This coming weekend will bring the curtain down on the BDO Inter County Championships season and Warwickshire will play their final premier division fixture at home at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road Coventry, CV1 4LF against bottom of the table Kent.
With a gap of 34 points between themselves and third placed Essex, Warwickshire will not be able to emulate last season’s third place finish but with what should be a big win this weekend they will finish in a very creditable mid to top half of the table.
Selected to play in the last game are, Men’s ‘A’:- Bob Nixon, Dean Stewart, Richard Foster, Jamie Atkins, Jamie Hughes, Nigel Heydon, Mark Strong, Mark Westgarth, Noel Grant, Rob Hawker, Tom Aldridge, William Naylor, Men’s ‘B’:- Antony Allen, Carl Green, Dave Harris, Jimmy Hill, Red Evetts, Matt Edgar, Michael Spencer, Paul Deslandes, Prakash Jiwa, Simon Power, Steve Ward, Tom McGlone, , Reserves:- Dan Green, Dane Vickers, Dave Atkins, Kevin Dowling, Mark Archer, Mark Carter, Steve Hine, Women’s ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Angela Jones, Denise Keyte, Melanie Hill, Sue Gulliver, Wendy Adams, Women’s ‘B’:- Lisa Whitmore, Lucy Keyte, Kat Spanswick, Kerry Bambridge, Kirsty Haw, Nina Bolt, Reserves:- Donna Pinch, Caroline Pike, Marian Conway, Sue Sandher.
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In division two of the BDO Inter County Championships West Midlands will travel to the capital to take on high riding and second in the promotional table London who are 14 points ahead of West Midlands who are in fifth place, so promotion for West Midlands is not actually impossible but very improbable as they would have to chalk up a big win over London plus Sussex and Berkshire would have to lose.
Playing the final game of the campaign are, Men’s ‘A’:- Avtar Singh, Chris Mason, Danny Coyle, Paul Price, Ian Jones, John Platt, Keith Allman, Mark Craddock, Mark Rollinson, Micky Baker, Richard Platt, Shaun Carroll, Men’s ‘B’:- Ashe Kyhatt, Chris Stanley, Gary Watts, Glen Cullen, Gavin Baker, Karl Hughes, Jamie Barrowman, Matthew Dicken, Mark Watkiss, Rob Smith, Rob Thompson, Sam Guest, Reserves:- Chris Read, Martin Angell, John Mycock, John Morris, Simon Meredith, Women’s ‘A’:- Kim Fellows, Lisa Astbury, Debbie Loon, Kath Jenkins, Gemma Barrett, Heather Wright, Women’s ‘B’:- Samantha Maiden, Jacqueline Maiden, Sophie Singh, Claire Hobbs, Wendy Waine, Sarah Roberts.
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So close was the premier division title in the Sheldon and District Winter League that The Lyndon actually won the title with the very last leg of the very last game of the season. Playing away to Langley Hall Sports and Social Arrows who are in the bottom four of the table, Lyndon won the tie 5-4 to give them 36 points two more than runners up Crown at Olton who won their home tie with George V 6-3 to finish with a far superior average than Lyndon, but it’s points that count.
The division one title could not have been any closer as a 6-3 win over Highwood KB’s gave Castle Vale Stadium the title with 30 points, the same number by which Banbury Club took the runners up prize after their similar 6-3 win against Marston Green Tavern.
In division two an 8-1 win at Ridgemere Social gave Crown-Forget-Me-Not 36 points and the title, the biggest battle was for the runners up spot which was won by Sheldon Marlborough Flights, their 6-3 win at Shirley RBL Misfits seeing them finish on the same 32 points as Maggies, who had a closer 5-4 win over Langley Hall Sports and Social Flights but Marlborough had the better average.
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The South Birmingham League have been engaged in various finals and taking the Captains Cup title was J.Buttle (The Trident) with S.Kingdon (St John’s) runner up. D.Clinton (St John’s) won the Secretary’s Cup with a close 3-2 verdict over B.Anderton (Poachers Pocket) in the final.
