This coming weekend Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will go into the last third of their season in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships when they take on Glamorgan at home at the Hen Lane and District Social Club, Holbrooks, Coventry, CV6 4DS where they will be hoping to make it five consecutive wins. This will be their seventh of a scheduled nine fixtures and will be a tough one as their opponents are just below them and only ten points behind them.
Currently Warwickshire are placed third in the table with 129 points and only three behind second placed Lancashire but their rivals have on paper what appears to be an easy fixture as they will play away against bottom of the table Northamptonshire.
Lining up for Warwickshire will be Men’s ‘A’:- Antony Allen, Dave Honey, Prakash Jiwa, Steve Hine, Jamie Atkins, Kevin Dowling, Nigel Heydon, Noel Grant, Ian McFarlane, Steve Giddings, Rob Hawker, Tom Aldridge, Men’s ‘B’:- James Hykin, Carl Green, Mark Carter, Gareth Braham, Jack Wareing, Robert Comben, Mark Strong, Matty Washbrooke, Karl Reynolds, Simon Fairbrother, Ashley Hurrell, Wayne Mynard, Reserves:- Tom McGlone, Tom Martin, Dave Atkins, Dean Stewart, Jamie Hughes, Charlie Symons, Ashley Hykin, Dave Hill, Women’s ‘A’:- Natalie Gilbert, Angela Jones, Tammy Montgomery, Donna Pinch, Sue Gulliver, Nina Bolt, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Rosie O’Connor, Helen Rigg, Marian Conway, Caroline Pike, Melanie Jones, Reserves:- Denise Keyte, Courtney Hine, Lucy Keyte, Chloe McKivett, Kat Spanswick.
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Division one of the BDO Inter County Championships will this weekend bring together the top and bottom teams of the division as leaders West Midlands will travel to take on bottom placed Sussex at the Slicks Sports and Bars, 32-34 Marine Parade, Worthing, BN11 3QA.
With a massive 49 points separating the two teams it would be expected that West Midlands would return with a convincing win to make it six wins in their seven games played and with their final two games against third placed London at home and then a final encounter against second in the table Cheshire away, a big win in this game is vital to put as much distance between those two last opponents as possible.
Selected to play are Men’s ‘A’:- Gavin Baker, Scott Baker, Michael Baker, Trevor Brennan, Shaun Carrol, Matthew Coleman, Justin Evans, Gareth Johnson, Ian Jones, Stephen Jones, Glen McGrandle, Paul Wells, Men’s ‘B’:- Danny Coyle, Tom Bissell, Mark Craddock, Adam Edgar, Scott Hall, Matthew Moore, Neil Pointon, Shane Price, Dave Redding, Jamie Rollinson, Mark Rollinson, Gaz Watts, Reserves:- Martin Greenwood, Kevin Harris, Kirk Harrison, Ben Hollowood, Women’s ‘A’:- Cheryl Alcock, Gemma Barrett, Shannon Hall, Kath Jenkins, Jacqueline Maiden, Kat McLean, Women’s ‘B’:- Lynne Reynolds, Sarah Roberts, Shellbie Simmons, Stella Sims, Sophie Singh, Heather Wright, Reserves:- Debbie Davies, Kelly Doleman, Claire Hobbs.
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Week two of the Shirley and District Monday Night League and there is a new leader of division one Tippetts Bar whose 5-4 win at Red Lion sees them replace their opponents in pole position while their hosts drop to fifth place in the table.
Dunky’s Boys and Wharf are the only other two undefeated teams in the division, Dunky’s with two maximums from Andy Hutchings had a 5-4 win over Cider House to leave them just two legs of average short of Tippetts while this week third placed Wharf had a bye and now have a game in hand.
Howells Angels hold on to the number one spot in division two but after a 6-3 home win over The Highwood they now have to share the top position with Wythall Legion who drew level on points and average with them after their 7-2 success at Solihull Municipal.
