Warwickshire’s latest fixture in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships was an away game against Cornwall and the 20-16 reversal made it two defeats in as many games a result that has seen them drop one place to next to bottom of the table with 28 points just two more than Cambridgeshire who are bottom of the table.
The ladies ‘B’ after an opening 6-0 loss against Yorkshire had a more satisfying 3-3 draw thanks to a 3-0 win in the final game by lady of the match Kerry Bambridge (20.31) who beat Jacqui Champion, the other two winners were Melanie Hill and Kat Spanswick.
The men’s ‘B’ side went down 8-4 and like the ladies ‘B’ game the award winner came in the final game Carl Green beating Mark Palmer 4-1 with a 28.56 average.
Sunday’s ladies ‘A’ game was a case of only Gulliver’s travel well as Trina and Sue Gulliver were the only winners in a 4-2 defeat, Trina taking the match award with a 24.64 average. The men’s ‘A’ provided the only highlight of the weekend as they beat their counterparts 7-5 Jamie Hughes for the second consecutive game taking the match award beating his opening 30.11 average with a 31.59.
Warwickshire have brought forward their fixture with Cheshire by two weeks and will be playing against them at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road, Coventry this coming weekend, it’s a game that they very much need to win to lift them away from the foot of the table and indeed it is one they can win as their visitors are just two places and only six points above them.
Selected to play are Men’s ‘A’:- Bob Nixon, Dean Stewart, Richard Foster, Jamie Atkins, Jamie Hughes, Mark Carter, Mark Strong, Mark Westgarth, Noel Grant, Rob Hawker, Tom Aldridge, William Naylor, Men’s ‘B’:- Antony Allen, Carl Green, Chris Gallagher, Matt Edgar, Prakash Jiwa, Paul Deslandes, Simon Power, Tom Martin, Tom McGlone, Luke Kennedy, Ian Shaw, Dan Green, Reserves:- Tom Ryan, Andy Mountford, Peter Hughes, Ted Evetts, Women’s ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Gulliver, Donna Pinch, Wendy Adams, Natalie Gilbert, Denise Keyte, Women’s ‘B’:- Lisa Whitmore, Angela Jones, Marian Conway, Kerry Bambridge, Melanie Hill, Kat Spanswick, Reserves:- Nina Bolt, Lucy Keyte, Kirsty Haw, Sue Sandher.
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In division two of the BDO Inter County Championships West Midlands followed up their 20-16 away win over Staffordshire with a 23-13 home win against Somerset to put them top of the promotion table with 49 points a lead of four on second placed London.
With three wins and a draw overall it was a good weekend, the ladies ‘B’ finished all square at 3-3 with Sophie Singh (22.84) their top player while for the ‘A’ side it was Lisa Astbury with a 21.47 average in their 4-2 win.
Both the men’s teams recorded 8-4 wins Shaun Carroll (28.69) taking the ‘A’ teams award for the second time in the opening two games and for the ‘B’ team it was Matt Tedstone with a 21.47 average.
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Week three in the Sheldon and District Winter League and in the premier division both of the top two teams Castle Vale Residents and Saltley Amateur Gardeners lost, Castle Vale went down 6-3 at Sheldon Dukes and drop two places in the table to third while Saltley lost 7-2 at Crown at Olton who take over in pole position with four points from two games. Second placed Crown at Shard End are also on four points from two games after their 7-2 win at The Pavillions. Castle Vale Residents, The Lyndon, Sheldon Dukes and Saltley Amateur Gardeners are also on four points but they have all played three games.
In division one Sheldon Marlborough Flights lost their number one spot in a big way as they lost 8-1 at Solihull Moors and slide down the table to fifth, Highwood KB’s drop two places to fourth after a 6-3 defeat away to Iron Horse. Willclare Sports and Social’s 6-3 win at Yardley Ex Colts takes them into the number one spot with a perfect six points from their opening three games but Iron Horse and Holy Souls are hot on their heels both of them with 100% wins from the two games they have played.
