After a close 19-17 defeat at Cheshire, Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will be looking for a quick return to winning ways this coming weekend when they play hosts to Lincolnshire in this their latest premier division fixture in the BDO Inter County Championships.
Fifth in the table with 58 points, Warwickshire are 11 points and four places ahead of their opponents, a win would be just the tonic to take them higher up the table in this their final game of 2014, home advantage at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road, Coventry could well be the deciding factor between the two teams.
Lining up for the home team are, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Kevin Dowling, Tom Aldridge, Mark Carter, Noel Grant, Ian McFarlane, Dean Stewart, Mark Strong, Jamie Hughes, Dave Harris, Rob Hawker, Mark Westgarth, Men’s ‘B’:- Antony Allen, Dane Vickers, Luke Kennedy, Ashley Hykin, Will Naylor, Tom McGlone, Paul Deslandes, Mark Archer, Carl Green, Michael Spencer, Matt Edgar, Prakash Jiwa, Reserves:- Ted Evetts, Dan Green, Jimmy Hill, Simon Power, Steve Ward, Steve Hine, Nigel Heydon, Richard Foster, Women’s ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Kat Spanswick, Sue Gulliver, Denise Keyte, Melanie Hill, Angela Jones, Women’s ‘B’:- Donna Pinch, Lisa Whitmore, Wendy Adams, Caroline Pike, Marian Conway, Edwina Holdsworth, Reserves:- Natalie Gilbert, Nina Bolt, Kerry Bambridge.
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In division two of the BDO Inter County Championships West Midlands have only played two games so far and have won one and lost one, but they have no easy task this weekend when they play Berkshire at the Gilberts Bar, Willenhall as their visitors are some 33 points ahead of them and five places above them, currently third in the table. Although the difference between the two teams appears to be huge, Berkshire have played one game more than the Midlanders.
Selected to play for West Midlands are, Men’s ‘A:- Keith Allman, Gavin Baker, Micky Baker, Sean Caroll, Danny Coyle, Glen Cullen, Nick Fullwell, Ian Jones, John Platt, Richard Platt, Neil Pointon, Mark Rollinson, Men’s ‘B’:- Martin Angell, Lee Arnold, Jamie Barrowman, Mark Craddock, Justin Evans, Adam Johnson, John Mycock, Paul Price, Avtar Singh, Robert Thomson, Mark Watkiss, Gary Watts, Reserves:- Bhogal Rushpal, Karl Hughes, Ian Stanton, Women’s ‘A’:- Elizabeth Arnold, Lisa Astbury, Gemma Barrett, Kim Fellows, Kath Jenkins, Heather Wright, Women’s ‘B’:- Chris Banks, Claire Hobbs, Jackie Maiden, Sam Maiden, Sophie Singh, Wendy Waine, Reserves:- Doreen Kaye, Debbie Loon, Nicki Macloughlin, Roxanne Nicholls.
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In the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League leaders Crown at Shard End lost an important home game when they finished on the wrong side of a 5-4 result against Old Bill and Bull. This was Crown at Shard End’s first defeat in seven games and leaves them still in pole position with 12 points but now Old Bill and Bull and Crown at Olton are both just two points behind them with a game in hand.
Division one produced a top of the table clash between leaders Banbury Club and second placed Castle Vale Stadium. The outcome was a first defeat of the season for Banbury as Castle Vale got the close 5-4 verdict to put them within two points of their rivals with a game in hand.
Crown-Forget-Me-Not in division two, are now the only unbeaten team in the league, their latest fixture seeing them win 7-2 at home to second placed Sheldon Marlborough Flights to put them four points to the good on their opponents, although Sheldon have played one game less than Crown.
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Three cup games and one rearranged league fixture were all that were played in the Four Oaks and District League this week. In the division one fixture Golden Hind Arrows came back from 4-1 down to 4-3 at The Beehive, but the home team rallied and went on to win 6-3.
In the first round of the Brian Goodman Cup Golden Hind Arrows had a little more luck as they beat their second division rivals Boldmere Sports 5-4, the match being won in the seventh game.
A depleted Brookvale Social Club (division one) side lost 5-4 at Pint Pot Flights (division two), Flights winning the match in the very last game.
The stand out match of the week was between Red Lion and Old Oscott Arrows in the first round of the Coronation Shield. The game included no fewer than 49 scores of a ton or more with Red Lion’s D.G.Bond hitting 123,4×100 and 140, team mate B.Hughes notched 2×100 and 4×140 and for Old Oscott M.Compton had top shots of 2×135,2×100 and 2×140, while E.Atkins hit 100,140 plus the only 180 of the week.
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The start of the Vintage Gamer Trophy in the Black Country Premier League saw 9-5 wins for Black Country Belters and Britannia Bulldogs in group ‘A’ over respective opponents Wynall Lane Warriors and Lyde Green Flights, while in group ‘B’ Blackheath Beechers, with 180’s from Jason Lowe and Matt Tedstone beat Team Bathams 12-1. Gate R&R were not far behind as they won 12-2 against Hounds of Wynall. Park Lane Taverners had a much closer 7-6 win at Round Oak Rebels.
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For the second week running Rowley Monday Night League staged cup quarter final games. In the Bill Bishop Cup Gate Hangs Well beat Ivy Bush ‘A’ 6-3 and White Swan won 5-4 against Whiteheath Tavern.
The play off for the Challenge Cup saw wins for Hunting Tree and Britannia Inn, each winning 5-4 in turn against Plough and Harrow and Riddins Tavern.
