Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will get their new season in the Cosmo Darts Premier Division of the UKDA National League off with a long trek to the south west where they will take on Cornwall, they have strengthened their squad this season and joining them are new players Sal Hodges, Kirsty Hinchliffe, Kishan Jiwa and Kristeen Meek who returns after a long stint away, also returning to the county after an eleven year absence is Mark McGeeney.
Warwickshire will be hoping to improve on last season’s sixth place finish and looking to at least emulate the runners-up spot that they achieved in the 2021-2022 season.
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Week six of the Sheldon and District Summer League saw Langley Arrows lose for the first time in five games in group one when they returned from Highwood on the wrong side of the 5-3 result, as a consequence Langley drop from third to fourth in the table with their opponents holding on to their second place on eight points, one fewer than leaders Dingle but with a game in hand. Dingle had a 5-3 win away to Yardley Ex Colts.
Results for group two had no effect on the league table whatsoever, leaders Sheldon Dukes had a bye but remain in pole position on seven points, the 5-3 win for Brian’s Flights in their home game with Shirley Misfits puts them level on points with the Dukes but they have played five games, one more than the leaders. Shirley Misfits are third but four points behind the top two teams.
The top four teams remain the same in group three the only changes coming at the bottom of the group as Sheldon Marlborough Ridge move off the foot of the table following their 6-2 win at Lyndon Old Boys who replace Ridge in the bottom position. Top of the group Trident Spears were held to a 4-4 draw playing away against fourth in the group Bell Inn but with eight points hold on to their narrow one point lead as second placed Kingshurst Labour Club also finished all-square at 4-4 playing away against third in the table Langley Flights who have the same seven points as their opponents.
There was a similar situation in group four with only the bottom two teams changing places, Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club’s 6-2 home win over The Raven seeing them move away from the bottom spot with Sheldon Marlborough Flights replacing them after they lost their home game with second placed Smithswood Social Club 7-1. Smithswood’s win puts them on the same eight points as leaders Banbury Club but from one game more, Banbury winning by the same 7-1 scoreline as Smithswood in their home fixture with Moseley Rugby Club.
Individual achievements this week go to Matthew Holt (Willclare Sports and Social), Danny Chiswell (Bell Inn) and Dave Howlett (Sheldon Marlborough Flights) who all hit a maximum and Liam O’Donnell (Sheldon Marlborough Ridge) who had 128 and 110 checkouts.
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The South West Birmingham Clubs League staged the quarter-finals of their League Cup with West Heath CEM, who are currently second in the league, chalking up the biggest win of the round as they won 16-5 against Northfield Conservative. League leaders Longbridge United had a close 11-10 win over fifth in the table Northfield Town, Quarry Club winning by the same margin against Moseley All Services. In the other game Stirchley United beat Perfection 12-9.
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Northfield Conservative Club lost their 100% win record and also pole position in the Harborne and District League after going down 5-4 at home to Smethwick Cricket Club, the result seeing Northfield drop to third on ten points and Smethwick moving up one place to second on the same ten points with a two legs of average lead on their opponents. New leaders Copper Fox ‘R’ had an 8-1 home win over Cock Inn, they have the same ten points as their two chasing rivals but have a seven legs average advantage over Smethwick Cricket Club.
There were no fewer than seven 180’s scored this week with Northfield Conservative Club’s R.Hosey hitting two of them and his team mate A.Sutton also hitting one. Other players to find the three treble twenties were D.McConomy (Quinton RBL), G.Webb (Northfield Town) plus T.Hamilton and J.Hykin (Copper Fox ‘R’). Northfield Conservative Club player T.Garfield also deserves a mention as he had top scores of 5×100,125,134,140 and a 14 darts winning leg.
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Despite no result for Copper Fox in the Kings Norton League this week they still held on to pole position in the Kings Norton League with a perfect twenty-four points from their twelve games and have a lead of two plus a game in hand on second placed Northfield who won 5-2 at home against Thurlestone. Northfield are four points to the good on their nearest rivals third and fourth placed Rubery Social Club and Bourneville who both have eighteen points and in turn won 5-2 at Longbridge and 6-1 at home against Grant Arms. Northfield were the only team to record a maximum this week as their M.Lloyd and R.Waldron both found the three treble twenties.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League played their Singles Knockout down to the last eight and making up the quarter-finals will be B.Fitzgerald, C.Moreton (Cross, Oldswinford), D.Morton (Princess), T.Cunningham, K.Safe (Ten Arches), I.Kelly (Bird in Hand), S.Smoth (Church Tavern), C.Hart (Old Liberal Club).
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On the fixture card for the Netherton Thursday Night League were the finals of their 3-A-Side Knockout. Both of the semi-finals games finished with a 2-0 result with R.Hodgetts, M.Abbott, G.Male (Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’) winning against K.Wright, S.Tipper, B.Neale (Bulls Head) and L.Beasley, D.Richmond, M.Hadley (Townsend Social Club) accounting for L.Banner, M.Redding, J.Southall (Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’). The final result was 3-1 with the Townsend Social Club side L.Beasley, D.Richmond, M.Hadley crowned as champions with R.Hodgetts, M.Abbott, G.Male runners-up.
There was just one rearranged league fixture played which saw league champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ complete their fixtures with a 6-3 win at Spring Meadow.
