Thomas Bent suffered a 3-1 defeat to Dave Heighway in his opening game of the penultimate week’s fixtures in the Shirley Premier League, however he then recovered to win by the same margin against Steve Harper to oust John Smyth and take over the number one spot once again with 84 points from 27 games. Smyth who has completed all of his 29 games dropped to second place on 81 points. Bent now looks set to add his name to the title in the final week’s fixtures as after Smyth he has a seven points lead over the rest of the field. For Bent to miss out on the title he would have to lose his remaining two games 4-0 and seventh in the table Ken Hopton, the only player would could possibly catch him would have to win his final three games 4-0 which would give him a total of 85 points.
A 2-2 draw with Antony Daly and a 3-1 win over Trevor Carter has seen Phil Thomas move up into third place, he has one fixture remaining and is on 77 points, in his game against Carter he recorded the highest finish of the season so far a fantastic 160 checkout.
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Bob Nixon with 3-0 wins over Melissa Beale, Pete Kingdon and Luke Beale has returned to the top of the C’s Club Double Top Wednesday Night League with 84 points from 31 games. Nixon takes over pole position from Simon Edwards who only played two games in which he registered 3-0 wins over Pete Kingdon and Charlie Kingdon to leave him two points short of Nixon with a game in hand. Nixon now has just one more fixture to play and Edwards two.
Sixth placed Adam Gallett could still mathematically take the runners up spot as he has 68 points with five remaining games which could take him to a possible 73 points, but realistically he will finish third.
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With the league all done and dusted members of the Shirley and District Monday Night League took part in a doubles knockout and taking the top prize were The Highwood’s Andy Foulkes and Jason Jennings who defeated Baz Williams and Tom McCabe from the Blue Bell in the final.
Losing semi-finalists were Dan Rycroft (Highwood) and Trevor Carter (Legionnaires) plus John Smyth and Sam Hicks from the Wharf.
John Smyth (The Wharf) hit the most 180’s which was two while the highest finish of 130 went to Tommy Roberts (Legion Flights). Shay Darby (The Highwood) with a 160 had the highest break.
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The Boat, leaders of division one in the Four Oaks and District Winter League lost their unbeaten record when they suffered a spectacular 7-2 defeat away to second placed Boldmere St Mikes and have had their lead reduced to two points over Boldmere and Old Oscott Arrows with just two more fixtures to play.
In division two second in the table St Thomas’s Social Club with a maximum from I.Matthews outscored Bishop Vesey but still crashed 6-3 to their visitors. Top team the Fox beat Drakes Drum 6-3 to become the second division champions.
Oscott Sports recovered from their recent loss at Rosey Mac’s to win 7-2 against St Thomas Arrows keeping them within two points of Rosey Mac’s who won 6-3 at The Digby to top the third division with only two more games to play.
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There is just one result from division one of the South Birmingham League and that was a 5-0 win awarded to Banbury Arrows for their opponents Punchbowl not turning up.
In the second division C’s Hot Shots moved up one place to second after beating leaders The Dog 7-2 to leave just two points between the two teams. In the other second division game The Trident won 7-2 at C’s Arrows.
C’s Flights strengthened their position at the top of the second division’s Mini League with a 15-12 win over Toby Jug who are second but now some ten points behind their opponents.
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With 4-3 wins in turn over second and third placed Chris Williams and Andy Vellender, Chris Fox heads the ECC Sports and Social Club’s Thursday Night Champions League with 111 points from 26 games although Williams with 107 points has two in hand on Fox and Vellender who is on 95 points has four games in hand on the leader.
During the course of the season players will square up to each other three times, all of them playing a total of 30 games. Still well in contention for the title is four times champion Mick Baker who is currently fourth in the table and although having just 93 points, 18 short of Fox, he has only played 19 games and his seven in hand could net him a possible 49 more points.
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East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association had a bye in week 22 of the Small Heath League and second in the league Heartlands Club took the opportunity to further reduce the deficit on the leaders by another two points as they accounted for their hosts Cob’s Bar by handing them a 9-0 whitewash. Heartlands are now within two points of E.B.A.H.A. but have played two games more than them.
At the other end of the table the two teams at the foot of the table played each other with bottom side Sheldon Marlborough Flights losing 5-4 at home to the team just above them Wagon and Horses who are now six points to the good on their opponents.
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A 5-2 win at Sedgemere Devil’s Club has seen Roost Rebels leaders of the Camp Hill League, open up a two point’s advantage over second in the table Tyseley WMC after their rivals suffered their first defeat in six, a 4-3 reversal away to fourth placed New Inn.
Third in the table Sheldon Marlborough Flights won their home tie with Emerald Club 5-4, leaving them four points off the top with a game in hand.
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An 8-0 home win for Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club over Railway has seen them go from second to top of the Silver End Sunday Morning League with a maximum nine points from their first three games. Former leaders Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ had a bye and as a result drop down to fourth place.
Woodside’s 5-3 win at home over Old Star has seen them move up one place to second and also maintain their unbeaten record. The only other 100%er’s besides Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ are Glasscutters ‘B’ who won 6-2 at Dudley Sports.