The final of the Roy Parry Cup was another close affair with Crown at Shard End just getting the 5-4 edge on St John’s, while the Roy Parry Consolation Cup final saw Coleshill Social beat Punchbowl 6-3.
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The Forest of Arden Summer League has got underway and the early leaders in division one are Riley’s Red Arrows, who apart from Highwood KB who are yet to play a game, are the only unbeaten team with two wins in the opening two games.
In the second division Crown Arrows have a perfect four points but are closely followed by Chelmsley Town and New Inns who have both played and won just one game.
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The Bully Boys have lost pole position in the Winmau Centre Monday Night League at the Wolverhampton Sports Arena after being held to a 24-24 draw by John’s Klan who are third in the table. Taking over the number one spot are The Untouchables who had a comfortable 40-8 win against Not So Far Travellers to give them 559 points which is seven more than Bully Boys.
Eddie Gripton, Wayne Horton and Ben Forrest all hit their first maximums of the season.
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Will Naylor has gone from fourth to top of the Kingstanding Double Top League with 26 points from 15 games, second placed Pat Koyce has captured some notable scalps in his recent games beating former leader Chris Packer 4-2 and inflicting a first loss on Barry Stephens when he won 4-1 to put him just one point behind Naylor with a game in hand.
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Apart from fifth placed Bird ‘A’ (Stourbridge) who had a bye this week in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League all of the other teams in the top eight won. Ashwood maintain their four points lead at the top over second placed Ten Arches who in turn are six points ahead of third in the table Britannia.
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Wins for the top three teams in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League, leaders Dudley Sports ‘C’ winning 6-3 at Tenth Lock while second placed Bridge ‘B’, who only trail behind the leaders on average reduced the gap slightly with an 8-1 win over Dog and Lamppost ‘A’.
Dudley Sports ‘A’ dropped down three places to seventh after their 5-4 defeat away to Liberal Club who are fifth from bottom of the table.
The league wish to pass on their condolences to the family of Jimmy Jay, a well known Pensnett and Brierley Hill league player who sadly passed away in the early hours of Monday 18th May.
Jimmy played his last Monday night league game on the 9th February for the Blue Brick at the grand old age of 84 he was a true gentleman who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
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With only a couple more fixtures to play Court Oak took their unbeaten run in the Kings Norton League to 20 games with a 4-3 home win over Stirchley United giving them a six points lead and a game in hand on second in the table Toby Jug ‘A’ who handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Kings Heath Cricket Club.
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Mick O’Neill’s latest games in the Winmau Centre Thursday Night Champions League have seen him beat Rob Pierce 6-1 and lose 4-3 to Kevin Harris, but despite the defeat O’Neill has taken over the number one spot with a total of 65 points from 12 games.
Dean Marshall and Kristen Bircher are both three points behind O’Neill and have also played the same number of games while fourth in the table Kevin Harris, who like Marshall and Bircher is also on 62 point’s but from only ten games.
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Pensnett Welfare Club lost ground in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League title race after surprisingly losing 5-4 away to seventh in the table The Bell, the two teams above them, Miners (Wollescote) who head the table (26 points) won 5-4 at Bulls Head (Netherton) and second placed Brickmakers Arms (24 points) won 6-3 at Dudley Sports ‘A’, Welfare are on 22 points as are Netherton Cricket Club.
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This coming Friday (29th May) a brand new league “The Winmau Super Star of Darts League” will be getting underway at the Winmau Darts Centre, Wolverhampton.
The league will be made up of sixteen teams, each team consisting of four players, games will be 301 start and finish on a double.
For an entry of just £3.00 per player there will be cash prizes paid out from first to last with all monies paid in being paid out.
