It was not a good weekend for local counties Warwickshire and West Midlands in the BDO Inter County Championships as Warwickshire in their away game against current premier division leaders Lancashire returned with a 25-11 defeat which saw them drop two places in the table to sixth.
It was the first time this season that all four teams had lost in a fixture and indeed something that hasn’t happened since their 26-10 defeat away to Essex in April 2011.
Both ladies teams went down 4-2 with Angela Jones (17.91) and Nina Bolt (17.76) taking the respective ‘A’ and ‘B’ match awards.
The men’s ‘A’ lost 8-4 with Nigel Heydon (31.75) their top player, Matthew Edgar (29.03) getting the same accolade for the men’s ‘B’.
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In division two of the BDO Inter Counties Championships West Midlands also played away and again they took on their divisional leaders in the form of Derbyshire and for the third consecutive fixture they lost, this time 21-15.
There were defeats for both of the men’s teams the ‘A’ side losing 7-5, while the ‘B’ lost 8-4, in turn match awards going to Sean Carrol (28.22) and Mark Craddock (30.58).
The ladies faired a little better as both teams finished all square at 3-3, for the fourth game in a row Lisa Astbury (22.84) winning the ‘A’ teams award and for the ‘B’ side it was Samantha Maiden (19.27).
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In division one of the Four Oaks and District League reigning champions Sutton Sports bounced back from their previous week’s defeat with a convincing 7-2 win away to Red Lion, while the current divisional leaders Beehive, after going 4-0 up at home to bottom placed Golden Hind Arrows finally had a very close 5-4 win to keep them four points ahead of Sutton in second place.
Old Oscott Arrows inflicted a 9-0 loss on Brookvale Social to stay third on the table, winning all nine games without dropping a single leg.
In division two Golden Hind remain in pole position after beating Plough and Arrows 8-1 and stay two points to the good on Boldmere Sports who had a close 5-4 win at Erdington Stars
There was a top of the table clash in division three with second placed The Fox hosting leaders Anvil Nomads, the outcome was a 6-3 win for The Fox to take them top of the table level on points with their visitors but with a slightly superior average.
On the personal front M.Wild (Sutton Sports) and M.Bruin (Pint Pot Flights) recorded their first maximum of the season while A.Mountford (Old Oscott Arrows) chalked up his second.
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There were wins for the top five teams in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League this week, Rose and Crown, in sixth place lost heavily at home by 6-1 to leaders Ten Arches ‘A’, who remain four points ahead of second placed Ashwood ‘A’ who had 5-2 win at Ten Arches ‘B’.
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It was cup week in the Forest of Arden Winter League in the Presidents Cup second division side Highwood KB had a 5-4 win over their division one opponents Riley’s Red Arrows. Other winners were Highwood ‘C’, Olton Crown and Greville Arrows.
Going into the next round in the Consolation Cup are Highwood ‘A’, Highwood Exiles, Journeys End and Iron Horse.
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After the opening two games in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League’s new season reigning champions Blue Brick ‘C’ who are this season playing as Dudley Sports ‘C’ once again lead the field. An 8-1 win over Dudley Sports ‘A’ followed by a 7-2 win over Dudley Sports ‘B’, last season’s runner up, putting them top of the table on average from Roebuck, Rose and Crown (Brierley Hill), Blue Brick, High Acres and Bridge ‘B’ who have all won their first two games.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League have got their 2015 season underway and after the opening game two teams The Bell and The Bridge share the number one spot after winning 7-2 in turn against Dudley Sports ‘A’ and Mitre. Other teams to win their first game were Netherton Cricket Club, Brickmakers, Pensnett Welfare Club and Miners (Wollescote).
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With the league leaders Gulp having a free week in the Small Heath League this week it was a chance for the chasing teams to catch up and one of those team’s Mitre did their title hopes a power of good when they beat their visitors Warwick Arms 7-2 to put them on the same 14 points as Gulp and trail by just one leg of average.
Third in the table Wagon and Horses lost ground as in their game at Emerald Club they went down 6-3 to leave them two points off the leading duo as are Sheldon Marlborough Flights who won their away fixture against bottom of the table Clock Inn 7-2.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League fixtures brought together the top teams this week, leaders Springfield Social Club taking on and beating Bulls Head 7-2 who drop from third to fifth in the table. Second placed Netherton Sports and Social Club lost 6-3 at Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club, both team now on 27 points with just one leg of average giving Netherton second place, both trail Springfield by nine points.
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The top two teams in division one of the Pip Club League played each other this week leaders Birchmoor Club the home team against Wilnecote Club. The result was a 5-3 win for Birchmoor to open up a three points lead between them Wilnecote and Bulls Head ‘A’ (Polesworth) who could only manage a 4-4 draw away to Bulls Head (Two Gates).
Division two leaders J W Belgrave had a clear cut 14-2 win at Globe ‘B’ to send their hosts to the foot of the table. Globe ‘B’ replace Bulls Head ‘B’ (Polesworth) whose 9-7 home win over Royal Oak was only their second win in eleven games.
Pip Club and Sports Bar ‘180’ both lost ground in the title race as they were both held to an 8-8 draw. Second in the table Sports Bar ‘180’ were held at home by Globe ‘A’ and are now five points off the leaders, while Pip Club had an away game with Gate (Amington) and with 14 points are six adrift of J W Belgrave.
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After winning all 22 of their fixtures last season in the Tamworth League, Fox and Dogs are once again proving to be unbeatable as they made it nine straight wins in the latest round of fixtures with a 5-2 home win over Sports Bar to give them a three points advantage over their nearest rivals Dolphin ‘A’ who won their home tie with Three Tuns ‘A’ (Fazeley) 6-1.
In the Players League Martin Edwards (Fox and Dogs), like his team made it nine wins in as many games when he beat Rob Taft from the Sports Bar.
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Congratulations to Toby Jug who for the first time in eight games have actually won in division one of the South Birmingham League. Playing away to The Raven, who are next to bottom of the table Toby Jug won 5-4 to join their hosts on the same two points but remain in the bottom spot with an inferior average.
Division one leaders Crown-Forget-Me-Not played at home against Crown at Shard End, their nearest rivals and won the tie 6-3 making six wins in as many games to give them a two point’s lead over Crown at Shard End, Mackadown Social and Punchbowl. In addition Forget-Me-Not have two games in hand on Shard End and have played the same number as Mackadown and one in hand on Punchbowl.
In the second division Coleshill Social took their winning run to nine games with a 6-3 over The Dog. Second placed The Trident won 5-4 at The Gate and despite having a game in hand on Coleshill are four points behind them.
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At the halfway point of the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League’s season leaders Ashwood had a bye and second in the table Ten Arches took full advantage to reduce the arrears with a 5-4 win at Britannia, the win leaving Ten Arches four points off the top and seeing Britannia drop from second to third in the table a further two points behind on 30.
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A 6-3 win at The Bell has confirmed The Crown as champions of the Rowley Monday Night League. With two more fixtures to play they are six points ahead of second placed Springfield Social Club and cannot be caught. Springfield are also definite runners up as third in the table Ex Serviceman’s Club are a further eight points behind them.
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