With both Warwickshire and West Midlands having lost their opening fixtures in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships there was added pressure on both teams to win when they squared up to each other at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road, Coventry.
Saturday’s ‘B’ games saw the West Midlands ladies win 4-2 with their newcomer Kat McLean (21.01) taking their match award. Marian Conway was Warwickshire’s top player with an 18.79 average. The men’s game saw the home side, Warwickshire romp to a 9-3 win with Tom Martin (25.52) their man of the match and for West Midlands it was Shane Price (28.44).
Sunday’s ‘A’ games saw the ladies finish all square at three each, Sue Gulliver (22.10) making it two match awards in two games for Warwickshire while Lisa Badger (17.41) was West Midlands top player.
The men’s ‘A’ match produced the highlight of the weekend with Warwickshire’s opener Ted Evetts taking the man of the match award for a second consecutive fixture, but the manner in which he took it was amazing as with winning legs of 13, 11, 16 and 14 darts he chalked up an incredible average of 37.27, the best BDO average of the weekend. The hosts then went on to win the game 8-4 to give them an overall 22-14 victory. Scott Baker took the West Midlands ‘A’ team award with his 30.78 average.
Ted Evetts
The win has taken Warwickshire up the table into fourth place with West Midlands still hovering just above the relegation zone two places off the foot of the table.
Ian McFarlane receiving his award for 50 appearances for Warwickshire from Brian Johnson
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With the Shirley Premier League season all done and dusted the league are staging knockouts until season twelve gets underway on the 8th November, the latest of which was an Open Knockout.
The quarter finals saw Steve Harper, Dave Heighway and John O’Sullivan all lose 3-0 while Chris Thomas jnr bowed out with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Mark Gwalchmai.
The semi-finals saw Phil Thomas beat Mark Gwalchmai 3-1 and Mark Henderson win 3-0 against Thomas Bent.
Phil Thomas continued his fine form in the final and went on to beat Mark Henderson 3-0.
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The South Birmingham Summer League had semi-finals on their fixture card first the Rose Bowl in which group ‘C’ winners Marlborough Villains beat group ‘B’ champions Iron Horse 8-1. The second of the semis saw group ‘A’ champions C’s Top Guns beat Coleshill Social from group ‘C’ 6-3.
In the Edna Meek Cup The Trident (group ‘B’) lost 8-1 to C’s Hot Shots ((group ‘A’) and C’s Flights (group ‘A’) beat local rivals C’s Arrows (group ‘B’) 5-4.
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Week two in the Forest of Arden Winter League and current leaders C’s Kings followed up their opening day 7-2 win over C’s Bullets with an 8-1 success over Crown at Shard End. On the same maximum four points as C’s Kings are Highwood Gerry’s Boys whose 7-2 win at C’s Exiles leaves them just one leg of average short of the leaders.
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Reigning champions of division one in the Four Oaks and District League Boldmere St Mikes suffered a 5-4 home defeat to Old Oscott Arrows, the match produced 31 tons and took Old Oscott Arrows to the top of the table with Boldmere second two points behind them.
After having a bye in week one last season’s runners up The Boat narrowly avoided the same fate as Boldmere as they just beating Golden Hind 5-4 in a game that contained 36 tons.
St Thomas’s Social Club lead the second division recording another strong performance in an 8-1 win at Drakes Drum while Bishop Vesey won 5-4 at The Oscott Social, taking the final game of the match 2-1 to put them second in the table.
Congratulations to league newcomers The Digby who earned their first points in division three when they won 6-3 in some style at St Thomas Arrows. An 8-1 win at The Towers has taken Oscott Sports to the top the division.
