Congratulations to Warwickshire County player Noel Grant on winning the top prize in the recent Brandon Open at the Brandon Club, Main Street, Brandon. In the opening two rounds Noel chalked up straight 5-0 wins over Jim Hill and Rob Singleton. In the last sixteen he was taken to a deciding leg before winning 5-4 against fellow Warwickshire player Matty Washbrooke and then booked his last four place with a 6-2 success over Noah Rose.
From the other half of the draw Lloyd Pennell made his way to the semis with 5-2 wins over both Jiwa Kishan and Richard Hosey, then with a 5-1 win over Adam Byron followed by a 6-4 success against Tom Garfield he was in the last four.
Dan Lee took Noel Grant to a deciding leg before bowing out 6-5 in the semi-finals while Lloyd Pennell had a somewhat more comfortable 6-3 win over another Warwickshire player Prakash Jiwa. The result of the final was a convincing 7-1 win for champion Noel Grant with Pennell finishing as runner-up.
Noel Grant (Winner) with Neil Pricthard
Lloyd Pennell (Runner-Up) with Neil Pricthard
———————————
It was League Cup semi-finals week in the Sheldon and District Summer League and Langley Arrows who are placed second in group one had a 5-2 win over Smithswood Social who are second in the group four table. From the other half of the draw Raven Arrows won the all group one tussle against Willclare Sports and Social 5-2. There were maximums for both Jake Webster (Langley Arrows) and David Reid (Willclare Sports and Social) while Willclare’s Frank Dixon checked out on 112.
Langley Arrows and Raven Arrows will square-up to each other in the final which will be played tomorrow night (21st September) at the Willclare Sports and Social Club
There were three rearranged league fixtures played which saw Highwood beat Raven Arrows in group one to put the title all dependant on the one remaining fixture between current leaders Highwood and second placed Langley Arrows with just two points separating the two teams.
In the group two fixture Hornet won their home game against Maggies 6-2 to lift them off the foot of the table while the group three game saw Lyndon Old Boys win 5-3 at Langley Flights, this was only Lyndon’s second win in nine games.
Hornet’s Gary Stait hit a maximum while Langley Flights player Lee harris checked out on 107.
———————————
A 6-3 defeat at Smethwick Cricket Club has cost Copper Fox ‘R’ the leadership in the Harborne and District League as they drop one place to second behind new leaders Northfield Conservative Club who won 5-4 at Northfield Town giving them a two points lead over both Copper Fox ‘R’ and third placed Smethwick Cricket Club.
There were just the three scores of 180 this week supplied by R.Hosey, S.Jones (Northfield Conservative Club) and K.Jukes (Copper Fox ‘M’).
———————————
Harborne Village Social Club, 3 Serpentine Road, Harborne, B17 9RD will be staging a Darts Knockout on Saturday 23rd September with £250 being added to the prize fund. Cost of entry is £10, doors will open at the club at 10.30am, registrations will be accepted up to 1.00pm with a 1.30pm start. Anyone requiring any further information should contact Nipper on 07861-247012 or Mike on 07701-031981.
———————————
A 4-3 home win over third in the Kings Norton League Bourneville was not enough for Northfield to hold on to pole position as a 6-1 win at Kings Norton Flights gave Copper Fox the slight average lead on their rivals for the title moving them up one place into the number one spot level on thirty-two points with Northfield but with a game in hand.
A Savage (Thurlestone), P.Hughes (Cock Inn), D.Whitcombe (Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club), C.Smith (Bournebrook) and J.Trott (Longbridge) all found the magical three treble twenties this week.
———————————
As the second half of the season gets underway in the Sutton and District Summer League only average separates the top two teams in division one, a 7-2 home win over Walmley CSC Flights gives Highcroft Hotdogs a slender four legs of average lead over their nearest rivals Bishop Vesey who won 5-4 at Red Lion, both teams are on fourteen points and have a four points advantage over third placed Old Horns Lions who lost ground in the title race going down 6-3 at Heartlands.
In division two leaders Scott Armers opened up a four points lead over second placed Charley’s Flights albeit they have played one game more than them after beating 6-3. After the top two comes four teams Erdington Arrows, Plough and Arrows, Rosey Mac’s and Sutton Sharks, six off the top, all on eight points.
———————————
Tyseley WMC made it four straight wins in the Camp Hill League when they won their home game with Peaky Blinder 5-2. The win give the Working Men’s Club a two points breathing space over second and third placed Erdington Nomads and Tyseley Bears, the Nomads winning 5-2 at Moseley Arms while the Bears lost 4-3 at Clumsy Swan who are fourth in the league on the same six points as Nomads and Bears but have played one game more than the three teams above them.
———————————
Longbridge United, West Heath CEM and Bournbrook continue to be the top three teams in both the singles and pre-match doubles divisions of the South West Birmingham Clubs League. In the singles division Longbridge United gained an invaluable 6-1 win playing away against second placed West Heath CEM, the win seeing them open up a two points lead on their hosts who are now only two to the good on third placed Bournbrook who won 4-3 at Stirchley Flights.
In the pre-match doubles division Longbridge are on 216 points with West Heath CEM on 199 and Bournbrook have 152.
There were three top scores of 180 this week and they were provided by L.Fowler (Northfield Town), M.Welsh (Stirchley United) and L.Little (Perfection).
