The Four Oaks and District League have played their Coronation Shield and Norman Day Cup down to the final. The Coronation Shield was staged at Riley’s Snooker Club and the quarter final produced a dramatic finish, Bromford Lions were leading 7-5 against Old Oscott Arrows requiring just one more leg from the triples to secure their last four place. But despite 180’s from S.Frost and I.Matthews it was not enough to stop Old Oscott Arrows winning 3-0 and taking the match 8-7. Biggest win of the round was provided by division leaders The Nomads, who chalked up a 15-0 whitewash against their opponents Plough and Barrows, who ate bottom of the division two table.
Old Oscott Arrows luck ran out in the semi finals when they were beaten 9-3 by Sutton Sports. In the other last four game The Nomads and red lion Flights staged a nail biting finish to the evening with Nomads taking the final leg of the last game for a very close 8-7 victory.
The Red Lion, Erdington was the setting for the Norman Day Cup the highlight of the quarter finals was the 28 scores of a ton or more by The Beehive in their 8-4 win over White Lion. Beehive then repeated the result in the last four taking out Pint Pot Flights, while in the other semi final Bishop Vesey won 8-5 against The Fox.
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After completing the opening two fixtures in the Small Heath League the top three places are exactly the same as they finished last season. Gulp Tribe, with an 8-1 win over Westminster Lions top the table on average from Emerald Club Flights, who had a 6-2 home win against Clock Inn. Third placed Custard House won their home tie with Wagon and Horses by a close 5-4.
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Saltley Amateur Gardeners made it sixteen consecutive wins in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter league when they beat fellow title contenders Crown at Olton 6-3. The win keeps Saltley Six points clear of second placed Crown at Shard End, who had a 7-2 home win over Old Bill and Bull. Crown at Olton drop one place in the table to fourth.
In division one Raven kept up their fine form with a 6-3 win against Riley’s Rags to give them 28 points, a clear four points advantage over their nearest rivals EBAHA, who had a close 5-4 home success against next to bottom Custard House.
It’s as you were in division two with the top four teams all recording wins, leaders Crown Arrows won 6-3 at Small Heath Amateur Gardeners, second placed Baldwin Bears, who are just two points off the top won 7-2 at home to Shirley RBL Misfits, while third placed Highwood ‘B’, who are a further four points adrift of Baldwin, won their home tie with Emerald Flights 6-3 and to complete the top four Greville Arms won 5-4 at Ridgemere Social to remain on the same 22 points as Highwood ‘B’.
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For only the second time in thirteen games Chelmsley Town lost in division two of the Forest of Arden Winter League, a defeat that was more than a little surprising as their victors were Greville Arms, who are currently just two places off the foot of the table, with just five wins in fourteen games. Nevertheless Chelmsley hold on to pole position with a four points lead over both Riley’s Wings and Sheldon Flights and with only three fixtures remaining look to all set to win the title.
In division one it’s a two horse race with Highwood ‘A’ leading on 22 points following their 6-3 home win over Greville Arrows and Olton Crown second with 20 points, they also won 6-3 in their fixture with The Grange. The title decider could well be the fixture on the 25th of this month when the two teams square up to each other, should be quite a match.
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Crown ‘A’ and Brickmakers kept their 100% win record intact in the Cradley Tuesday Night League, the former having a nail biting 5-4 win at Netherton Sports and Social ‘B’, while the latter recorded a more convincing 8-1 result at the Prince of Wales. Crown ‘A’ lead with 12 points from six games, Brickmakers have only played five games so far and have Chainmakers ‘A’, who won 7-2 at Roost ‘B’ level on the same 10 points.
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Six fixtures completed and on the night four matches played in the Camp Hill League and not one team moved in the league table. Leaders Cotterills Lane Club had an important 5-2 win at Westminster Lions, who were just two points behind them, Cotterills now opening up a four points lead.
Reigning champions Gulp Tribe are third and on the same eight points as Westminster as is Bordesley Labour Club. Gulp won 5-2 at Devil’s Club and Bordesley 4-3 away to Wagonners.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League got their new season underway and in division one now fewer than four teams share the top spot, Merry Boys, Otter and Vixen, Oxbarn and Riley’s ‘C’ all having 6-1 wins.
In division two Castle are the early leaders after handing out a 7-0 whitewash to their visitors King Charles. Newcomers to the league Chillington Club are not far behind with a 6-1 win at Yale Club.
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The first round of the Paul Caswell Memorial Cup was on the Tamworth League’s fixture card and winning through were, Three Tuns (Fazeley), Dolphin ‘A’, Mile Oak Rovers and Sports Bar ‘180’ in turn at the expense of Sports Bar, Globe Inn, Wigginton and Dolphin ‘B’.
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After playing six fixtures, only points of average separate the top three teams in the Rowley Monday Night League. Crown lead the way despite a close but vital 5-4 win over Ex Serviceman’s Club, who drop two places in the table to sixth. Springfield Social Club are just one leg of average worse off than Crown, an 8-1 win home win over Timber Tree helping their cause. Making up the top three is Ivy Bush ‘Z’, who won their home game with White Swan 6-3.
At the other end of the table Moon Under Water recorded their first win of the campaign, a 6-3 win at Haden Cross, who are next to bottom of the table.
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It was doubles knockout week in the South Birmingham League, the semi finals saw D.Whitehouse and B.Evans (Punch Bowl) beat S.Hazlett and A.Hoey (The Crown) and form the other half of the draw M.Birch and M.Anwar (Riley’s Kings) beat A.Caddick and M.Noonan (Mackadown Social).
The final was a high scoring affair with M.Birch and M.Anwar the eventual winners.
Individual highlights of the night were a tremendous maximum 170 finish by Riley’s Kings player, L.Barberan, a top score of 180 by M.Heaven (Mackadown Social) and the biggest break of 156 the night provided by James Buttle (The Trident).
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It’s tight at the top of the Netherton Thursday Night League, Rose and Crown top the table on 36 points from 15 games after a 7-2 win at White Swan. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club had a 5-4 win at Chainmakers and are currently second on the same 36 points as Rose and Crown but with a game in hand. Third and fourth placed Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ and Springfield Social Club are just one win behind the leaders and in turn had a 6-3 win at Prince of Wales and and 7-2 win at Pensnett and Bromley.
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Belgrave Club lost ground in the Pip Club League title chase losing 12-4 at third in the table Dolphin and dropping down to fifth on 20 points, now seven adrift of top team Bulls Head ‘A who won 12-4 at Anchor Inn to keep them three points ahead of Birchmoor Club, who had a 14-2 home success over Old Liberal. Old Liberal’s defeat has seen them drop two points behind division two leaders Travellers, who won their away game with Longwood 11-5.
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In the latest of the Riley’s Sunday League ‘A’ knockouts William Naylor had a 4-2 win over Neil Parsonage, the game containing no fewer than 21 scores of 1100 or more, Parsonage hitting 13 to Naylor’s eight, which included a maximum.
The ‘B’ knockout was won Brendan Lysaght, a 3-1 decision against Paul Lawrence.
With only two knockouts remaining Ian McFarlane leads the field with 94 points, but he is being closely followed by Trevor Frost who is just two points behind him. McFarlane and Frost have opened a gap between them and the rest of the field as third placed Mike McFall is back on 78 points and the title looks certain to go to one of the top two.
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