All four games in division two finished with a 6-3 scoreline Crown Arrows maintaining their unbeaten three match run with a home win over Maggies who drop one place to third in the table behind Ridgemere Social Flights who made it two wins from two games with their win against Emerald Flights.
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East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association made it ten wins in as many games in the Small Heath League when they beat Moseley All Service 8-1 the same scoreline by which second placed Mitre defeated Emerald Flights to keep within two points of EBAHA. The biggest winners of the week were Wagon and Horses who accounted for their hosts Clock Inn handing them a 9-0 whitewash.
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Spring Meadow suffered a setback to their title aspirations in the Halesowen Monday Night Ladies League when they lost 4-3 at Haden Cross who are fourth in the table and some ten points behind them. Despite the defeat Spring Meadow remain in pole position with 30 points but now only on average from White Horse (Quarry Bank) who had a bye this week and as a result have a game in hand on their title rivals.
In the Captain’s Cup second place Black Horse fell four points behind leaders Spring Meadow as they surprisingly lost to bottom of the table Townsend.
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With the league fixtures all completed it was cup week in the South Birmingham League and first was the Captain’s Cup which was won by C.Winters who beat L.Barberan 2-1 in the final. The Secretary’s Cup went to D.Young who had a 2-0 win over D.Mortiboys to clinch the title, and the winners of the mixed doubles knockout were S.Kingdon and M.Noonan, a 2-1 result over L.Barberan and C.Kingdon giving them the title.
South Birmingham League – C.Winters – Winner of the Captain’s Cup (Left) and Sue Kingdon
South Birmingham League – D.Young – Winner of the Secretary’s Cup (Right) and Sue Kingdon
South Birmingham League -S.Kingdon (Left) and M.Noona – Winners of the Mixed DOubles
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The Forest of Arden Summer League staged the finals of their men’s and women’s doubles and winning the men’s event with a final 2-0 scoreline were Simon Edwards and Luis Barberan with Jason Jennings and Andy Howell runners up.
The ladies title went to the mother and daughter pairing Sue and Charlie Kingdon who had a 2-0 win in the final against N.Harris and D.Derbyshire.
Forest of Arden Summer League Men’s Doubles – Trevor Edwards (Treasurer), Luis Barberan and Simon Edwards (Winners) Sue Kingdon
Forest of Arden Summer League Women’s Doubles – Trevor Edwards (Treasurer), Charlie Kingdon and Sue Kingdon (Winners)
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The Four Oaks and District League got their new season underway with the preliminary round of their Coronation Shield which produced no fewer than seven 180’s a 171 and a 170 game shot. Nail biting stuff for Erdington Arrows and heartbreak for Pint Pot Flights who after leading 7-5 and needing one more leg to win were denied by Erdington Arrows who took the last game 3-0.
J.Miller hit a 171 for newcomers The Lions but P.Robbins and N.Robbins both recorded maximums for Plough and Arrows guiding them to a 10-5 victory. Golden Hind beat Boldmere Tap 14-1 with T.Kelly hitting a maximum and checking out on 170 for the Hind.
League champions The Beehive had a comfortable 13-2 win over Bishop Vesey despite a 180 from Bishop’s M.Archer. Old Oscott WMC. took the match 12-3 at Boldmere Sports and Social with 180’s coming from C.Hawkley (Old Oscott WMC) and J.Frost for Boldmere Sports and Social. Another new team The Park lost 13-2 to Old Oscott Arrows whose M.Compton chalked up the seventh 180 of the night.
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Round one of the League and Consolation Cups were the order of the day for the Camp Hill League and in the former league leaders HMS Lions beat Holy Gulp. In the Consolation Cup next to bottom of the league Wagon and Horses won against Lady Westminster who are one place and two points above them in the table.
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No change at the top of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as the top two teams Dewdrop and Old Hop Pole both won 6-1 against respective opponents Tipton Sports and Sportsman. However it was not such a good week for third in the table The Vine who lost their home tie with fifth placed New Talbot 4-3 to leave them a massive 16 points behind the leading duo.
