Warwickshire County Darts Organisation had a very successful campaign in the inaugural season of the UKDA National Darts League when they finished as runners-up to Lancashire in the Premier Division. They will kick-off the new season this coming weekend with a home tie against Yorkshire at the Hen Lane Social Club, Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS and will be hoping to repeat last season’s opening result when they played away to Yorkshire beating them 20-16.
Making his debut in the men’s ‘A’ is newcomer to the county Chris Wickenden, the full team selections are Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Gareth Braham, Kevin Dowling, Noel Grant, Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Prakash Jiwa, Tom Martin, Wayne Mynard, Jack Wareing, Matty Washbrooke, Chris Wickenden, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Carter, Carl Green, Adam Hancock, Nigel Heydon, Dave Hill, Scott Hope, Mark Martin, Ian McFarlane, Lee Miller, Karl Reynolds, Mark Strong, Martin Tonks, Reserves:- Dave Honey, Ian Shaw, Darren Swords, Mark Tomlinson snr, Jenson Walker, Carl Winters, Adam Wood, Women’s ‘A’:- Marian Conway, Natalie Gilbert, Sue Gulliver, Tammy Montgomery, Caroline Pike, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Nina Bolt, Angela Jones, Melanie Jones, Lucy Keyte, Chloe McKivett, Reserves:- Courtney Hine, Denise Keyte, Hannah Meek.
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West Midlands didn’t enjoy the best of seasons in the first of the Championship Division seasons as they finished bottom of the table and relegated to division one where they will open their account this coming weekend with an away game against Leicestershire at the Enderby and District Social Club, 22-24 Coleridge Drive, Enderby, Leicestershire, LE19 4QF.
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As a result of Raven Arrows having their fixture away to Highwood Gerry’s Boys postponed in group one of the Sheldon and District Summer League they have lost their number one spot and have been replaced by Langley Arrows whose 7-1 home win over The Dingle has put them on fourteen points, two more than Raven from the same eight games with both teams having just two more fixtures to play. Third in the group Mackadown Social are on eleven points after adding their 5-3 win at Iron Horse Rebels but they have played nine games.
Group two’s Willclare Sports and Social are the only team in the league to remain unbeaten they have won six of their seven games and drawn the other. Willclare’s most recent 6-2 home win over Maggies has taken their points tally to thirteen from seven games, their nearest rivals Yardley Ex Colts lost ground in the title race as they were held to a 4-4 draw at home by third in the group Shirley Misfits. Yardley have eleven points from eight games and Shirley eight points from eight games, so unless Willclare have a disastrous run-in they should have the title sewn-up.
Sheldon Marlborough Ridge have one more fixture to play in group three and require a win to secure the title as after winning 6-2 against Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club they have a three points lead over second placed Lyndon Old Boys who won 5-3 against The Irish Centre. Lyndon still have two games to play and have a slightly superior average over Sheldon.
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There were wins for the top three teams in the Kings Norton League as leaders Rubery Social Club won 6-2 at Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club to keep them two points ahead of second placed Copper Fox who after a close 4-3 home win over fourth in the league Thurlestone have a game in hand on Rubery and have a much better average than the leaders, Thurlestone have games in hand on all three teams above them. Third in the league Bournebrook had a convincing 6-1 win at Longbridge but are four points off the top.
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The Harborne and District League are up to week four of their season and of the twelve starter’s only three teams remain undefeated, all three of them having only played three games. One of those three Northfield Town lead the field but there is no result for their game with Bugle Horn who were second but now drop to third behind Smethwick Cricket Club on average as Smethwick won 7-2 at Quinton RBL. Northfield Town, Smethwick Cricket Club, Bugle Horn, Northfield Conservative Club and Bournevile Social are all on six points with Northfield Town, Bugle Horn and Bourneville Social the three teams to have only played three games.
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It was knockout week in the Camp Hill League, the Doubles Knockout which attracted 29 pairs and was played off at the Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club.
Making their exit in the semi-finals were Bill Carter and Mick O’Sullivan (Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club) and Shay Darby and Neil Parsonage also from the Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club.
The final saw Will Naylor and Mark Naylor representing current league leaders Aston Inn Nomads victorious over Dave Heighway and Antony Daly from Tyseley Bears.
Top individual achievements on the night were supplied by Simon Edwards (Aston Inn Nomads) who recorded a maximum, Neil Parsonage (Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club) who had a 160 break and Dave Heighway (Tyseley Bears) who checked out on 146.
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No change at the top of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as all of the top three teams won in game ten. Leaders Labour Club held on to their two points lead and undefeated record with a 6-1 win at Ashwood while second in the league Ten Arches won their home tie with Hollybush 5-2. A further two points adrift is third placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ who had a 6-1 win at Black Horse.
After the three top teams are three teams all on the same fourteen points six fewer than Labour Club, Hollybush, Fox Inn (Lye) and Stourbridge FC, the latter two played each other with Fox coming out of the tussle the close 4-3 winners.
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In the first games of the second half of the season it turned out to be an ‘A’ versus ‘B’ week in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as Dewdrop ‘A’ beat their ‘B’ side 4-3, Miners Arms ‘A’ won by the same margin against their ‘B’ team and Vine ‘A’ accounted for their ‘B’ team with a 5-2 scoreline.
