A rearranged away game against Glamorgan completed Warwickshire County Darts Organisation’s fixtures in the Elite Premier Division of the UKDA National League and what a climax it turned out to be. The ladies ‘B’ began the weekend with a 4-2 win with Chloe McKivett taking the lady of the match award for her 3-1 win over Nicky Biddick with a 17.92 average. The men’s ‘B’ had to be satisfied with sharing the honours as they finished all square at 6-6 after trailing in the early stages at 3-1. Man of the match for the ‘B’ team was Scott Hope, his 26.93 average and 4-3 result over Dai Powell earning him the award.
Sunday’s games began as Saturday’s ended with a draw as the ladies ‘A’ ended at 3-3 with Tammy Montgomery in superb form taking the match award with a tremendous 28.87 average as she beat Eve Watson 3-2 with winning legs of 14, 17 and 14 darts and top scores of 180,3×140,137 and 5×100.
A draw was now required from the men’s ‘A’ for an overall win for the weekend but there was much more at stake than that as a win would see them overtake Yorkshire and lift them into a final runners-up position.
At the halfway stage Warwickshire were trailing 4-2 and after eight games losing 5-3 before the tide changed with wins supplied by Matty Washbrooke, Wayne Mynard and Jamie Atkins to see Warwickshire take the lead for the first time in the game, 6-5 up with just one to play. That one remaining game was to decide Warwickshire’s final position in the division. Prakash Jiwa was Warwickshire’s anchor man and they could not have asked for a better man to end the game and the season as he stormed to a 4-1 victory over Shaun Dibbs for a 7-5 win, an overall 20-16 victory and a final total of 253 points to oust Yorkshire out of the runners-up spot as they had one point fewer 252. What a finale, what a fantastic end to the season with Warwickshire finishing in their highest ever position in a county league. Congratulations to all players, officials, helpers and supporters.
Full Results:Men’s ‘A’:- David Rogers 4 Steve Giddings 2, Mark Challenger 3 Tom Martin 4, Wayne Davies 4 Gareth Braham 2, Dai Caller 1 Noel Grant 4, Sean Fisher 4 Kevin Dowling 0, Neil Lewis 4 Jack Wareing 3, Tim Jones 3 Jamie Hughes 4, Neil Parry 4 Ian Shaw 2, Mike Huntley 1 Matty Washbrooke 4, Hywel Manuel 0 Wayne Mynard 4, Dale Hughes 2 Jamie Atkins 4, Shaun Dibbs 1 Prakash Jiwa 4, Men’s ‘B’:- Jeff Thomas 3 Mark Carter 4, Richard Shanklyn 4 Dave Hill 1, Dan Thompson 4 Carl Green 0, Richie Edwards 4 Darren Swords 0, Gavin Sterio 2 Martin Tonks 4, Josh Lloyd 3 Lee Miller 4, Adrian Jones 4 Martin Partridge 1, Dai Powell 3 Scott Hope 4, Keirion Carter 4 Karl Reynolds 2, Colin Powell 0 Adam Hancock 4, Neil Lewis 2 Nigel Heydon 4, Dan Thomas 4 Jenson Walker 3, Women’s ‘A’:- Claire Crocombe 2 Natalie Gilbert 3, Chris Savvery 1 Caroline Pike 3, Jan Robbins 3 Sue Gulliver 2, Eve Watson 2 Tammy Montgomery 3, Rhian O’Sullivan 3 Donna Pinch 0, Michelle Bowkett 3 Lucy Keyte 0, Women’s ‘B’:- Jen Taylor 2 Nina Bolt 3, Nicky Biddick 1 Chloe McKivett 3, Ffion James 2 Wendy Adams 3, Sue Hall 2 Marian Conway 3, Michelle Jones 3 Melanie Jones 1, Joanne Pugh 3 Angela Jones 2.
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More good news for Warwickshire was that of their Natalie Gilbert winning her first ever game for England as with a solid 64.41 average she defeated Lynsey Ward 3-0. Well done Natalie. The first of many more to come!!
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As early as week three in the Sutton and District Summer League and in division one only two of the starting line-up of nine teams are able to boast a 100% win record. Highcroft Social and Walmley CSC Flights are those two teams and they are level on points and average leading the division one table.
Of the ten teams in division two Golden Hind Lions are the sole team to have won all three games.
Week four in the league was the first round of their Prestridge Shield and winning through to the next round were Old Oscott Arrows, Rosey Mac’s, Red Lion, Heartlands, Bills Arrows 6, Golden Hind Lions, Walmley CSC Flights, Highcroft Social and Old Horns Lions.