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The Waggon and Horses was the setting for the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League’s Memorial Cup semi-finals which saw both games go to a deciding leg. Allen’s Bar ‘A’ found themselves trailing 3-1 to Vine ‘A’ but fought back in style to go on and win 4-3. In the other last four game Waggon and Horses won by the same 4-3 margin against Tamebridge.
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The Bell added a 6-3 home win over Tividale FC to their account in the Rowley Monday Night League to keep them top of the table but only on average as second placed White Swan’s 8-1 win at Loyal Lodge puts them level on thirty-six points with Bell but still trailing by some seventeen legs of average. Third in the league Gate Hangs Well are just two points behind the leading duo after they won 6-3 at Spring Meadow giving them a breathing space of four points over fourth in the league Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club who lost their home tie with Plough and Harrow 6-3. Whiteheath Tavern lost 5-4 at Rowley Cricket Club and drop one place to sixth, their twenty-four points two less than Windmills End who have replaced them in the number four spot following their 8-1 home win over Huntingtree.
Top individual performances this week came from Romsley Cricket Club’s J.Rennis 180 and Jason Bland who had a 160 break and a 9 darts game, Hill and Cakemore’s Mark Jones who also had a 160 break. Plough and Harrow’s Kalvin N Jayne Chambers had a 144 game shot and Rich Lenton from Rowley Labour Club recorded a 152 break.
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It was cup week in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League, in the Main Cup Fox Inn (Lye) lost their home game against Union 5-2 while there were 4-3 wins for Brickmakers Arms, Stourbridge FC and Old Liberal Club ‘A’ who in turn defeated Ashwood, Shovel and Kings Head. In the Shadow Cup Old Liberal Club ‘B’ handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their opponents Woodman with Bird in Hand ‘E’ close behind with their 6-1 success over Wheatsheaf. Dudley Sports and Hollybush were both 4-3 winners against in turn Netherton Conservative Club and Garibaldi.
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Highcroft Hotdogs added an impressive 8-1 win away to Red Lion to their tally in division one of the Sutton and District Summer League to stretch their unbeaten run to three games the only team in the top division to remain undefeated. Former leaders Aston Manor CC Flights lost 6-3 at home to The Nomads who take over in the number two spot with four points, two fewer than the Hotdogs as are Bishop Vesey, Aston Manor CC Flights and Old Oscott Arrows, Bishop Vesey winning 6-3 at Old Oscott Arrows.
Sid Pritchett (Highcroft Hotdogs) and Matt Deathridge (Old Horns Arrows) both chalked up a 160 break.
Erdington Arrows dropped out of the top three in division two after losing 5-4 at home to divisional leaders Scott Armers who have won all three of their games so far. Rosey Mac’s and Plough and Arrows have both only played two games which they have won both. In the latest round of fixtures Rosey Mac’s had a bye while Plough and Arrows won 6-3 at home against St Tom Cats.
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John Green extended his narrow one point lead in the Ashwood Premier League from one to three points after adding a 6-1 win over Wozza Pritchard and a 5-2 success against Jon Underhil to his account while his nearest rival Nick Fullwell beat Matt Davies 5-2 and Craig Lowin 4-3. Green is on 258 points from forty-seven games, Fullwell has 255 from forty-four games and has a lead of one point over third placed Chris Williams but Williams has played fifty-two games.
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It was a good week for Horse and Jockey in the Black Country Men’s Super League as their 3-2 win at The Vine, Blackheath was their first win in ten games. Allen’s Bar ‘C’ continue to lead the field with thirty-eight points after adding their latest 3-2 win over Railway Tavern while Quarry Bank Liberal Club’s 4-1 home win over Soccer Zone keeps them within two points of the leaders in second place. Third in the league Whiteheath Tavern had a closer 3-2 home success over Halesowen Cricket Club to leave them three points off the top.
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The top two teams in the West Midlands Men’s Super League squared-up to each other in the latest fixtures with the 3-2 result going in favour of the home side and leaders of the league Dog and Partridge with their opponents Kings Head ‘A’, despite the defeat holding on to second place. Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ are placed third, they handed their visitors ECC a resounding 5-0 whitewash.
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The Black Country Thursday Night Singles League have got their new season underway and the early pacesetter is Rich Bowen who kicked-off the season with a 7-1 win over Sarah Jane Parker and then went one better beating Alex Mason 8-0 to top the table with nine points. Second placed Danny Nicholls beat Alex Mason 7-1 and then won 5-3 against Mark Jones to leave him three points behind Bowen and one to the good on third placed newcomer Conor Dowling who began his campaign with a 6-2 success over Danny Bridgwood and a 5-3 win over Danny Knight.
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After the first fourteen fixtures have been played in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League only average separates the top two teams in the singles division. Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ lead the way, their most recent 7-0 win away to Railway giving them a ten legs of average lead over ECC ‘A’ who won 5-2 at home against Wednesfield Legion to put them on the same twenty-six points as the leaders. Third placed Woodfield fell two points behind the top two after suffering a 5-2 home defeat at the hands of a middle of the table Dog and Partridge side.
ECC ‘A’ made it thirteen wins from fourteen games in the doubles division when the beat Wednesfield Legion 3-0, the win keeps ECC ‘A’ two points ahead of Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ who also won 3-0 at Railway. Once again in third place is Woodfield whose 2-1 defeat by Dog and Partridge leaves them eight points off the top.
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