Warwickshire’s latest premier division fixture in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships was a tough home game against high flying Lancashire. Prior to the game the hosts were fourth in the table and the visitors second, never an easy fixture and one Warwickshire had lost for the last three seasons, their last win against Lancashire was in the 2009 / 2010 season when they beat them at home 22-14.
Saturday’s games had mixed fortunes as the men went down 7-5, Simon Power (28.55) their top player, the ladies however chalked up a fantastic 5-1 win. They lost the opening game but wins from Edwina Holdsworth, Angela Jones, Kat Spanswick, Donna Pinch and lady of the match Melanie Hill (18.56) gave them a deserved victory.
Sunday’s games were “Even Steven” as the ladies finished all square at 3-3 and the men made a 6-6 draw. Award winners were Trina Gulliver MBE (26.84), fresh from receiving her Buckingham Palace award and for the men Rob Hawker was their top man with a terrific 31.31 average.
It was Simon Power’s and Melanie Hill’s first match award for the county.
The results culminated in a tremendous 19-17 win for Warwickshire, but despite the win they dropped on place in the table to fifth and their opponents remained in second spot. However, the point’s difference between the two teams has now been reduced to 14 points.
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In division two of the County Championships it was not a good day at the office for West Midlands as their home advantage against top of the table Derbyshire proved to be negligible as they lost 22-14.
Both men’s and ladies teams had one win and one defeat. In Saturday’s game the ladies lost 4-2 with Claire Hobbs the lady of the match with a very respectable 21.78 average. The men’s ‘B’ side finished level at 6-6, Robert Thompson their top man with a 26.84 average.
The ‘A’ teams saw the ladies results all go against the first throw advantage, the result a 3-3 draw, Sarah Roberts, for the fifth consecutive game taking the match award with her 22.56 average. The men’s ‘B’ lost 9-3, the evergreen Ian Jones the man of the match with a superb 30.39 average.
The overall result was a 22-14 win for Derbyshire to keep them in pole position on 116 points, West Midlands hold on to fourth place but are now 19 points adrift and Somerset, who are currently sixth are only six points behind West Midlands with a game in hand.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League had the first round of their Punch Bowl on the fixture card. The winners from the round will now play on the 6th February the draw for which is, Sheldon Dukes v Highwood ‘A’, Greville Arms v Old Bill and Bull, Maggies v Willclare Sports and Social, Crown at Shard End v Highwood ‘B’, Raven v Mackadown Social, Saltley Amateur Gardeners v Riley’s Wings, Shard End Social v Crown Arrows, Kingshurst and District Labour Club v Crown at Olton.
On the same evening the preliminary round of the Sheldon Shield will be played and lining up for that will be Langley Hall Arrows v Small Heath Amateur Gardeners, Iron Horse v Highwood Exiles, Shirley RBL Misfits v Ridgemere Social.
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It was also cup week in the Four Oaks and District League, in the first round of the Brian Goodman Cup a depleted Boldmere Sports could not stop Deer’s Leap Stags winning 5-4, and with the same scoreline Sutton Sports, third in the division one table beat second placed The Nomads in a match where the lead changed three times and was decided on the very last leg of the final game.
A.Cole and J.Higgins both hit maximums for Old Oscott WMC, but it was The Fox that found the finishing doubles to win 6-3.
The first round of the Ken Rust Cup saw Anvil Nomads, another team winning by the very last leg of the night against Plough and Barrows, while Crown Warriors had a 6-3 win against Boldmere Oak.
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The Rowley Monday Night League got their new season underway and the early pacesetters are the Crown, who had a convincing 8-1 win at White Swan. Close on the heels of Crown are Bulls Head, Allens Sports Bar, Springfield Social Club and Ex Serviceman’s Club, who in turn had 7-2 wins against Hunting Tree, Fairfield, Moon Under Water and Timber Tree.
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Finals night of their doubles knockout was the order of the day for the Small Heath League. Taking the title with a final win over Alan Wale and Paul Brown from the Custard House, were Dave Heighway and Nick Walker representing Gulp Tribe.
Losing semi finalists were, Neil Parsonage and Raymond Fisher plus Peter Hopkins and Peter Yardley, both pairs from the Emerald Club.
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League began their new season and Crown ‘A’ got it off to a bang by handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors and newcomers to the league Hasbury Inn, R.Lenton hitting a 180 for the hosts.
Other players to find the three treble twenties were, M.Hall (Chainmakers ‘B’) in a 6-3 win at Jays Bar and B.Neale, who helped his team, Crown ‘B’ to a narrow 5-4 win at Wheatsheaf.
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It’s as you were in division one of the South Birmingham League with no positional changes as leaders Crown won their home game with Riley’s Kings 7-2 to give them 10 points from 7 games, and second placed Mackadown Social won their home tie with Pavilions 6-3 to also give them 10 points and leave them trailing Crown on average.
In division two there was a setback for title chasers Iron Horse as they lost 6-3 away to Toby Jug, who sixth in the table. Iron Horse drop two places in the league table to fourth and are now four points behind leaders St John’s.
The Dog have taken over second place following their 5-4 win over Kingfisher and level on the same 12 points is Banbury Club who won 6-3 against Coleshill Social, both teams have played one game more than St John’s.
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Noel Grant and Will Naylor battled through their groups in the Warwickshire play off for the Winmau World Master to secure a place in the regional finals to be held later in the year.
Grant faced up to the challenge of Mark Strong in his group final, but with Strong unable to capitalise whenever he had the opportunity Grant stepped in and went on to win in two straight sets.
In the other group final Naylor took on the in form Paul Austin and in the final leg of the match Naylor twice busted a 100 finish, but on his third attempt put it to bed to seal his victory.
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With Highwood ‘A’, leaders in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League, having a bye this week, second in the table Olton Crown took full advantage to draw level on the same 16 points as the leaders by winning 8-1 away to The Crane. However, Highwood ‘A’ now have a game in hand and a win would restore their two points lead.
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Westminster Lions have roared to the top of the Camp Hill League with a 6-1 win away to bottom of the table Devil’s Club to give them a perfect six points from the opening three games.
Cotterills Lane Club are the only other team in the league to have won the first three fixtures, their latest success being a similar 6-1 win against Wagonners. The biggest highlight from the game was the perfect six darts leg recorded by Cotterills Neil Parsonage. Neil broke with 152 and followed up with a tremendous 149 game shot. Brilliant darts!!!
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The Pip Club League had the first round of their Challenge Cup on the agenda and in division one there were wins for Bulls Head ‘A’ and Dolphin, who in turn defeated Bulls Head (Two Gates) and Birchmoor Club.
The division two games saw White Lion lose to Longwood and Travellers beat Two Gates Club.
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The Fox and Dogs march on, a 6-1 win at Longwood has seen them amass 95 points from 11 games in the Tamworth League and at the same time open up an eight points lead over Dolphin ‘A’, who also won 6-1 in their game at Tam O’Shanter.
In the players league Paul Smallwood Tam O’Shanter) has lost pole position after losing to third in the table Kevin Clubley (Dolphin ‘A’). Martin Edwards (Fox and Dogs) has taken over the number one spot with 27 points from his 11 game’s, Smallwood is now second on 24 from 10 games and Clubley third, also on 24 points, but from 11 games.
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