Darts News – A West Midlands Round Up
During the Christmas break the Four Oaks and District League played off the first round of their Brian Goodman Cup. Four second division teams made the second round Plough and Arrows with a convincing 6-3 defeat of their first division opposition Red Lion, Minworth Flights needed the final game to beat a feisty Pint Pot Flights 5-4 while The Scott Armers and The Funky Bear in turn both beat second division rivals Sutton Sports and Social and Deer’s Leap 8-1. Another team to win 8-1 was The Old Horns Lions (division one) who won their home tie against Erdington Arrows (division two). The biggest win of the round went to division one’s Bishop Vesey who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Sutton Sharks who are next to bottom of division two. Division one leaders Nomad Flights won 7-2 at Heartlands also from division one while Highcroft Social, who are third in division one won 7-2 away to division two leaders Oscott Social Club. There were 6-3 wins for Old Oscott Arrows and Walmley CSC Flights against respective opponents Charley’s Flights and St Thomas Arrows and with a close 5-4 result Golden Hind Lions made the next round as they accounted for Rosey Mac’s.
Best individual performance went to M.Ashton (The Old Horns Lions) who checked out on 160.
Full Results:Brian Goodman Cup:Preliminary Round:- Golden Hind Lions 5 (N.Goldie 100) Rosey Mac’s 4 (D.Sargent 122), Heartlands 2 (Matthew Cain 2×100, J.Rogers 140, G.McCormack 120b, A.Downes 112b,100, S.Cain 108b,122) The Nomads 7 (T.Colley 120b,115f, C.Martin 100, C.Winters 112b,100, B.Lysaght 100b,100), Old Oscott Arrows 6 (B.Trayhern 125, M.Page 135,140, D.Parsons 100, P.Locke 120b,100, A.Lea 148b,107, M.Maher 100) Charley’s Flights 3 (P.Nicholls 108b, K.Hewings 100,159, D.G.Bond 100), Oscott Social Club 2 (D.Shannon 120, A.Whitehouse 100, G.Bushell 125, P.Graham 100,2×140) Highcroft Social 7 (K.Neale 100, K.Shorthouse 105b,100, S.Shorthouse 100, T.Pallett 142b, S.Pritchett 100, D.Giblin 100,131, S.Alexander 112b,132), Pint Pot Flights 4 (M.Bagnall 100b, L.Lemathy 120b, S.Tibbins 125, N.Robbins 100, P. Smith 105b, P.Southall 100) Minworth Flights 5 (L.Vann 100, K.Reynolds 120b,137, N.Clarke 100b,105b, J.Prince 112b,100, I.Tranter 140,100), Red Lion 3 (T.Vickers 100, L.Vickers 100, J.Collins 100, D.Vickers 100, M.Corfield 100, R.Lowe 133, C.Austin 100, B.Hughes 134) Plough and Arrows 6 (D.Hughes 115b, A.Humphriss 112b, A.Nicholls 100, S.Johnson 105b, R.Davies 100b, R.Bennett 100), Sutton Sharks 0 (C.Llewellyn 137, S.Sutton 106, J.Whale 112b) Bishop Vesey 9 (C.Sammons 127, N.Smallwood 100, M.Norton 120b, S.Abbott 120b,100, M.Wild 120b,100, A.Jones 133), Sutton Sports and Social 1 (R.Snelson 100) The Scott Armers 8 (L.Parry 100,124f, James Sabin 140, L.Gumbley 100, M.Felkin 101b,114f), The Funky Bear 8 (S.Robotham 100, G.Robotham 2×100, E.Stambollin 100) Deers Leap 1 (L.Sinclair 100, T.Ross 100, P.Billings 139), The Old Horns Lions 8 (B.Linnecor 140, M.Ashton 140,160f, D.Pickering 120b,130,100, F.Naylor 140, A.Kimberley 100, J.Greaves 100b) Erdington Arrows 1 (H.Sadler 140, L.Dells 100), Walmley CSC Flights 6 (G.Gaughan 135, B.Liggins 100, P.Moran 105b, K.Green 100b,100,135) St Thomas Arrows 3 (M.Andrews 100, R.Nelson 100).
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The Sheldon and District Winter League are up to week eight of their season and leading division one with a perfect total of twelve points from their six games is Sheldon Marlborough Arrows who have a lead of four points over three teams Langley Arrows, Dunky’s Boys and Highwood Gerry’s Boys. This week’s fixture between the top two teams Sheldon Marlborough Arrows and Langley Arrows was postponed, Langley still having a game in hand on the leaders. Third in the division Dunky’s Boys suffered a setback to their title aspirations as they lost their home game with fourth in the table Highwood Gerry’s Boys 6-3.