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Week five of the ECC Thursday Night Champions League and Robert Pierce continues to lead the field. Pierce kicked off the evening with a narrow 4-3 win over Liam Baker in which he recorded a 107 checkout and Baker hit a maximum, however despite hitting a 180 Pierce then lost by the same margin to his nearest rival and second in the table Jordan Ward. Prior to beating Pierce Ward had lost 5-2 to an in form Sam Aitkens who hit two maximums and recorded a tremendous 151 finish to leave Ward trailing Pierce by some seven points.
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The Small Heath League had their Knockout Cup on the agenda in which league leaders East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association were the biggest winners of the round as they accounted for Wagon and Horses with an 8-1 result. Sheldon Marlborough Arrows were not far behind E.B.A.H.A with their 7-2 success over Emerald Club and completing the round were Heartlands Club who won 6-3 against Cob’s Bar. Sheldon Marlborough Flights had a bye.
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The Highwood continued their unbeaten run in the Shirley and District Monday Night League with a 7-2 home win over sixth in the table Cider House. The Wharf remain second despite a second loss in as many weeks as they went down 5-4 at The Bears who hold on to third place, four points adrift of Highwood but now level on 22 points with The Wharf. Red Lion are fourth on 20 points after beating fifth placed The Lodge 6-3.
Finding the three treble twenties this week were Matt McCallion (Cider House), John Sidwell (Red Lion) and Mick Tilley (The Lodge).
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The C’s Club Double Top League are up to week two and taking over in pole position by virtue of the fact that he has played one game more than most of the other players is Jake Webster. Webster has won all five of his games, this week beating Adam Gallett, Brian Anderton and Lee Warburton 3-0 to give him a perfect total of 15 points. Hot on the heels of Webster are Rob Hawker and Bob Nixon, Hawker winning 3-0 against Ryan Beale and Jay Meigh while Nixon, also with 3-0 wins, defeated Chris Meigh and James Buttle, both players are on 12 points and like Webster haven’t dropped a leg so far.
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Leaders White Swan Nomads added another convincing 6-1 win to their tally in the Camp Hill League when they won playing away to Station Wagon taking their points to 26 from 14 games. Second in the league Sheldon Marlborough Flights had a closer 4-3 home win over next to bottom of the table North Star to remain six points behind Nomads with a game in hand as are third placed Tyseley WMC who had a bye this week.
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It was League Cup finals week in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League and in the semis there were mixed results for Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club as their ‘A’ team beat Bulls Head (Netherton) 5-2 and the ‘B’ side lost 5-4 to Delph Bell.
In the final Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ wrapped up the title with a clear cut 5-0 win over Delph Bell.
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Avenue Social made it seven wins in as many games in the Kings Norton League when they won 5-2 away to Cock Inn, however second in the table West Heath are on the same 14 points as Avenue after their close 4-3 home success over Coppice, but they have now played eight games. The defeat sees Coppice drop one place to fourth and be replaced in the third position by Rubery RBL whose 4-3 win against E57 leaves them just two points off the top.
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A 7-2 win away to third placed Wootton Bears maintained Studley Conservative Club’s two points lead at the top of the Henley and District League as second in the table Studley Cricket Club won their home tie with Railway 5-4 putting them six points ahead of Wootton Bears.
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Not a good week for the two Merry-Go-Round teams in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as in turn the ‘A’ and ‘B’ lost 5-2 to Hayes Social and Island Inn.
Top of the table Tipton Sports added a 5-2 win at Waggon and Horses to their account to give them 60 points and a lead of two over second placed Dewdrop ‘A’ who were 6-1 winners over new Talbot. Island Inn are third and trail Dewdrop ‘A’ on average only after their win at merry-Go-Round ‘B’.
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It was the finals of the doubles knockout in the Rowley Monday Night League and taking the title with an ultimate victory over Trev Brennan and Bobby Gillies were the Lodgers duo of Phil O’Brien and Ian Vincent.
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Congratulations go to Brickmakers Arms who beat Riddins Tavern 3-1 in the final of the Cradley Tuesday Night League 5 a-side knockout.