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Big wins for the top three teams in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League as leaders Brickmakers Arms won 7-2 at Hop House to stay six points ahead of Ten Arches ‘A’ in second place who gave their visitors Hare and Hounds ‘A’ a 9-0 whitewash. Third in the league Ten Arches ‘B’ are on the same 62 points as their ‘A’ team after an 8-1 success at Church Tavern.
Fourth in the table Britannia lost ground as they surprisingly finished on the wrong side of a 5-4 scoreline at home against The Swan who are fifteenth in the table.
Next to bottom of the table Kingswinford Conservative Club ‘B’ like bottom placed Hare and Hounds ‘A’ also lost 9-0, they went down at home to British Oak.
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A 9-0 home win over Ex Serviceman’s ‘B’ did The Bell’s title hopes no harm whatsoever in the Rowley Monday Night League, helping them on their way were Mark Watkiss with a 180 and Shane Price who registered a 9 darts game. The win takes Bell’s unbeaten run to seven games, second placed George also making it seven wins from as many games as they accounted for their hosts Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ with an 8-1 result, W.Humphries hitting a maximum for the Ex Serviceman’s and A.Johnson doing likewise for George, in addition for George, Matthew Tedstone had a 160 break.
Although Andy Powell hit a maximum and had a nine darts game for Cottage it was not enough to avoid a 5-4 defeat away to third in the table Ivy Bush.
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It was unlucky seven for Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League as they lost their home tie with joint fifth in the table Rose and Crown 5-4. The Swan have taken over the second place from Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ but only on average after their 7-2 win at Bull and Bladder.
High Oak remain in pole position and have now opened up a two points lead after winning 6-3 against King William, they are now the only team in the league to have won all seven of their opening games.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Bulls Head took their undefeated runs to three games in the Netherton Thursday Night League when in turn they won 7-2 against Fairfield and White Horse the Ex Serviceman’s topping the table with the better average. As a result of their defeat Fairfield lose their third place and drop to fifth with Riddins Tavern and Townsend Social Club moving above them, Riddins winning 6-3 at Netherton Conservative Club and joining them on six points Townsend after a 9-0 win at Saracens Head, both teams three behind the top two.
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Game number seven in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League saw a top of the table clash in which Miners Arms lost not only 4-3 to Tipton Sports but also the number one spot to their rivals. Miners go down to third place with The Vine moving up into second following their 5-2 away win over Wonder. All of the top three teams are on 12 points with new leaders Tipton Sports having a game in hand on Vine and Miners.
It was luck y seven for Horseley Tavern as they chalked up their first win in seven when they won 5-2 against Dewdrop ‘B’.
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It’s as you were at the top of the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League with leaders Old Bulls Head winning 7-2 at White Lion and second and third placed Gornal Labour Club and Five Ways in turn winning 6-3 against Jolly Crispin and Red Cow. Old Bulls Head with 34 points are two ahead of the Labour Club while Five Ways are a further four points adrift.
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From the twelve starters in the Cradley Tuesday Night League and as early as only the fourth game only one team, Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ are able to boast a 100% win record. The leader’s latest game saw them win 6-3 at home against The Plough keeping them three points, one win to the good on the own ‘A’ team and Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’. Brickmakers ‘A’ were 7-2 winners at Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’, while the Sports and Social ‘A’ side won 5-4 at Riddins Tavern.
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After a 5-2 win at Gornal British Legion, Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ have a slender two legs of average lead over Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ who won 4-3 against their ‘B’ team putting them three legs of average ahead of High Oak who had a 5-2 win over Ashwood, all three teams have won their first two games.
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It was cup finals week in the Pip Club League and in the semi-finals of their Open Cup Belgrave Sports and Social Club beat Old Liberal House and setting up a final between the league’s top two teams were Bombay Bob’s Boys who defeated Belgrave Club.
The final saw league leaders Bob’s Boys beat the Sports and Social Club who are second in the league table.
Bombay Bob’s Boys asked to have their win dedicated to their player Adam Wood’s father who recently suffered a stroke, the whole of the league wish him a speedy recovery.
The last four of the Memorial Cup saw wins for Birchmoor Club and Globe (Wilnecote) who in turn took out Sports Bar ‘180’ and Kettlebrook Club. A final win over Birchmoor saw Globe lift the silverware.
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Week 28 in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League was amazing insomuch as three of the top five teams lost. Leaders Ashwood ‘B’ had a comfortable 7-0 win at Holly Bush ‘A’ while second placed Swan had a much closer 4-3 win at Ashwood ‘A’ who are placed third. Fourth in the table Glasscutters lost 4-3 at Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ and fifth in the table Wombourne Cricket Club lost by the same 4-3 margin at home to Bell ‘B’.
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There were 5-2 wins for the top two teams in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League leaders Whitmore Reans WMC winning at Moreton to keep them two points ahead of Cleveland Arms who beat ECC ‘A’ at home.
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Riley’s ‘C’, Railway and Gilberts Bar are all on six points at the top of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League’s Singles Division. Riley’s and Railway had 6-1 wins in turn over Boat and Red Lion, Gilberts Bar won 5-2 at Riley’s ‘A’.
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Just a couple of rearranged fixtures played in the West Midlands Men’s Super League which saw 3-2 wins for Cradley Sports and Social and King Arthur over Allen’s Sports Bar ‘D’ and Cradley Sports and Social.
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