With Somerset sitting at the top of the division two table in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships, West Midlands rearranged away fixture against them was never going to be an easy task. However, they returned from their journey to the south west with a tremendous 19-17 victory to put them third in the promotional table, just one point behind Somerset, who held on to the top spot and level on 68 points with second placed Derbyshire.
Saturday belonged to the West Midlands with the men chalking up a massive 10-2 win with Paul Price their top man with a 27.72 average. The ladies, after trailing 3-0 fought back to earn a well deserved 3-3 draw, Shellbie Simmons (16.70) taking the match award.
Sunday’s results were not so good, the men opened up a 5-2 lead and looked good to secure their third win in as many games, but the tide turned and Somerset ran out 7-5 winners.. Nick Fullwell (27.25) won the man of the match award. The ladies suffered their second successive 5-1 defeat, on this occasion Sarah Roberts, with a superb 23.86 average their sole winner.
———————————
Despite some of the entrants unable to attend that didn’t detract from the high standard of play produced in the Brandon Open Singles held at the Brandon Club, Coventry. From a starting 59 players Warwickshire county players Mark Westgarth and Scott Rand made the best of eleven legs final.
Westgarth stormed into a 3-0 lead in 15, 14 and 16 dart legs. Rand pulled one back in the fourth in 18 darts, only to see Westgarth restore his three legs buffer with a 22 darts leg. Rand reduced the arrears again with a 14 darts leg and followed that with winning legs of 15 and 21to level the match at four each.
Westgarth was first to a double in the ninth leg but failed to take advantage and let Rand in to finish on double sixteen. He then wrapped up a 6-4 result in 15 darts to claim the top prize of £400. Westgarth received £180 as runner up. There was £70 for each of the losing semi finalists, Martin Bowley and Ian McFarlane, £25 for the losing quarter finalists and £10 for players going out in the last sixteen.
———————————
The Cradley Tuesday Night League have completed their fixtures apart from various cup finals and winning the title by a clear eight points over runners up Chainmakers ‘B’ was Brickmakers with 60 points. The champions actually lost their final game at Gate (Colley Gate) by 4-3, the hosts finishing fourth in the table. Yeltz Bar, took third place but also wound up the season on a low going down 4-3 at Bulls Head, who were fourth from bottom.
The Gate (Darby End) won the Shadow League with 24 points, just pipping their nearest rivals Crown by beating them 5-2 in the final game of the season, Crown ending up with 22 points as runners up.
———————————
The top four teams in division one of the Four Oaks and District League all won this week leaders Red Lion Flights made it four wins in as many games with a 6-3 home win over Old Oscott WMC. The Nomads beat Deer’s Leap Stags with a comfortable 8-1 result to keep their unbeaten run going, although they have only played three games so far. Third placed Sutton Sports were also 8-1 winners in their tie with The Greyhound to put them on four points, four behind the leaders as are Old Oscott Arrows, who won 5-4 at home to Drakes Drum, M.Compton hitting a maximum for the hosts, his third in as many weeks and four so far for the season.
The Beehive and Anvil Nomads both had convincing 7-2 wins in turn against The Fox and Brookvale Social, this being Brookvale’s first defeat in three games. The two winning teams on six points with The Beehive top on average and Anvil Nomads having a game in hand.
Division three produced the highest scoring game of the week the Bishop Vesey versus White Lion clash contained no fewer than 34 scores of a ton or more, each of them recording 17. However, the most important statistic was the 6-3 result, which went to White Lion to put them top of the table on 8 points and leave Bishop Vesey second on 6.
Three maximums this week and they were hit by R.Hawker (Sutton Sports), S.Andrews (Red Lion Flights) and D.Parsons (Old Oscott WMC).
———————————
The Small Heath League have completed their season and with runners up Emerald Club losing their final game at home to Clock Inn 5-4, Gulp Tribe, who won 6-3 at Redhill Wanderers ran away with the title winning it with 62 points from a possible 64 and finishing a massive 16 points ahead of Emerald.