———————————
Just one more round of fixtures to be played in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and the title is still not decided as only average separates leaders Old Liberal Club from second placed Cross (Oldswinford). In their latest fixtures Old Liberal Club had a close 4-3 success playing away against seventh in the league Bird in Hand while Cross (Oldswinfrod) had a more convincing 6-1 win at Crestwood. Third in the league Ten Arches are some twelve points adrift of the leading duo even after adding their 5-2 win at Rose and Crown ‘A’ to their account.
Like the main league the Shadow league is far from finding a winner as any of the top four teams could win it. Mount Pleasant are top with 18 points from 18 games while second placed Church Tavern are on the same 18 points but from 17 games. Third and fourth Raven and Crestwood both have 16 points after playing 17 games.
———————————
Its great news for the Netherton Thursday Night League who at the recent AGM confirmed that the eight teams from last season would all be entering for the forthcoming 2023-2024 season and that their numbers would be swelled to thirteen with the addition of five new teams. Lining up on the opening night of the season will be Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’, Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’, Bulls Head, Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club, Townsend Social Club, Spring Meadow Social Club, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B and Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ plus newcomers Hare and Hounds, Olde Queens Head, Old Glasshouse, Old Liberal Club and Spring Meadow Pub.
———————————
A 6-1 home win over Waggon and Horses has seen Allen’s ‘A’ go eight points clear at the top of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League after second placed Vine ‘A’ lost 4-3 away against fourth in the league Cottage Spring. Albion recorded only their second win of season when they won 4-3 at Vine ‘B’ but remain at the foot of the table still four points short of their hosts who are next to bottom of the table.
On the individual scene N.Whitehouse (Allen’s ‘A’) has moved one win clear of M.Wall (Vine ‘A’) in the race for the Individual averages title.
———————————
There was a top of the table clash in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League with leaders Old Liberal Club ‘A’ travelling to take on second placed Hollybush with just two points separating the two teams prior to the fixture. The outcome was a clear-cut 6-1 win for Old Liberal Club ‘A’ to open up a four points lead over their hosts. Bird in Hand ‘E’ and Cottage are third and fourth in the league and have reduced the arrears on Hollybush to four points after Bird in Hand ‘E’ won 7-0 at Brickmakers Arms and Cottage won 4-3 at Old Liberal Club ‘B.
———————————
There is only half a dozen fixtures left to play in the Rowley Monday Night League and the odds are that Bell with a four point’s advantage over the rest of the field should take the title. In their latest fixture Bell had a rather close 5-4 home win over middle of the table Rowley Labour Club however the win keeps them well on course for the title but hoping they will slip-up is second placed White Swan who with a 180 from their C.Whitehouse had a more convincing 7-2 success at Waterfall which not only keeps them in touch with the leaders but also maintains their two points lead on third placed Gate Hangs Well who won 5-4 at Romsley Cricket Club.
———————————
The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League have got their new season underway and the early pacesetters are White Horse who handed their visitors Seven Stars a 9-0 whitewash. Not far behind the leaders are reigning champions Gornal Labour Club who were 7-2 winners at Jolly Crispin with last season’s runners-up Old Bulls Head third after their 6-3 win at Red Cow.
———————————
There were opening defeats for both John Green and Nick Fullwell in the latest round of fixtures in the Ashwood Premier League, leader John Green lost 4-3 to Kevin Harris and although he rallied and won 5-2 against Ben Watts he ended the night on the wrong side of a 5-2 result with Gavin Smith. Despite the two losses Green remains top of the table with 305 points from 58 games and Fullwell is second with 295 from 53 games after he lost 4-3 to Cayden Smith, won 6-1 against Chris Manoila, beat Tony Bennet 4-3 and finished with a 6-1 success over Andy Vellender.
———————————
No change in the top four places in the Black Country Men’s Super League after leaders Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ won 5-0 at home against Soccer Zone, second placed Allen’s Bar ‘C’ beat their ‘B’ side 4-1, third placed Railway Tavern had a bye and fourth in the league Townsend Social ‘A’ won 4-1 against Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’.
———————————
Leaders of the West Midlands Men’s Super League Dog and Partridge suffered a shock 3-2 defeat away to Kings Head ‘B’ in their latest fixture while their nearest rivals Kings Head ‘A’ had a 5-0 home win over Bridgtown Social.
———————————
Only change in the top places in division one of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League was that of second and third placed Martin Price and Ben Johnson swapping places after Price lost 5-3 to Johnson who goes one point ahead of his opponent. Price then lost by the same score to Phil Clarke while Johnson was held to a 4-4 draw by John Simms.
No change in the top three in division two with leader Jason Hough adding an 8-0 win over Baljinder Gill, second placed Clark Cook winning 5-3 against Allan Davies and third placed Tony Singh suffering a 5-3 defeat to Ben Smith.
The division three title has turned into a one-horse race with leader Alan Melling adding a 7-1 win over Sandra Beardsmore to his tally to give him 216 points and a massive 31 points lead over his nearest rival Robert Harris.
———————————
No change in the Singles Division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League with the top three players all on 34 points from 19 games. Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ are top on average their latest win seeing them beat Three Crowns 7-0, second placed Woodfield won 5-2 against Railway and third in the division ECC ‘A’ beat their ‘B’ side 6-1.
In the Doubles Division ECC ‘A’ lead the field with 36 points four more than second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ after ECC ‘A’ won 2-1 against their ‘B’ team and Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ won by the same margin at three Crowns.
———————————