom recorded a rare win as they beat the team two places above them, Clock Inn, 6-3. Despite the result neither team move in the table.
With leaders Gulp Tribe having a bye, second placed Emerald Club took full advantage to reduce the arrears with a 5-4 home win over Sheldon Marlborough Flights. However, Emerald are still a massive ten points behind Gulp Tribe and have now played one game more.
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Although Cotterills Lane Club won 4-3 away to Wagonners in the Camp Hill League it was not enough for them to hold on to pole position. Scruffy Ringers take over the number one spot with a convincing 6-1 success against Bordesley Labour Club. Ringers and Cotterills are both on ten points with the former currently leading the way on average, plus they have played one game fewer than their rivals.
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There were wins for the top three teams in group ‘A’ of the South Birmingham League as they each defeated a team in the bottom three. Amazingly the top two teams, Mackadown Social and Punch Bowl bothe beat their respective opponents Kingfisher and Toby Jug 8-0. Third in the table Farthings won 6-2 against Shard End Social.
In group ‘B’ second placed The Dog lost ground on leaders St John’s after surprisingly making a 4-4 draw at home to The Trident, who are bottom of the table. St John’s had a 6-2 win over their visitors Banbury Flights.
It was top versus bottom in group ‘C’ as top team Riley’s Kings played hosts to Smithswood Social, who are bottom of the table. Kings however proved to be more ruthless than hospitable as they handed out an 8-0 whitewash to their counterparts to keep them top of the pile on 15 points, two ahead of Crown at Shard End.
Just one maximum to record and that was achieved by D.White from the Punch Bowl.
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A couple of teams vying for the title in the Cradley Tuesday Night League suffered set backs this week. Second placed Quarry Bank Liberal Cl b returned from fifth in the table Plough and Harrow on the wrong side of a 4-3 result to leave them six points behind top of the table Brickmakers and having played one game more. There was also bad news for Yeltz Bar, who could have leap-frogged Quarry Bank if they had won, but they too lost by the odd game 4-3 and remain on the same 40 points as Quarry Bank but behind on average.
At the other end of the table there was a rare win for bottom team Roost ‘B’. An away game against Vine, who are two off the bottom, saw Roost win 5-2, the result still leaves them four points adrift of the nearest team Netherton Sports and Social ‘B’.
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The Rowley Monday Night League have been engaged in the quarter finals of their Bill Bishop Cup and winning through to the last four were Ivy Bush ‘Z’ with a 6-3 win over Bull Terrier, Ex Serviceman’s Club, who beat Bulls Head 5-4, the same scoreline by which Golden Cue accounted for Crown, and making up the semi finals will be Allens Sports and Social after their 5-3 win away to Timbertree.
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