Full Results:Game 3:Division One:- Plough and Arrows 1 Bishop Vesey 8, Red Lion 4 Walmley CSC Flights 5, Highcroft Social 5 Nomads 4, Old Oscott Arrows 7 Old Horns Lions 2, Pint Pot Flights had a bye, Division Two:- Bills Arrows 4 Sutton Sharks 5, Scott Armers 3 Gold Hind Lions 6, Heartlands 5 Oscott Social Club 4, Erdington Arrows 5 Rosey Mac’s 4, Sutton Sports v St Thomas Arrows was postponed, Week 4:Prestridge Shield:Round One:- Bishop Vesey 4 Old Oscott Arrows 5, Erdington Arrows 4 Rosey Mac’s 5, Oscott Social Club 4 Red Lion 5, Pint Pot Flights 4 Heartlands 5, Sutton Sharks 3 Bills Arrows 6, Nomads 4 Golden Hind Lions 5, Walmley CSC Flights 9 Sutton Sports Social 0, Highcroft Social 9 Scott Armers 0 (walkover), Plough and Arrows 0 Old Horns Lions 9 (walkover).
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Cotterills Lane Club made it three wins in as many games in the Camp Hill League when they won 4-3 against third in the table Tyseley Bears, this being the Bears first defeat but they hold on to third place with four points. Second in the table Aston Inn Nomads were the week’s biggest winners as they handed their hosts Clumsy Swan a 7-0 whitewash to leave them just one leg of average short of Cotterills.
Full Results:Game 3:- Tyseley WMC 5 Moseley Arms 2, Cotterills EBAHA Lane Club 4 Tyseley Bears 3, Peaky Blinder 4 Sedgemere Devils 3, Clumsy Swan 0 Aston Inn Nomads 7.
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This week division two of the Shirley and District Monday Night League had a bye but it was business as usual in division one. However having said that the divisional leaders Dunky’s Boys had a bye, nevertheless they held on to pole position but have been joined on eight points by Tippetts Bar and Lions. Second placed Tippetts had a close 5-4 win at Wythall Legion to leave them just one leg of average short of Dunky’s while Lions 6-3 win over Solihull Municipal puts them third after playing one game more than the two teams above them.
Division one had no fewer than five maximums this week supplied by D.Palmer (Cider House), P.Sinnett (Lodge), J.Ottley and A.Thomas (Lions), and N.Slattery (Saracens Swords).
Full Results:Game 11:Division One:- Cider House 3 (D.Palmer 180) Lodge 6 (P.Sinnett 180, B.Evans 112b, N.Parsonage 121f), Lions 6 (J.Ottley 180,100f, A.Thomas 180) Solihull Municipal 3, Saracens Swords 7 (N.Slattery 180) Wharf 2, Wythall Legion 4 (J.Lee 18 darts game) Tippetts Bar 5, Dunky’s Boys had a bye, Division Two was a bye week.
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Despite there being a couple of outstanding fixtures remaining in the Netherton Thursday Night League this week was the scheduled final week of the season’s domestic fixtures and the outstanding games, irrespective of the outcome will have no bearing on the league positions whatsoever whether they are played or not.
The final week saw league champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club win 5-4 at Old Hill Cricket Club to give them 66 points from 26 games, runners-up Townsend Social Club won their home tie with The Clock 6-3 giving them a final total of 63 points from a completed season of 28 games.
Bulls Head finished the campaign on a low going down 8-1 at Netherton Sports and Social but with 48 points they still finished the season in third place.
Full Results:Game 28:- Old Hill Cricket Club 4 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club 5, Netherton Conservative Club 0 Spring Meadow Social Club 9, Townsend Social Club 6 Clock 3, Netherton Sports and Social Club 8 Bulls Head 1.
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Leaders of the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League White Horse had a bye this week but remain top of the table with 34 points from 18 games. Second placed Cross (Oldswinford) reduced the arrears to two points with a 6-1 win at Bird in Hand but have now played one game more then White Horse.
Third in the league Woodman are a huge ten points off the top even though they added a 5-2 home win over Fox Inn (Lye) to their tally.
Full Results:Game 23:- Seven Stars 6 Crestwood 1, Bird in Hand 1 Cross (Oldswinford) 6, Woodman 5 Fox Inn (Lye) 2, Rose and Crown 2 White Horse 5, Gate Hangs Well, Church Tavern, Ten Arches and Bell ‘A’ all had a bye.