———————————
Week five of the Riley’s Sunday Knockout League saw Mike McFall win the ‘A’ knockout with a final 4-2 win over league leader Ian McFarlane. McFarlane has amassed 38 points from his opening five games, while second placed McFall is four points behind him with a game in hand.
The ‘B’ knockout was won by the only lady, Natalie Gilbert. Natalie had a straight 2-0 win against Rick Lawrence in her final and places her seventh out of 14 players in the overall table.
———————————
The Rowley Monday Night League have completed their league fixtures and have just cup finals to play off. Bulls Head (Rowley) won the title with 60 points, but lost their final game at home to Bull Terrier 5-4 to give Terrier the runners up spot with 54 points. Ivy Bush ‘Z’ finished third after a 7-2 win over Moon Under Water, but the biggest win in the final games went to fourth placed Bell, who beat Whiteheath Tavern 9-0.
———————————
The preliminary round of the Divisional Cup was the order of the day for the Forest of Arden Winter League and in division one Olton Crown won 5-4 against The Grange and The Crane beat Greville Arrows 6-3. There was also a 6-3 win for Highwood ‘C’ in division two, taking out local rivals Highwood Exiles.
———————————
After the first eight games in the Aston League the top three positions are filled with the final three from last season. Riley’s lead the way on 14 points from 7 games, Red Lion are second with 12 points from 8 games, and on the same 12 points is third placed Sportsmans Rest, who have played 7 games.
———————————
An 8-1 win over Farthings has seen the Crown go top of division one of the South Birmingham League with 4 points from their opening three games, Mackadown are on the same number of points but are pushed into second place with an inferior average.
St John’s lost top spot in division two after losing 7-2 away to Iron Horse, who move up from tenth to seventh in the table. Taking over the number one position is Coleshill Social, who won 7-2 against Toby Jug.
Just one maximum to report this week and that was supplied by B.Evans (Punch Bowl) in his team’s 5-4 home win over Pavilions.
———————————
Bulls Head ‘A’ remain the only team in the Pip Club League with a 100% win record, their latest success being a 13-3 home win against Old Liberal. Three teams are just two points behind the leaders, Birchmoor Club, who won 14-2 at Longwood, Belgrave Club, who won their game at Pip Club 12-4 and Wilnecote Club, who were 14-2 winners at White Lion.
———————————
Fairfield suffered their first defeat in six in the Netherton Thursday Night League when they went down 5-4 at Chainmakers, this was Chainmakers first win.
Rose and Crown lost pole position, losing 5-4 at home to Cottage Spring, who replace Rose and Crown in the number one spot. Brickmakers ‘A’, who had an 8-1 win against Yew Tree are third on the same 12 points as second placed Rose and Crown.
———————————
The bottom two teams in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League squared up to each other in week seven. Bottom of the table Banbury Club travelled to Kingshurst and District Labour Club and returned on the wrong side of a 7-2 result. Saltley Amateur Gardeners held on to their two points lead at the top with an 8-1 home win over Sheldon Dukes.
In division one EBAHA made it seven wins in as many games when they defeated Maggies 6-3, Raven keeping hot on their heels with an 8-1 win at Sheldon Social to remain just two points behind.
Baldwin Bears had a setback to their title hopes in division two, losing top place when they were beaten 5-4 away to Highwood Exiles, who in a 12 team division are ninth. Crown Arrows have moved into the top place with a perfect 14 points after handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Ridgemere Social.
———————————
Another play off for the national finals of the Riley’s Masters took place at Riley’s Wolverhampton and the winner was Lol Frazer, who beat Shaun Carrol 6-4 in the final. Both semis finished with a 5-3 scoreline, Frazer beating Kevin Bambrick and Carrol taking out Matt Williams.
The four players will all take part in the national finals this coming Saturday at Riley’s Wolverhampton.
———————————
A 7-0 win by Cotterills Lane Club over Station and a 5-2 win from Scruffy Ringers against Shaftmoor Lions a seen the two winning sides draw level on 18 points and average at the top of the Camp Hill League. Third placed Bordesley labour are two points worse off on the leaders but they have also played two games more than them.
———————————