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With the domestic fixtures all sorted in the Cradley Tuesday Night League it’s down to cup games to round off the season and in the semi finals of the Harry Siviter Cup, Gate (Colley Gate) won 5-4 against Yeltz Bar and Brickmakers Arms booked their final place with a win over Chainmakers ‘B’.
The Wally Fellows Cup saw Crown ‘A’ win 5-3 against Riddins Tavern and their final opponents will be Jay’s Bar, who had a 5-4 win against Hawne Lane Tavern.
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Brierley Hill Monday Night League champions Blue Brick ‘C’ made it 39 wins from 41 games when they won 5-4 against seventh in the table Roebuck. Second placed Dudley Sports ‘B’ had a convincing 8-1 win at Liberal Club. There was a rare win for bottom team Old Star ‘A’, their 5-4 win over local rivals Old Star ‘B’ was their fifth win in 41 games, but despite the win they remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table.
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In the Netherton Thursday Night League leaders Springfield Social Club lost for the first time in eight games when they went down 5-4 at home to eighth placed Rose and Crown. A 5-4 win at third in the table Bulls Head saw Netherton Sports and Social draw level on ten points with Springfield and now only trail on average.
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Two rearranged fixtures played in the Small Heath League. After a 5-4 defeat last week against Gulp Tribe, Wagon and Horses were looking to bounce and bounce back they did with a 7-2 win over The Lions to put them level on 10 points with leaders Gulp. Emerald Club kept in touch with the leaders beating Warwick Arms 8-1 to give them 8 points.
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The Birmingham Super Series of Darts Individual League will get underway on the 9th January, the venue being Castle Vale Stadium, Farnborough Road, Castle Vale, B35 7BE. Every player will play two matches every league night in a dual format season, 301 first then reverting to 501. Anyone requiring any further information should contact either Ricky Barberan 07538-162157 or Dale Savage 07779-867608.
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After playing three fixtures Top Bell are the only undefeated team in the Lye and District Ladies Wednesday Night League. Playing away to Brickmakers Arms Top Bell consolidated their pole position with a 5-2 win giving them six points. Three teams are on four points, Park Lane Tavern, who also won 5-2 in their home tie with Black Horse, Netherton Sports and Social, they had a closer 4-3 win against Bulls Head, and making up the trio Bull and Bladder, who had a bye this week.
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Bulls Head ‘A’ (Polesworth) had a bye in division one of the Pip Club League this week but second placed Wilnecote Club were unable to take full advantage and move into the top spot as they were held to an 8-8 draw by Bulls Head (Two Gates) and could only draw level on the same 7 points. Tamworth Motor Spares are another team with 7 points.
In division two JW Belgrave lead the field with a superior average after their latest 9-7 win over Pip Club, who drop one place to third. Second in the table Sports Bar ‘180’ had a 10-6 home win against Royal Oak.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League played off the finals of their doubles knockout and winning the title with a final win over J.Hughes and M.Frost (Brickmakers Arms) were the Netherton Cricket Club duo D.Male and M.Cullwick. Losing semi finalists were A.Floyd and C.Panzer (Brickmakers Arms) and T.Safe and J.Gaskin (Pensnett Welfare Club).
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No change at the top of the two divisions in the Forest of Arden Winter League as the leading pair in both divisions won this week. Olton Crown stay two points ahead of Highwood ‘A’ in division one, while Highwood ‘C’ have a similar lead over Iron Horse in division two.
The league will be playing against the Sports Argus Charity Team on the 5th December the venue will be The Highwood, Solihull with all proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital. Why not drop along and support a very worthy cause.
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Mackadown Social dropped from top to third in division one of the South Birmingham League after losing their home game with Crown-Forget-Me-Not 6-3, the winners taking over the number one spot. St John’s move off the bottom of the table, chalking up their first win in five, a 5-4 win at The Raven.
No problem for the division two leaders Coleshill Social, they hold on to their two points lead at the top with a 7-2 win against Smiths Wood Social.
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The top six teams all won in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League, leaders Ashwood handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Kingswinford Conservative Club. Second placed Britannia Inn had a much closer 5-4 home win over middle of the table Bird ‘B’ (Stourbridge) and remain two points adrift of the leaders as do Ten Arches, who also won 9-0 in their home game with bottom team Crestwood.
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Cotterills Lane Club have been ousted from the number one spot in the Camp Hill League after losing their home game with Holly Gulp 4-3. Scruffy Ringers, who beat Devil’s Club 5-2, take over pole position, but only on average as Cotterills have the same 20 points.
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It was just not cricket in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League, as the top two teams both won 7-0 , leaders Ten Arches ‘A’ winning their home tie with third placed Wombourne Cricket Club and second in the table Ashwood ‘A’ accounting for Netherton Cricket Club. Third in the table Ashwood ‘B’ won 4-3 against Ten Arches ‘B’, they and their ‘A’ team both on 30 points, four less than Ten Arches ‘A’.
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It’s as you were at the top of the Tamworth League as all of the top five teams registered wins. Old Liberal, with 39 points are top, Belgrave Club second with 37. Dolphin ‘A’ and Fox and Dogs in turn have 35 and 34 points, but both teams have a game in hand on the top two.
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Riley’s ‘C’ won the division one Riley’s Cup in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League beating Victoria in the final. The division two title went to Wednesfield Legion ‘A’, with Wednesfield Conservative Club runners up. Wednesfield Conservative Club had some consolation as they won the Knockout Cup beating Dog and Partridge in the final.
Otter and Vixen won the division one Knockout Cup, their final opponents were Riley’s ‘C’.
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