With the domestic fixtures all completed and the league positions all sorted in the Four Oaks and District League, Boldmere St Mikes winning the division one title, Erdington Arrows runners-up, Heartlands finished top of division two with Bishop Vesey second, the league have been running down the season with the finals of their various cup games.
In the Coronation Shield final there was a promising 2-1 start from Old Oscott Arrows but sadly this was the only time they would lead the match as Boldmere St Mikes took the next three games for an unassailable 8-4 lead before going on to win the game 9-6 for a league and cup double. M.Ashton recorded the game’s only 180 for Boldmere St Mikes.
The final of the Norman Day Cup was a hard fought encounter with all five pair’s games going to the wire and finishing with close 2-1 results. Golden Hind Lions won three of the five pairs to take the Norman Day cup and eventually win the match 8-7.
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What a finish to the season in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League as in the final fixtures the top two teams squared up to each other. Prior to the game Sheldon Marlborough Arrows topped the table with Langley Arrows second two points behind them. It was Langley who had the home advantage and they certainly took full advantage as they romped to a 6-3 win to put them level on 24 points with their opponents and also level on average. So with everything all equal with the two teams it then came down to who had won the most legs throughout the season and it turned out that there were just two legs difference between them, Langley having won 189 to Sheldon’s 187 so the title went to Langley Arrows, but how close was that!!
Dunky’s Boys rounded off their campaign with an 8-1 win at Hornet to leave them two points behind the top two in third place.
A 7-2 win at Shirley Misfits saw Hollywood Social clinch the division one title with a total of 22 points two more than their nearest rivals Kingshurst Labour Club who won 6-3 at Yardley Ex Colts.
The division two title, like the premier went to the wire as it all depended on the results from the final games of the season. Going into the last fixtures Journeys End topped the division on 18 points with Langley Flights second two points behind them. Journeys surprisingly lost their last game at Hampton and Solihull CC, who are just two places off the foot of the table, 5-4 while Langley Flights won 6-3 at Sheldon Marlborough Ridge to go level on points with Journeys but with a superior average plus a game in hand to win the divisional title.
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Both of the top two teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Townsend Social Club are on 57 points. In the latest fixtures the Ex Serviceman’s won 6-3 at home against fourth in the league Clock while Townsend handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Netherton Conservative Club. Ex Serviceman’s are top on average and have the added bonus of having played two game fewer than Townsend.
Bulls Head are placed third, they won 6-3 against Old Hill Cricket Club but remain a massive fifteen points off the top of the table.
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The Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League have all but finished their fixtures with just one outstanding game to be played between Bird in Hand ‘E’ and Bird in Hand ‘A’, but whatever the result it will not affect the league table as White Horse are champions, they rounded off their campaign with a 5-2 win at Bell ‘B’ to give them 28 points. Runners-up Bell ‘A’ ended with a 4-3 win over Ashwood to put them also on 28 points but left them trailing White Horse by three legs of average.
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Waggon and Horses consolidated their number one position in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League with a convincing 6-1 win away to bottom of the table Tamebridge. Second placed Dewdrop ‘A’ went one better with a 7-0 success over next to bottom Sow and Pigs leaving them four points behind Waggon but just two legs of average to the good on third placed Vine ‘A’ who had a close 4-3 verdict at Miners Arms ‘A’.
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Being as Graham Hall didn’t play in week eight of the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League he lost pole position to Nick Fullwell who had 8-0 wins over both Paul Harrison and Angie Carroll to take his points to 133 from 16 games with Hall now second four points behind him with two games in hand.
Biggest climber of the week was Rich Bowen who on the night completed no fewer than five games winning four of them, 5-3 against Grace Angell and Benjamin Hollowood, 7-1 against Heather Wright and 8-0 against Martin Angell. Bowen’s other game saw him lose 5-3 to Jason Lowe. Bowen’s five games saw him move up seven places in the table to sixth on 96 points. Jason Lowe also improved on his position as in addition to his win over Bowen added 8-0 wins over Angie Carroll and Alex Mason to take him up to seventh place from twelfth with 88 points.
