The Derrick Leaver Lichfield Open was staged at Lichfield City FC. And the event attracted a quality field of 116 players from all around the Midlands and further afield.
Both of the semi finals went the full nine legs distance with Doug Thompson (28.84) beating Colin Osborne (27.07) 5-4 and with a similar result Nick Fullwell (28.74) defeated James Richardson (29.41) to set up an all West Midlands final.
The long day culminated in a final that produced another top class performance from both players, but it was Sitescapes sponsored Doug Thompson who got the very close 6-5 verdict with another fine average of 28.07, Fullwell averaged 29.01.
As the winner Thompson received £800, Fullwell £300, there was £150 to the losing semi finalists, £50 for the quarter finalists and £20 for players reaching the last sixteen.
The day was a complete success thanks to organiser Keith Osman and his team of Glen Cullen, Martin McCaulay, Simon Lunn, Peter Lowe, Bryan Webb and Richard Cummings, plus all of the staff at Lichfield City FC.
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The status quo was preserved this week in division one of the Four Oaks and District League with all four of the top four teams winning. So Red Lion Flights, The Nomads and Sutton Sports all have ten points, with Nomads having a game in hand. Old Oscott Arrows are fourth and they took on local rivals Old Oscott WMC, who actually took the game to 3-3 before Arrows went on to win 6-3.
In division two all three games finished with 6-3 scorelines. Anvil Nomads promotion hopes took a blow when they lost 6-3 at home to Boldmere Sports surrendering second place to their victors both teams are on eight points. Brookvale Social and Bromford Lions also knocked their opponents The Fox and Plough and Barrows for six.
Division three leaders White Lion came close to losing their unbeaten record as they wrapped up the points against third placed Cross Keys Arrows in the final game. Bishop Vesey kept the pressure on the leaders winning 5-4 at Crown Warriors to leave them just two points off the top.
G.Kimberley (Deer’s Leap Stags), I.Lloyd (Boldmere Sports) and P.Opelier (Plough and Barrows) all hit 180’s this week.
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The Small Heath League had cup finals on their fixture card, first the League Cup, which saw league winners Gulp Tribe defeat fourth placed Wagon and Horses to add another title to their winnings. The Consolation Cup was won by Redhill Wanderers, who had a final success over Sheldon Marlborough Flights.
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Saltley Amateur Gardeners took their unbeaten run to ten games when they accounted for their hosts Langley Hall Sports and Social with a 6-3 result. The win keeps Saltley four points clear of their nearest rivals Crown at Olton, who had a narrow 5-4 home win over fifth placed Old Bill and Bull. Crown at Shard End slipped up going down 5-4 at home to Highwood ‘A’, but despite the loss hang on to third place, Highwood ‘A’ moving one place up the table to fourth.
Raven maintained their two points lead at the top of division one, with an emphatic 8-1 win at home against Maggies. EBAHA stay in second place and two points adrift with a 6-3 win at Willclare Sports and Social.
Shirley RBL Misfits lost their second place in division two following their surprising 5-4 defeat at home against sixth in the table Greville Arms. This was Misfits third defeat in ten games and has seen them fall two places to fourth on 14 points. Joining Misfits on the same 14 points are Baldwin Bears and Highwood ‘B’, who in turn had an 8-1 win over Langley Hall Sports and Social Flights and a 5-4 win against Crown Arrows. Both Baldwin and Highwood have a better average than Misfits.
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At the halfway stage of the season in the Forest of Arden Winter League there was a couple of surprise results in division one as third placed The Grange lost by 5-4 at The Crane, who move up from sixth to fifth in the table. Also next to bottom Greville Arrows pulled off a shock 7-2 win away to Harvester, who drop to fourth.
Chelmsley Town, leaders of division two had a tough home tie with third placed Highwood KB, but came through it taking the honours in a 5-4 result to put them on 16 points, six ahead of Riley’s Wings, Sheldon Flights and Highwood KB, Riley’s having a game in hand.
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The South Birmingham League played the preliminary round of their Divisional Cup’s. In division one leaders The Crown travelled to take on Riley’s Kings, who despite being third in the table are level on six points with The Crown, trailing only on average. The result was a 6-3 win for Riley’s. In the other division one game Mackadown Social beat Pavilions 5-4.
In the division two games Banbury Flights were awarded a 9-0 walkover as their opponents, Smithswood Social failed to turn up. Kingfisher won 6-3 against Shard End Ladies.
Just one rearranged division one fixture was played, which saw Punch Bowl beat Farthings 5-4.
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Round two of the Open Cup was the order of the day for the Pip Club League, in which there were wins for Dolphin, Bulls Head ‘A’ (Polesworth), Bulls Head (Two Gates) and Belgrave Club, beating in turn Old Liberal, Wilnecote Club, Royal Oak (Polesworth) and Travellers.
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The Rowley Monday Night League staged the finals of their League Cup, both of the semi finals ended with 5-4 scorelines, Allens Sports and Social beating Golden Cue and Ivy Bush ‘Z’ accounting for Ex Serviceman’s Club.
As in the last four play off the final also finished with a close 5-4 result, which could easily have gone either way, but it was Ivy Bush ‘Z’ just getting the edge on Allens.
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Brickmakers ‘A’ have lost pole position in the Netherton Thursday Night League after losing 6-3 away to Bulls Head, who are ninth in the table. Taking over the number one spot is Rose and Crown with a similar 6-3 win away to Fairfield to give them 21 points. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club are also on 21 points and have a game in hand on Rose and Crown, their latest victory being 5-4 at The Bell. Brickmakers ‘A’ have dropped to third place on 18 points, the same number of points as Springfield Social Club and Prince of Wales.
The league has also played a round of their Andy Bastable Trophy in which there wins for Bull and Bladder, Brickmakers ‘A’, Rose and Crown and Springfield Social Club.
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