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Although leaders of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League, Waggon and Horses had a bye this week second placed Dewwdrop ‘A’ were unable to capitalise on it as they, despite a 180 from their L.Fletcher went down 4-3 at home to Miners Arms ‘B’ who are third in the table and now level on 18 points with their hosts. Fourth and fifth placed Vine ‘A’ and Horseley Tavern swapped places after Horseley defeated Vine ‘A’ 5-2, both teams are on 14 points with Horseley having just one leg of average more than Vine ‘A’.
Full Results:Game 12:- Sow and Pigs 2 Dewdrop ‘B’ 5, Dewdrop ‘A’ 3 (L.Fletcher 180) Miners Arms ‘B’ 4, Miners Arms ‘A’ 4 Vine ‘B’ 3, Vine ‘A’ 2 Horseley Tavern 5, Tamebridge 3 Albion 4 (S.Charlesworth 180), Waggon and Horses had a bye.
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Dudley Sports consolidated their number one spot in the Silver End Sunday Morning League when they won 7-1 at Brickmakers Arms. The win takes Dudley Sports points tally to 25 from ten games with second placed Bell ‘A’ one point short from one game more after they won 6-2 at home against Kings Head ‘B’. Third in the table, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club beat New Talbot 6-2 to leave them on the same 24 points as Bell ‘A’ but with a game in hand.
Full Results:Game 12:- Bell ‘A’ 6 Kings Head ‘B’ 2, Black Horse ‘A’ 2 Black Horse ‘B’ 6, Brickmakers Arms 1 Dudley Sports 7, Crestwood 4 Tenth Lock 4, Dudley Ex Servicemen’s Club 6 New Talbot 2, Kings Head ‘A’ 3 Bell ‘B’ 5, Old Star had a bye.
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The Brierley Hill Monday Night League are up to week twelve and just two legs of average separate the top two teams. Leading the way is Talbot whose latest fixture saw them win 6-3 at Dudley Sports ‘A’, second in the league Rose and Crown had a similar 6-3 win at Black Horse.
After the top two there are three teams Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’, Dudley Sports ‘A’ and Roebuck all on 18 points, two shy of the two teams above them. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ had a convincing 8-1 home win over Brickmakers Arms while Roebuck finished on the wrong side of a 5-4 result at home to Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ who are eighth in the league and some four points behind their opponents.
Full Results:Game 11:- Black Horse 3 Shrewsbury Arms 6, Rose and Crown 7 Wombourne Pool Bar 2, Pensnett Liberal LCub 3 Roebuck 6, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 3 Bridge 6, Dudley Sports ‘B’ 1 Dudley Sports ‘A’ 8, Talbot 2 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 7, Brickmakers Arms 7 Tommy Turners 2, King William 2 Union 7, Game 12:- Shrewsbury Arms 5 Union 4, Tommy Turners 2 King William 7, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 8 Brickmakers Arms 1, Dudley Sports ‘A’ 3 Talbot 6, Bridge 7 Dudley Sports ‘B’ 2, Roebuck 4 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 5, Wombourne Pool Bar 3 Pensnett Liberal Club 6, Black Horse 3 Rose and Crown 6.
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With all of the domestic fixtures completed and league positions all wrapped up the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League staged their Most Valuable Player Knockout. White Horse player Kevin Bambrick and J.Green (Fox Inn, Lye) both made it all the way to the quarter finals without dropping a single leg. Bambrick beat fellow White Horse team mate C.Pickett 2-0 and D.Hunt (Bell ‘A’) 2-0 before winning 2-1 against A.Nicholls (Bell ‘A’). Bambrick then won his semi-final game against D.Simpson (Ten Arches ‘B’) 2-0. From the other half of the draw J.Green had wins against N.Cooper (White Horse) 2-0, S.G.Skidmore (Bird in Hand) 2-0, G.Marson (Ten Arches ‘A’) 2-0 and J.Poole (Ashwood) 2-1 in the semis.
The final went the full three legs distance with Bambrick coming through as champion with Green runner-up.