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Fairfield chalked up a 5-4 win over Riddins Tavern in the Netherton Thursday Night League which could ultimately decide where the title goes as the defeat leaves Riddins three points behind leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and having played one game more than the leaders who won their game against White Horse 7-2.
The Netherton Conservative Club’s young side added only their fifth win in 23 games but what a win, 8-1 against Bulls Head.
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The Pip Club League were engaged in their Open Cup and making the last eight were Belgrave Club, Belgrave Sports and Social Club, Progressive Club, Dolphin Wanderers, Pip Club, Old Liberal House, Queens Head and Dolphin.
The games were full of high scores, breaks and finishes with 180’s from Daz Jones, Gary Podmore (Belgrave Sports and Social Club), Andy Smith (Dolphin Wanderers), Paul Thompson (Old Liberal House) plus Matt Brindley and Sam Whittaker (Queens Head). Martin Edwards (Belgrave S & S) had a 160 break and Mark Tomlinson snr (Queens Head) a 155 checkout.
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The Tividale Monday Night League are looking for new teams to join them in their forthcoming season, pubs, clubs all are invited to join the league. Anyone interested in entering a team or requiring any further information should contact Mick Saunders on 07940-899877 or attend the AGM at Tipton Sports & Social Club on Sunday 4th November at 11.30am.
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As early as week five in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League and Coseley Tavern are the only team from the fourteen starters to have won all five games after they beat second in the table Gornal Labour Club 6-3.
After the top two teams come Old Bulls Head, Five Ways, Chain Yard and White Lion who are all on six points, four fewer than Coseley.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League played the first leg of the quarter finals of their League Cup and taking leads into the second leg are Ashwood who won 6-1 against Glasscutters and with 4-3 leads Brickmakers Arms ‘B’, Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ and Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ who in won against Miners (Wollescote), Netherton Cricket Club ‘B’ and Old Star.
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Week 20 in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League saw 9-0 wins for three of the top four teams. Leaders Brickmakers Arms won at home against The Swan, second in the table Ten Arches ‘A’ beat Garibaldi and fourth placed Britannia won against Kingswinford Conservative Club ‘B’. Third in the league Ten Arches ‘B’ had a much closer 5-4 win at Stourbridge RBL.
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Despite having a bye this week in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League ECC ‘A’ held on to third place with 36 points. Although fourth placed Cleveland Arms won 4-3 against league runners up Hurst Hill they finished behind ECC ‘A’ on average. Champions Whitmore Reans WMC finished the campaign with a 5-2 win over Bull.
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Yeltz Bar lost ground in the West Midlands Men’s Super League title race when they went down 3-2 to reigning champions Landywood. Leaders Allen’s Sports Bar ‘A’ beat Olde Queens Head 4-1 to open up a six points lead with a game in hand.
Horse and Jockey moved off the bottom with a 4-1 win at The Victoria to be replaced by Colebatch’s who lost 3-2 at King Arthur.
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The Punch Taverns finals in Blackpool saw the local Brickmakers Arms ‘E’ side reached the quarter finals and the ‘B’ and ‘D’ teams make their exit in the semi-finals.
The singles event was won by Shaun Carroll (Brickmakers Arms ‘E’)
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The Royal, Coseley staged their annual David Stanford Memorial Knockout and winning the title this year was Ashleigh Wilkinson who beat Rob Noakes in the final. Wilkinson beat Darren Sears in the semis while Noakes won against Stan Feltham.
Brenda Stanford (David’s Wife), Ash Wilkinson (Winner), Rob Noakes (Runner Up).
Already the event has raised in excess of £220 with an auction still to be arranged in which a Wolves shirt and a darts shirt are up for grabs. All of the final total will be donated to Compton Hospice.
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Gilberts Bar had their lead reduced at the top of division one of the doubles section of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League when they lost 2-1 to third in the division Railway, however they are still six points to the good on second placed Riley’s ‘C’.
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