Waggon and Horses continue to top the table and held on to their six points lead with a 5-2 home win over Albion, Dewdrop ‘A’ are second with Miners ‘B’, despite losing to their ‘A’ side holding on to third place with 28 points, four more than their fourth placed ‘A’ team.
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Week 14 results in the Sutton and District Summer League had no effect on the division one league table whatsoever although the top two teams had somewhat surprisingly close 5-4 wins over lowly opposition. Leaders Bishop Vesey won at home against next to bottom of the table Pint Pot Flights while second placed The Nomads, who also had a home tie beat The Old Horns Lions who are two places off the foot of the table keeping them within two points of Vesey with a game in hand.
In division two Golden Hind Lions have a clear-cut four points lead after adding a 6-3 win at St Thomas Arrows to their account while second placed Heartlands had a similar 6-3 win at Rosey Mac’s leaving them four points ahead of third in the division Oscott Social Club who again were 6-3 winners at Erdington Arrows.
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Just the one outstanding fixture played in the Cradley Tuesday Night League which saw Plough win their home tie with Chop House 4-3. The result had no bearing on the final table as Plough finished fifth and Chop House fourth.
The league played off the finals of their 5 A-Side Knockout in which Church Tavern made it a fantastic double adding the title to their already won league title, Netherton Sports and Social finished as runners-up as they did in the league.
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Played twenty-three and with only fifteen to play just average separates the top three teams in the Rowley Monday Night League with all three teams on 40 points. Leader’s Bell won 6-3 at home against sixth in the league Gate Hangs Well while second placed Clock (Whiteheath) were 7-2 home winners over Spring Meadow, third in the table Plough and Harrow won by the same 7-2 margin at Three Diamonds, leaving just six legs of average between the three teams. How close is that!! It should be an interesting and exciting run-in.
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A shock result for Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club in game 19 in the Silver End Sunday Morning League as they lead the league and were held to a 4-4 draw away to Crestwood who are just two places off the foot of the table, nevertheless the Ex Serviceman’s Club remain in pole position with 44 points from 18 games but their lead has been reduced to two points by second placed Old Star who won 5-3 against Bell ‘B’, Old Star have however played one game more than the leaders.
Third in the league Dudley Sports are three points behind Old Star with a game in hand after suffering a massive 6-1 defeat away to fourth in the table Bell ‘A’ who are now just two points behind their opponents.
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The top two players in the Ashwood Premier League Nick Fullwell and Dave Simpson didn’t play in week 28 but Fullwell with 285 points from 45 games holds on to pole position while Simpson drops one place to third on 239 from 46 games. Taking over in second place is Chris Williams who took his points tally to 251 from 49 games. Williams didn’t have the best of starts as in his first game against Sam Aitkens he lost 4-3 but quickly recovered to win 6-1 against Jon Underhill before losing 4-3 once again, this time to Adam Edgar. Fourth placed Geoff Marson kept himself in contention for a higher placing, his 5-2 win over Mitch Pickett and 7-0 success over Connor Pickett giving him a total points of 236 from 44 games leaving him with games in hand on all the players above him.
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It looks as though Scott Baker is well in contention for the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League title with 213 points from 23 games and the runners-up position is what the chasing pack are battling for. Just eleven points separate the players in second to fifth positions and in that order John Simms has 172 points from 24 games, Jon Blakemore 170 from 23, Ben Johnson 169 from 21 and Simon Mountford 161 from 22.
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Nick Fullwell did his title hopes in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League no harm at all when in week 23 he won 7-1 against Shane Passey, 8-0 against Danny Knight and 6-2 against Gareth Johnston to take his points from 42 games to 324. Second placed Jamie Hughes didn’t play this week and is now 27 points adrift of Fullwell but with no fewer than seven games in hand. Rich Bowen is third but has played 42 games which have given him 293 points. Former leader Graham Hall is fourth, he added a 6-2 win over Cheryl Allcock and 7-1 win over Martin Angell to his account to give him 282 points from only 33 games.
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Allens Bar ‘A’ march on in the Black Country Men’s Super League adding their latest 5-0 win over Horse and Jockey ‘B’ to give them a total of 73 points and a lead of thirteen over second placed Railway Tavern after only eleven games. Railway Tavern were held to a close 3-2 win at home by fourth in the league Yeltz Bar ‘A’ who are on 54 points two short of third in the table The Maverick who also won 3-2 in their home tie with The Ashwood.
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A 5-2 home defeat by Hurst Hill has cost Woodfield there number two spot in the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League. Leaders Railway had a bye but stay top of the division with 24 points, Gilbert’s Bar move to within two points of them after they won 4-3 at Wednesfield Legion, Woodfield are third a further two points adrift.
In the doubles division Hurst Hill lead the way taking their points to 26 with a 2-1 win over Woodfield, ECC keep within two points of the leaders with a straight 3-0 win at Jack’s Bar.
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The Gilbert’s Bar Summer Knockout attracted a total of 32 players with the eventual winner Darren Williams picking up a cool £300 after defeating Reece Colley 6-3 in the final, Colley receiving £100.
Reece Colley (Runner-Up) and Darren Willaims (Winner)
Losing semi-finalists Mick Baker and Rich Bowen each received £40.
In the ever-popular Plate Knockout for the first round losers Dave Green had a straight 3-0 win over Paul Harrison in the final to collect the winners £40 with Harrison having £20.
Dave Green (Winner) and Paul Harrison (Runner-Up)
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