Full Results:Most Valuable Player Knockout:Preliminary Round:- C.Morton (Ten Arches ‘A’) 0 S.G.Skidmore (Bird in Hand ‘E’) 2, A.Smith (Bird in Hand ‘E’) 2 C.Hipkiss (Fox Inn, Lye) 1, W.Paige (Fox Inn, Lye) 2 M.Cullis (Ashwood) 1, C.Hart (White Horse) 2 T.Pratt (Bird in Hand ‘E’) 1, N.Cooper (White Horse) 0 J.Green (Fox Inn, Lye) 2, C.Pickett (White Horse) 0 K.Bambrick (White Horse) 2, Last Sixteen:- D.Simpson (Ten Arches ‘B’) 2 A.Marson (Ten Arches ‘A’) 0, J.Poole (Ashwood) 2 C.Hart 0, D.Hunt (Bell ‘A’) 0 K.Bambrick 2, J.Mole (Ashwood) 0 A.Nicholls (Bell ‘A’) 2, S.Skidmore (Bird in Hand ‘E’) G.Marson (Ten Arches ‘A’) 2, J.Green 2 S.G.Skidmore 0, A.Smith 2 D.Harris (Bird in Hand ‘E’) 1, W.Paige 2 R.Riaz (Bell ‘A’) 0, Quarter-Finals:- A.Smith 0 J.Poole 2, J.Green 2 G.Marson 0, D.Simpson 2 W.Paige 0, K.Bambrick 2 A.Nicholls 1, Semi-Finals:- J.Green 2 J.Poole 1, D.Simpson 0 K.Bambridge 2, Final:- J.Green 1 K.Bambrick 2.
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The Netherton Tuesday Night League played week two of their League Cup with big scores in group ‘A’ as Church Tavern won 7-0 against Quarry Bank Social and Netherton Sports and Social beat Chop House 6-1. Both group ‘B’ games finished with a 4-3 scorelines with wins for Plough and Bulls Head against respective opponents Wheatsheaf and Samson.
Full Results:League Cup Week 2:Group ‘A’:- Netherton Sports and Social 6 Chop House 1, Quarry Bank Social 0 Church Tavern 7, Group ‘B’:- Wheatsheaf 3 Plough 4, Bulls Head 4 Samson 3.
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As the Rowley Monday Night League goes into the second half of its season leaders Bell kept their two points lead intact in style as they handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Wonder. Close on the heels of the Bell are four teams, White Swan, Plough and Harrow, Whiteheath Tavern and Gate Hangs Well all on 22 points just two behind Bell. White Swan consolidated their number two spot on average with an 8-1 win at Windmills End, while third in the table Plough and Harrow had a much closer 5-4 home win over Whiteheath Tavern who drop from second to fourth. Gate Hangs Well won their home game with bottom of the table Roost 7-2.
Full Results:Game 14:- Hare and Hounds 2 Ex Servicemen’s 7, Spring Meadow 1 Cradley Heath Sports and Social 8, Windmills End 1 White Swan 8, Gate Hangs Well 7 Roost 2, Three Diamonds 2 Tividale FC 7, Bell 9 Wonder 0, Romsley Cricket Club 7 Loyal Lodge 2, Plough and Harrow 5 White Heath Tavern 4.
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Nick Fullwell played three games in week ten of the Ashwood Premier League winning 7-0 against Tony Bennett and 5-2 against Chris Fox before losing, for only the third time in seventeen games 4-3 to Dave Simpson who is some thirteen places below him in the table. Nevertheless Fullwell is in pole position with 108 points from his seventeen games and has a lead of three points plus four games in hand on second placed Chris Williams who played just the one game this week which he won 6-1 against Craig Lowin. Third in the league Chris Manoila is two points behind Williams with two games in hand after he won 6-1 against Mitch Pickett and then lost 5-2 to Rob Pierce.
After the top three fourth and fifth placed Connor Pickett and Adam Edgar are both on 100 points, Pickett having played 18 games and Edgar 20.
Full Results:Week 10:- Chris Williams 6 Craig Lowin 1, Ash Marson 5 Mark Glaze 2, Rob Pierce 6 Gaz Cartwright 1, Chris Manoila 6 Mitch Pickett 1, Neil Murphy 5 Martyn Harper 2, Adam Edgar 4 Josh Pickett 3, Nick Fullwell 7 Tony Bennett 0, Kevin Harris 4 Dave Simpson 3, Shane Passey 6 Jayden Harper 1, Connor Pickett 6 Jon Underhill 1, Any Vellender 7 Mike Cullis 0, Sam Aitkens 7 Craig Lowin 0, Geoff Marson 5 Matt Davies 2, Nick Fullwell 5 Chris Fox 2, Geoff Marson 6 Kevin Harris 1, Adam Edgar 7 Jayden Harper 0, Mitch Pickett 4 Mark Glaze 3, Rob Pierce 5 Chris Manoila 2, Martyn Harper 7 Ash Marson 0, Chris Fox 5 Gaz Cartwright 2, Dave Simpson 4 Nick Fullwell 3, Andy Vellender 6 Tony Bennett 1, Josh Pickett 6 Craig Lowin 1, Shane Passey 5 Matt Davies 2, Sam Aitkens 4 Jon Underhill 3, Kevin Harris 5 Mike Cullis 2, Neil Murphy 7 Jayden Harper 0, Connor Pickett 5 Geoff Marson 2.