In division one top team Langley Flights had a bye this week which gave second placed Yardley Ex Colts the opportunity to draw level on ten points with them, the opportunity they took full advantage of as they won 6-3 away to Shirley Misfits who drop one place in the table to fourth while Yardley are now just two legs of average short of Langley Flights.
In division two leaders Brian’s Flights stretched their undefeated run to seven games when they won 5-4 at home against fourth in the division The Trident Spears. Brian’s Flights have a four points lead over both second placed Iron Horse Rebels who won their home game against The Raven 6-3 and third placed Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club who lost 6-3 at home against Sheldon Marlborough Ridge who are three places and four points behind them with a game in hand as Hampton have played eight games.
Full Results:Week 8:Premier Division:- Hollywood Social 4 Sheldon Dukes 5 (Lee Molyneux 131f,109f) , Dunky’s Boys 3 Highwood Gerry Boy’s 6, Sheldon Marlborough Arrows v Langley Arrows was postponed and Kingshurst Labour Club had a bye, Division One:- Willclare Sports and Social 4 The Dingle 5, Journeys End 5 Maggies 4 (Noel Hall 122f), Shirley Misfits 3 Yardley Ex Colts 6 (M.Sanders 12 darts game), Hornet and Langley Flights had a bye, Division Two:- Lyndon Old Boys 4 The Irish Centre 5, Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club 3 Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 6, Brian’s Flights 5 The Trident Spears 4 (Terry Clay 110f), Iron Horse Rebels 6 The Raven 3, Castle Bromwich WMC had a bye.
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Week twenty-three in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League produced 7-0 wins for the top two teams and 6-1 defeats for the bottom two teams and with only three more fixtures to play just two points separate the top two teams. Quarry Bank Labour Club added their win over Ashwood to their account to keep them top of the table with 42 points while second placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ accounted for Black Horse and have 40 points. Third in the league Ten Arches lost 4-3 playing away to fourth in the league Hollybush, the hosts now on 34 points have reduced the arrears on their opponents to just two points.
Shovel had a 5-2 win at Brickmakers Arms to take them top of the Shadow League with ten points two more than Ashwood and Bell ‘B’, Ashwood losing 7-0 at Quarry Bank Labour Club and Bell ‘B’ winning 6-1 at home against bottom of both the main and shadow leagues Raven.
Full Results:Game 23:- Bell ‘B’ 6 Raven 1, Bird in Hand ‘E’ 7 (A.Smith 160b) Black Horse 0, Quarry Bank Labour Club 7 Ashwood 0, Brickmakers Arms 2 Shovel 5, Hollybush 4 Ten Arches 3, Fox Inn (Lye) 3 Stourbridge FC 4, Dudley Sports 1 Bell ‘A’ 6.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ began 2023 where they left off 2022 in the Netherton Thursday Night League with a 7-2 win over Netherton Sports and Social Club ’B’ who are bottom of the league. The win takes the Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ points tally to 16 and keeps them top of the table but only on average from Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ whose 5-4 win over fifth placed Bulls Head keeps them level on points with the leaders with a game in hand.
Third and fourth in the league Townsend Social Club and The Clock both chalked up 6-3 home wins, Townsend winning against Spring Meadow and Clock getting the better of Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’. Both of the winning teams are two points behind the top two.
Full Results:Game 10:- The Clock 6 Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 3, Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ 5 Bulls Head 4, Townsend Social Club 6 Spring Meadow 3, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 7 Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ 2.
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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League have played off the first rounds of both their singles and doubles knockouts. Winning through to the last sixteen of the singles were Singles Knockout:Round One Winners:- S.Gough (Pensnett Liberal Club), L.Cross (Old Bulls Head), S.Firmstone (Seven Stars), M.Hannaford (Seven Stars), K.Safe (Five Ways), J.Hillman (Jolly Collier), P.Darby (New Inn), D.Sears (Jolly Collier), C.Sparrow (Old Bulls Head), K.Roberts (Meadow Lark), D.Fear (Gornal Labour Club), H.Gregory (New Inn), M.Porter (Old Bulls Head), T.Edwards (Old Bulls Head), M.Cadman (Old Bulls Head), R.Riaz (Gornal Labour Club).