Saracens Swords and HSDT have also won both of their opening fixtures, Swords latest win being 6-3 at Saracens Slingers, HSDT having a 7-2 win over Sharmans Cross.
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Boldmere St Mikes are closing in on the first division title in the Four Oaks and District Winter League, a 6-3 win away to bottom of the division Bishop Vesey taking their unbeaten run to eleven games and giving them a total of 22 points, a lead of four over both The Boat and Golden Hind with just three more games to play.
Boat had a 7-2 win over Erdington Arrows while Golden Hind won 6-3 at Walmley CSC Arrows.
Red Lion require just two more points to become second division champions, their latest 6-3 win over Drakes Drum giving them an undefeated 22 points and a six points advantage over Walmley CSC Flights and Oscott Sports who in turn won 5-4 at Rosey’s Chaps and 7-2 against Rosey Mac’s.
In division three, Oscott Social Club just held off Boldmere Tap to win 5-4 and have a two point lead over second in the division Rosey Mac’s Leopard who have two games in hand on the leaders.
J.Collins hit his first 180 for Red Lion while M.McFall hit his third for Boldmere St Mikes.
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The Small Heath Dart League are looking for new teams to join them in the forthcoming season, the AGM is on Sunday March 1st at the Emerald Club with a 10.45am start. The league plays on a Tuesday night and the format is seven 301 singles plus two 401 doubles games, any interested teams can contact Alan on 07914-716779 or alternatively turn up at the meeting…
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The Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League played their singles knockout down to the last 32 players and qualifying for the next round are M.Halliday, T.Simpson (Ten Arches ‘B’), J.Harper, K.Safe, P.Whittaker, S.Bills (Ten Arches ‘A’), S.Skidmore, J.Barrowman, S.G.Skidmore (Bird, Wordsley), M.Roberts, S.Roberts, N.Bradley (Wilson Hall), C.Pickett, M.Pritchard, C.Sparrow, G.Moreton (Swan ‘A’[), J.Green, R.Hipkiss (Fox Inn, Lye), J.Pickett, A.Vellender, C.Fox, C.Williams, S.Aitkens (Ashwood ‘B’), R.Purchase, M.Pye (Church Tavern ‘B’), M.Davies (Gate), A.Smith (Wombourne Cricket Club), G.Peters (Bell), K.Aspinall (Caves), N.Langford (King Arthur), K.Bambrick, N.Cooper (Brickmakers Arms).
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With only two more fixtures remaining in the Camp Hill Marston’s League just two points separate the top three teams. A 4-3 win over Sheldon Marlborough Flights sees Emerald Club hold on to the top spot with 28 points while both Nomads and Tyseley WMC are on 26 points after second in the league Nomads beat Roost Rebels 6-1 and third placed Tyseley handed bottom of the table Peaky Blinder a 7-0 whitewash.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League had cup quarter-finals this week the first of which was the Punchbowl in which there were wins for Highwood Gerry’s Boys, Dunky’s Boys, Langley Arrows and North Star.
Making their way into the last four of the Sheldon Shield were Sheldon Dukes, Raven Arrows, The Raven and Inn on the Green.
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The Henley Winter League have been engaged in four knockouts and making the final of the Ladies Singles were Pam Jones and Mandy Morgan while the Captains and Secretaries final will be fought out between Eric Wadlow & Dave Tabbener and Dave Amour & Paul Dawson. The Mixed Doubles will see Dave Amour & Pam Jones take on Jason Smith and Jenny Bight.
In addition on finals night on the 6th April the semi-finals and finals of the Singles and Doubles Knockouts will be played off with Paul Bright, Keith Wing and Sean O’Hare contesting the singles title and in the doubles it will be Colin Freeman & Nick Mason, Sean O’Hare & Steve Taylor, Matt Salmon & Clive Sewell and Eric Wadlow & Dave Tabbener.
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There were 7-2 wins for the top two teams in the Rowley Monday Night League as leaders Bell won at Spring Meadow and second placed George who only trail Bell on average, beat Tividale FC.