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The Harborne League have begun their new season and the early pacesetters are Abbey who had a convincing 8-1 home win over Avenue Flights. Close behind Abbey are Hillyfields ‘A’, Court Oak and Avenue Flights who in turn had 7-2 wins against Smethwick Labour Club, Bartley Green and Sportsman. Amber Tavern were also winners they beat Hillyfields ‘B’ 6-3.
Ade Harvey (Hillyfields ‘A’) and Richard Hosey (Court Oak) both hit a maximum in the opening games.
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Kingstanding Ex Serviceman’s Club reigning champions in the Aston League have begun the new campaign with two wins, 6-3 against Red Lion followed up by a 7-2 success over Safe Harbour but despite their two victories they are third in the table, Sportsmans Rest and Erdingotn Club lead the way both having the same four points as Kingstanding but with a slightly better average, Sportsman’s kicked off their season with an 8-1 win at Aston Flights and then beat Old Oscott WMC 6-3 while Erdington had a 6-3 opener against Safe Harbour and then an 8-1 win over Aston Flights.
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In their most recent fixture in the Kings Norton League Court Oak made it a round dozen wins and extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points when they beat their nearest rivals Hillyfields 6-1. Hillyfields hold on to second place but they are now joined on the same 16 points by Kings Norton RBL, Rubery RBL and Stirchley United.
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The majority of teams in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League now have only seven fixtures remaining but the title looks to be a battle between Dudley Sports ‘C’ and Bridge ‘B’, Dudley Sports ‘C’ made it 30 wins in 33 games when they beat fourth placed Rose and Crown (Brierley Hill) 5-4 and at the same time doubled their lead over Bridge ‘B’ to four points as their rivals lost their local derby game with their ‘A’ team 6-3.
After the leading pair comes High Acres who are six points adrift and have played one game more than the two teams above them.
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Week two in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and only seven of the twenty two teams are undefeated, a 9-0 win at The Fox (Lye) has put Bird ‘A’ (Stourbridge) top of the table but by only one leg of average over Queens who won their home tie with Crestwood 8-1, the other teams with two wins in the first two games are Ashwood, Brickmakers Arms, Ten Arches ‘A’, Britannia and Kingswinford Conservative Club.
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The Pip Club League completed their division two fixtures and winning the division with an advantage of twelve points over runners up Pip Club were J W Belgrave who completed their programme with a 10-6 win at Royal Oak, while Pip Club won 13-3 at Globe Inn ‘A’.
In the league’s Division One Round Robin league, despite losing their final game against Bulls Head ‘A (Polesworth) the title went to Prince of Wales with their victors taking the runners up spot.
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With only one fixture remaining in the Cradley Tuesday Night League the title could go to either Crown ‘A’ or Brickmakers Arms as both teams are locked together on 52 points the former having the far superior average. The latest round of fixtures saw Crown ‘A’ win 6-3 against Members Club ‘A’ but the result of the Brickmakers game away to Netherton Sports and Social was a late result, a win could take them for the time being at least to the top of the table
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At the halfway stage of the Netherton Thursday Night League Rose and Crown and White Swan are both on 24 points from nine games with Bulls Head third having 21 points from eight games, then comes a gap to fourth place where Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club have 15 points as have Fairfield who have played one game less than the Ex Serviceman’s Club.
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It’s as you were at the top of the first division in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League as leaders Wednesfield FC won 6-1 away to Cabin to keep their two points advantage over second in the table ECC who won 4-3 in their home tie with Riley’s D’.
Pheasant lost the number one spot and fell two points behind new leaders Whitmore Reans WMC in division two after losing 4-3 away to sixth placed Old Stags Head.
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With just two fixtures remaining in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League Riley’s ‘A’ have wrapped up the title despite losing 5-2 against their local rivals Riley’s B’ who are third in the table ten points behind their ‘A’ team. Otter and Vixen will take the runners up spot after handing out a 7-0 whitewash to their visitors Brewood British Legion giving them a total of 50 points, four less than Riley’s ‘A’ but Riley’s ‘A’ have a massively superior average in addition to their four points lead.
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