The doubles knockout was played down to the quarter finas and winning through to the last eight were A.Fear & R.Riaz (Gornal Labour Club), I.Smallman & M.Hannaford (Seven Stars), T.Edwards & R.Bridgewood (Old Bulls Head), A.Foster & K.Foster (Seven Stars), D.Sears & S.Hillman (Jolly Collier), L.Nicklin & B.Grimshaw (Chainyard), C.Sparrow & T.Bissell (Old Bulls Head), J.Hillman & M.Culwick (Jolly Collier).
Full Results:Singles Knockout:Round One Winners:- S.Gough (Pensnett Liberal Club), L.Cross (Old Bulls Head), S.Firmstone (Seven Stars), M.Hannaford (Seven Stars), K.Safe (Five Ways), J.Hillman (Jolly Collier), P.Darby (New Inn), D.Sears (Jolly Collier), C.Sparrow (Old Bulls Head), K.Roberts (Meadow Lark), D.Fear (Gornal Labour Club), H.Gregory (New Inn), M.Porter (Old Bulls Head), T.Edwards (Old Bulls Head), M.Cadman (Old Bulls Head), R.Riaz (Gornal Labour Club), Doubles Knockout:First Round Winners:- A.Fear & R.Riaz (Gornal Labour Club), I.Smallman & M.Hannaford (Seven Stars), T.Edwards & R.Bridgewood (Old Bulls Head), A.Foster & K.Foster (Seven Stars), D.Sears & S.Hillman (Jolly Collier), L.Nicklin & B.Grimshaw (Chainyard), C.Sparrow & T.Bissell (Old Bulls Head), J.Hillman & M.Culwick (Jolly Collier).
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The push for the title in the Black Country Men’s Super League by Allens Bar ‘A’ continues as they added a convincing 5-0 home victory over their local rivals Allens bar ‘B’ in their latest round of fixtures. The win extends Allens Bar ‘A’ lead at the top of the table over second placed Railway Tavern to a huge nineteen points as their nearest rivals won 4-1 against Halesowen Cricket Club. Railway in turn are twelve points clear of third placed Yeltz Bar ‘A’ with a game in hand after Yeltz Bar ‘A’ were held to a close 3-2 home win by Whiteheath Tavern.
Full Results:Game 25:- Gilbert’s Bar 5 The Ashwood 0, Allens Bar ‘C’ 5 Horse and Jockey ‘A’ 0, Railway Tavern 4 Halesowen Cricket Club 1, Yeltz Bar ‘A’ 3 Whiteheath Tavern 2, The Maverick 3 Bell, Kingswinford ‘B’ 2, Yeltz Bar 5 Horse and Jockey ‘B’ 0, Allens Bar ‘A’ 5 Allens Bar ‘B’ 0, Bell, Kingswinford ‘A’ 5 Rowley Bar and Grill 0.
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Gilbert’s Bar staged their New Year Knockout which attracted an encouraging 73 players. There were a few surpises in the quarter-finals as internationals Jamie Hughes and Wayne Jones in turn were taken out by Owen Maiden and Ian MacKenzie.
In the semi-finals Owen Maiden beat Dan Nicholls 5-2 and by the same scoreline Richard Hosey won against Ian MacKenzire. The final saw the 6-4 result go in favour of Richard Hosey who collected £500 as winner with runner-up Owen Maiden receiving £200. There was £70 for each of the losing semi-finalists Dan Nicholls and Ian MacKenzie with Kevin Bambrick, Luke Woodhouse, Jamie Hughes and Wayne Jones each collecting £20 for reaching the last eight.
Winner Richard Hosey (left) and Runner-Up Owen Maiden
In the first round losers Plate Competition Ben Johnson picked up the winners £60 after beating George Con 4-1 in the final, Con receiving £30. Losing semi-finalsits Ian Jones and Richard Bowen both had £10.
Plate Winner Ben Johnson
Full Results:Quarter-Finals:- Jamie Hughes lost to Owen Maiden, Kev Bambrick lost to Dan Nicholls, Luke Woodhouse lost to Richard Hosey, Wayne Jones lost to Ian MacKenzie, Semi-Finals:- Owen Maiden 5 Dan Nicholls 2, Richard Hosey 5 Ian MacKenzie 2, Final:- Owen Maiden 4 Richard Hosey 6, Plate Knockout:Final:- Ben Johnson 4 George Con 1.
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I wrote last week about the sad passing of Brian Twist, it has now been announced that his funeral will take place at Yardley Crematorium, Yardley Road, South Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8NA at 1.00pm on Friday 20th January.
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