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What an impressive week Graham Hall had in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League as he began the night with an 8-0 win over Kieron Ford and then recorded two fantastic wins as he beat third in the league Nick Fullwell 5-3 and followed that with a similar success against Jamie Hughes to put him in pole position with 179 points from 20 games. Hall not only has a lead of five points over second placed Shane Price but also three games in hand.
Price lost 6-2 to Jamie Hughes but ended the night on a high with a 7-1 win against Kieron Ford. After losing to Hall third placed Fullwell was then held to a 4-4 draw by Reece Colley to leave him on 168 points from 21 games.
Full Results:Week 12:- Justin Evans 7 Joe Colley 1, Rich Bowen 8 Joe Colley 0, Reece Colley 7 Lewis Handley 1, Jamie Hughes 6 Shane Price 2, Graham Hall 8 Kieron Ford 0, Rich Bowen 7 Jack Rollinson 1, Gareth Johnston 5 Justin Evans 3, Reece Colley 7 Paul Harrison 1, Graham Hall 5 Nick Fullwell 3, Jamie Hughes 8 Stella Sims 0, Justin Evans 8 Alex Mason 0, Shane Passey 7 Jack Rollinson 1, Benjamin Hollowood 6 Joe Colley 2, Shane Price 7 Kieron Ford 1, Rich Bowen 7 Paul Harrison 1, Gareth Johnston 7 Stella Sims 1, Graham Hall 5 Jamie Hughes 3, Jack Rollinson 6 Alex Mason 2, Lewis Handley 6 Justin Evans 2, Reece Colley 4 Nick Fullwell 4.
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A 6-2 win for Scott Baker over Martin East was enough to keep him top of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League with 115 points from 13 games. Close on the heels of Baker is Simon Pritchard whose 8-0 whitewash of Lee Quarry has put him within two points of Baker but from 14 games.
Just three players remain unbeaten in the league Baker being one of them the other two being Andrew Jervis and Steve Lynch. Jervis is placed fourth with 103 points from 12 games and Lynch ninth with 84 points from 11 games.
Full Results:Game 14:Board 1:- Alex Simmons 8 Eddie Gripton 0, Jamie Webb 6 Neville Quinton 2, Gemma Barrett Jenkins 4 Keith Hollowood 4, Arthur Lubkowski 6 Ray Gutteridge 2, Board 2:- Scott Baker 6 Martin East 2, Jon Blakemore 4 Phil Clarke 4, Lee Quarry 0 Simon Pritchard 8, Board 3:- Andy Jervis 5 Adam Teasdale 3, Warren Bower 3 Jon Williams 5, Martin East 6 Jamie Webb 2, Roger Ward 6 Tom Hollowood 2, Board 4:- Adam Teasdale 6 Arthur Lubkowski 2, Chris Hill 7 Lee Quarry 1, John Simms 6 Riley Ward 2, Kris Jones 1 Steve Lynch 7, Reece Cook-Lucas 6 Jon Williams 2.
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Railway and Woodfield are locked together on ten points at the top of the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League. Railway’s most recent and sixth fixture saw them win 6-1 at Stile while Woodfield beat Jack’s Bar 5-2 in what was their fifth game.
In the doubles division three teams are on the same ten points, ECC, Railway and Hurst Hill. ECC and Railway have both played six games and in the latest ECC won 2-1 at Red Lion (Wednesfield) and Railway 3-0 at Stile. Hurst Hill who have only played five games won their tie at Yew Tree 3-0.
Full Results:Game 6:Singles Division:- Dog and Partridge 4 Moreton Arms 3, Red Lion (Wednesfield) 2 ECC 5, Stile 1 Railway 6, Wednesfield Legion 5 Cleveland Arms 2, Woodfield 5 Jack’s Bar 2, Yew Tree 0 Hurst Hill 7, Gilbert’s Bar had a bye, Doubles Division:- Dog and Partridge 1 Moreton Arms 2, Red Lion (Wednesfield) 1 ECC 2, Stile 0 Railway 3, Wednesfield Legion 1 Cleveland Arms 2, Woodfield 2 Jack’s Bar 1, Yew Tree 0 Hurst Hill 3, Gilbert’s Bar had a bye.
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