There is still time to enter so don’t miss this great opportunity to play in yet another unique and winning formula by the Winmau Centre, register now at the Wolverhampton Sports Arena, Racecourse Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 0QU, or for further information give the arena a ring on 01902-420827, alternatively you can send an e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.wolverhamptonsportsarena.co.uk/reddragonsingles
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A final reminder that this coming Sunday 31st May Riley’s Snooker Bar, Solihull will be hosting the Forest of Arden / Riley’s Solihull Open. Entry to the knockout is just £5 and all players at whatever standard are welcome to enter. There will be a guaranteed £100 for the winner with registrations being accepted from 1.00pm to 1.45pm on the day with a 2.00pm start, for advanced entries contact Brian Twist on 07768-838384 or e-mail Brian at [email protected] alternatively call in at the Solihull club and speak to a member of staff.
Format for the main competition is best of five legs of 501 the semi finals will go to the best of seven and the final best of nine.
In addition to the above there will also be a First Round Losers Competition.
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Dewdrop continue to set the pace in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League their latest fixture seeing them win 6-1 away to fourth in the table Sportsman. Old Hop Pole who are second in the table six points behind the leaders with three games in hand won 5-2 at Tipton Sports and there was a win also for third placed The Vine who won 4-3 at home to Ivy Bush.
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League have played the early round of their Doubles Knockout and winning through to the quarter finals were J.Sharratt & R.Humphries (Crown ‘B’), N.Walters & I.Vincent (Gate Hangs Well), J.Lowe & L.Eaves, A.Ghaley & M.Tedstone (Crown ‘A’), R.Duncan & M.Greenwood (The Vine), A.Dimmock & T.Nock (Wheatsheaf), N.Cooper & J.Batham (Brickmakers Arms), S.Goodwin & A.Apati (Bulls Head).
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Some big scores in the Camp Hill League this week as Scruffy Ringers and Journeys End in turn beat Wagon and Lions 6-1 plus 5-2 wins for both Cotterills Lane Club and Holy Gulp against Devil’s Club and Horses.
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The Small Heath Completed their season with the final of their League Cup a contest between Wagon and Horses and Cobs Bar both sides looking to win some silverware after seeing the league title evade them
Wagon and Horses stormed into an unassailable 5-1 lead, Cobs Bar made the result a little more respectable 5-4 by winning the final three games.
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Court Oak slipped one place to third in the Harborne League following their 5-4 demise away to Hillyfields ‘A’ who top the table with 18 points but only on average from West Heath Snooker Club who had an impressive 8-1 home win over Weoley Castle WMC, Court Oak are two points adrift of the leading duo.
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The Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League have played their opening three fixtures and only newcomers to the league Gornal Conservative Club and Ashwood ‘A’ are able to boast a 100% win record, the former heading the table by just one leg of average.
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Just one fixture played in the Halesowen Monday Night Ladies League which was a battle of the bottom two teams Townsend and Hare and Hounds, the outcome was a 5-2 win for Townsend to lift them two points above The Widders who drop to next to bottom, Hare and Hounds remain at the foot of the table without a win in seven games. There was some joy however for Hare and Hounds as they did win the Captains Cup game.
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The Pip Club League staged the semi finals of their divisional cups and in division one there were wins for Bulls Head ‘A’ (Polesworth) and Two Gates Club in turn at the expense of Prince of Wales and Bulls Head (Two Gates).
In the division two games J W Belgrave and Royal Oak will meet each other in the final after defeating respective opponents Globe ‘A’ and Bulls Head ‘B’ (Polesworth).
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With wins for the top six teams in division one of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League there is no change in the table, while in division two Fordhouses CC lost 6-1 at Woodfield Social and drop one place to third, Whitmore Reans WMC take over second place on average as they have the same 16 points as Fordhouses, Bull, Old Stags Head and Roebuck.
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Winning through round two of the Mile Oak Challenge Cup in the Tamworth League are Fox and Dogs, Old Liberal House, Dolphin ‘A’ and Globe Inn
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Despite winning 5-2 in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League Village Inn have dropped one place in the table to fourth the reason being that Riley’s ‘B’ won 7-0 against Brewood British Legion and go above Village by one leg of average.
The top two teams Riley’s ‘A’ and Otter and Vixen both won and remain tied on the same 24 points with Riley’s just ahead on average.
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