There was a welcome back to winning ways for this season’s newcomers Beech Tree as they won 5-4 away to Ex Serviceman’s the win seeing them move up one place in the table to fifth just two points short of third and fourth placed Cradley Sports and Social Club and Fairfield and only four behind the leading duo.
At the other end of the table there were first wins in six for both Ivy Bush and Hare and Hounds both winning 5-4, the former at Wonder and latter at Cottage.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League got their new season off the mark swelling their numbers this season with an additional three teams and setting the early pace with an 8-1 win at Netherton Sports and Social Club is reigning champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club. Not far behind the leaders with a 7-2 win comes Bulls Head who played away at Netherton Conservative Club.
Brickmakers Arms, Fairfield and Townsend Social Club were all 5-4 winners in turn beating Long Hop Taphouse, White Horse and Spring Meadow.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League have added a new event in their itinerary a 9 A-Side knockout and in the preliminary round Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ beat Bell 7-2 and British Oak defeated Dudley Sports 5-1.
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Close 4-3 wins for the top two teams in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as Dewdrop ‘A’ beat Hayes Social, who are next to bottom of the table and Tipton Sports beat middle of the table Waggon and Horses to keep them joint top with Dewdrop ‘A’.
Third in the league The Vine were the week’s biggest winners handing out a 7-0 thrashing to Ivy Bush who are just two places off the foot of the table, the win leaving Vine just two points behind the leading pair.
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Brickmakers Arms appear to be unstoppable in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League as with a 7-2 home win over Bird (Wordsley) they made it a fantastic 26 consecutive wins giving them a huge twelve points lead over their nearest challengers Britannia who added a 6-3 home win over Hop House to their tally, Hop House dropping two places top sixth in the table. With 52 points Brickmakers now only need three wins from the final eight games to secure the title.
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League played the first leg of their League Cup which produced two 8-1 wins in two local derbies in which Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ and Wheatsheaf ‘A’ defeated their own ‘B’ teams.
Other results saw Plough win 6-3 at Dudley Labour Club and Brickmakers Arms beat Bulls Head 5-4.
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Rose and Crown suffered their first defeat in five in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League going down 5-4 at home to Limes Club who are seventh in the league. Rose and Crown drop one place to third two points adrift of the two teams above them leaders High Oak and second placed Mount Pleasant, High Oak winning 6-3 against Dudley Sports ‘B’ and Mount Pleasant having an 8-1 home success over Crestwood.
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There was an upset in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League for Old Bulls Head as they lost 5-4 at home to tenth in the league Pensnett Liberal Club, and as a result are replaced at the top of the table by Lamp Tavern who won 6-3 at New Inn to give them a two points advantage over the former leaders who are now placed second.
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Despite home advantage ECC Sports and Social Club had a tough fixture in week 21 of the West Midlands Men’s Super League as they took on league leaders Allen’s Sports Bar ‘A’ although the final result of 4-1 to Allen’s could easily have been much closer as in the opening two games both home players M.Baker and M.Hampson took their respective opponents D.Nicholls and N.Fullwell to a very close 4-3 result.
Allen’s Sports Bar ‘C’ did their ‘A’ team a power of good by beating Yeltz Bar ‘A’ 3-2 as Yeltz drop one place to third behind Railway Tavern whose 3-2 win at Pensnett Welfare has put them within eight points of the leaders.
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The Pip Club League had cup games on their fixture list and in the division one semi-finals of the Belgrave Cup there were wins for Queens Head ‘180’ and Belgrave Sports and Social Club who in turn took out Dolphin Wanderers and Belgrave Club.
The division two games produced wins for Progressive Club and Pip Club at the expense of Kettlebrook Club and The Longwood.
The division one final of the Belgrave Shadow Cup saw Globe (Wilnecote) defeat Birchmoor Club while the division two title went to Aldergate Club with Dolphin runners-up.
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