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Game five in the Netherton Tuesday Night League produced a top versus bottom fixture in which leaders Church Tavern travelled to take on bottom of the league Samson. The result was a 5-2 win for Church Tavern to not only maintain their 100% win record but also keep them top of the table with a three points lead over second placed Netherton Sports and Social Club who had a decisive 7-0 win at Chop House. Netherton Sports and Social Club’s win puts them just one leg of average better off than Bulls Head as both team have 12 points, Bulls head wining their home tie with Plough 5.2.
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A new idea of a Brandon Easter Singles Open was trialled at the Brandon Club, Main Street, Brandon, Coventry CV8 3HW this year and despite there being many events on in the area a turnout of 56 players was a relative success. The competition also coincided with Ray and Kim Cooksley’s forthcoming departure from the club, both have been great supporters of darts events at the club. Warwickshire County Darts Organisation, all of their players, officials and supporters wish them both well and thank them for their support over the years.
It was also a trial of using DartConnect for the event which gave electronic scoring throughout the event and despite some initial teething problems it turned out to be very successful.
Scott Mitton turned back the clock and found the form he used to produce in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, beating former world finalist Kevin Painter 6 legs to 2 in the final to take the title and the top prize money.
Scott Mitton (Winner), Ray and Kim Cooksley with Neil Pritchard
Kevin Painter (Runner-Up), Ray and Kim Cooksley with Neil Pritchard
There was a total pay-out of £900 which for a local event was deemed to be a great amount.
Huge thanks go to the club for staging the event, Rob Perrott and Sarah West for helping run the event and also thanks to those that assisted with the initial issues.
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The Black Country Darts Association have been staging quite few events of late and winning the Easter Open was local Tipton man Jamie Hughes who beat reigning champion Scott Baker 6-2 in the final.
The inaugural Black Country Darts Association men’s Super League doubles champions Jamie Rollinson and Reece Colley beat Steve Jones and Matt Coleman 4-2, Jason Lowe and Steve Gillam 4-3 before romping to a 4-0 win over Colin Wood and Jon Blakemore in the final.
Congratulations to Sarah Roberts who with a 4-0 win over Warwickshire County player Caroline Pike in the final won the Easter Ladies Open.
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Gilbert’s Bar staged an Easter Monday Knockout which attracted a satisfying 70 players. The quarter finals saw wins for George Willetts, Sam Guest, Wayne Jones and Martyn Harper who in turn took out Gav Smith, Owen Maiden, Chris Manoila and Kevin Taylor, all of which received £25 for reaching the last eight.
In the semi-finals Sam Guest won 5-3 against George Willetts and Wayne Jones beat Martyn Harper 5-1. The final was extended to the best of eleven legs and taking the top prize of £400 was Wayne Jones with a 6-2 win over Sam Guest who picked up £200.
Wayne Jones (Winner) with Reece Cook-Lucas
Sam Guest (Runner-Up) with Reece Cook-Lucas
Collecting £50 for winning the first round losers Plate Knockout was kevin Bambrick who accounted for Chris Fox with a close 4-3 result.
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Gilbert’s Bar continue to lead the Singles Division in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League after beating Stile 5-2. Gilbert’s are just one of only two teams that remain unbeaten in the division fourth placed Woodfield are the other but they have only played three games, one fewer than Gilbert’s. Wednesfield Legion are second they inflicted a first defeat on Railway who are now third in the division after losing 4-3, both teams are on six points as are fourth and fifth Woodfield and Moreton Arms.
In the Doubles Division Wednesfield Legion were ousted from their number one spot and drop to third after losing 3-0 to Railway who top the table with a perfect eight points. ECC lost 2-1 to Woodfield but hold on to second place with six points also on six points are Wednesfield Legion and Hurst Hill.
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