Prior to the game twelve fixtures in the Harborne and District League Northfield Conservative Club were top of the table on twenty points with Copper Fox ‘R’ second having eighteen points. Game number twelve brought the two teams together on the Copper Fox ‘R’ board but despite home advantage the hosts went down 6-3 to see Northfield Conservative Club retain their two points lead at the top of the table and their hosts drop one place to third, now four points off the top. Taking over from Copper Fox in second place is Smethwick Cricket Club whose 6-3 home win over Copper Fox ‘M’ leaves them two points short of the leaders, not a very good week for Copper Fox with both teams losing. Fourth placed Northfield Town have the same eighteen points as Copper Fox ‘R’ but trail heavily on average despite winning their latest game against Quinton RBL 7-2.
Just the one maximum scored this week which was recorded by Copper Fox ‘M’ player K.Jukes.
———————————
Only one rearranged fixture played this week in the Sheldon and District Summer League which saw Highwood top of group one with thirteen points from eight games and their hosts Langley Arrows second on the same thirteen points but from nine games. The result was a convincing 7-1 win for Langley Arrows to take them top of the table having completed all of their fixtures and their fifteen points two more than Highwood who are now second but still with one game to play against Raven Arrows. To win the divisional title outright Highwood need to beat Raven Arrows 7-1 which would put them level on points with Langley Arrows but with a very close one leg average more than them, a 6-2 win would see them finish on the same fifteen points and level on average.
———————————
Longbridge United held on to their four points lead at the top of the singles division of the South West Birmingham Clubs League with a 6-1 home win over Northfield Conservative Club, C.Steadman chalking up a 160 break for the league leaders. Second in the table West Heath CEM had a close 4-3 home win over Quarry Club, the win putting them two points ahead of third placed Bournbrook who lost their home tie with fourth in the table Stirchley United 4-3. Stirchley, whose M.Bathurst was another player to record a 160 break and although he also had two 100 breaks he lost to T.Jeffs, leaving his team.still four points adrift of their hosts.
Longbridge United continue to lead the pre-match doubles division but their lead over second placed West Heath CEM is diminishing week by week and has dropped from thirty-one points last week to just fourteen this week.
———————————
It was cup week in the Sutton and District Summer League, the first round of the Prestridge Shield saw division one leaders Highcroft Hotdogs beat their division two opponents Erdington Arrows 5-3 while second in division one Bishop Vesey lost 5-4 away to Plough and Arrows who are fifth in the same division. The other two games went to league form with Old Horns Lions winning 6-3 at Heartlands and Red Lion winning 5-4 at The Nomads.
In the quarter-finals of the Roy Bird Shield, division two leaders Scott Armers had a convincing 8-1 win away to their fellow division two opponents Sutton Sharks but Charley’s Flights, who are second in division two had a narrow 5-4 away defeat to Old Oscott Arrows from division one. There were wins for the other two division one teams Old Horns Arrows and Walmley CSC Flights who in turn defeated Rosey Mac’s (7-2) and Rosey Mac’s Bar (9-0).
———————————
The Camp Hill League staged their presentation night for last season’s various winners with the league title going to Erdington Nomads and the League Cup being presented to the winners Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club.
Erdington Nomads Winners
Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club League Cup Winners
———————————
With all of the domestic fixtures complete only cup games remain in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and the latest of those saw the semi-finals of the League Cup in which league champions Old Liberal Club beat fifth in the league The Princess 4-3 and fourth placed Netherton Conservative Club lost by the same 4-3 margin to sixth in the league Cottage.
The final between Old Liberal Club and Cottage will be played off at Ten Arches on Monday 16th October.
———————————
The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League played the first round of their singles competition and winning through to the last sixteen were up and coming young players B.Stanley, C.Ralph, J.Gibbs, J.Riley and R.Tinsley together with seasoned players C.Williams, A.Cross, L.Jordan, L.Gelder, W.Hobday, S.Sayce, T.Brennan, S.Shemar and A.Cope plus former winners R.McCarthy and C.Bowen (Roop) who is a five times winner.
———————————
The Netherton Thursday Night League have got their new season underway and they kicked it off with the first round of their League Cup. It was not a good start to the new campaign for reigning league champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ as they went down 5-4 away to league newcomers Old Liberal Club. It was however a great start for Townsend Social Club as they handed another new team to the league Old Glasshouse a 9-0 whitewash. Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ were not far behind with their 8-1 home win over Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’, the same scoreline by which Spring Meadow Social Club defeated Hare and Hounds. Also through to the next round are Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’ who won 7-2 at Olde Queens Head.
———————————
No change in the top three places in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League with Gornal Labour Club heading the league table by one leg of average after they added their 7-2 win at Meadow Lark, second placed Old Bulls Head won by the same 7-2 margin at Britannia and third in the league Baggeridge after their close 5-4 success at Red Cow are a further four legs of average adrift, all of the top three have won their opening three fixtures and are the only undefeated teams in the league.
———————————
It was 3 A-Side Knockout week in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as the competition was played down to the last eight qualifiers and making the quarter-finals were J.Poole,M.Cullis,D.Hand, C.Powell,R.Rubery,K.Safe,L.Marson, C.Hall,S.Tipper,N.Cooper, K.Bambrick,I.Jones,S.Hall,J.Batham, A.Nicholls,A.Dimmock,S.Gough, M.Tibbetts,C.Newton,D.Oakes, C.Smith,D.Fox,L.Zirra, J.Gennard,L.Bird,L. Willetts.
———————————
With only five games remaining in the Rowley Monday Night League Bell have what could well be a title winning six points advantage over the rest of the field. Bell’s latest fixture away to Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club saw them return on the right side of the 7-2 result while second placed White Swan went one better with their 8-1 home win over Romsley Cricket Club to keep them well on track for the runners-up spot as they have a two points lead on their nearest rivals Gate Hangs Well after they went down 5-4 at home to sixth placed Whiteheath Tavern.
———————————
The Ashwood Premier League have completed season four and retaining the title is Nick Fullwell. Going into the final night’s fixtures Fullwell was placed fourth in the league on 296 points from fifty-five games some twenty-two points short of the then leader John Green who had completed his sixty games. Fullwell played off his remaining five games in which he beat Jake Robinson 7-0, Chris Eacock 6-1, Neil Murphy 5-2, Chris Fox 7-0 and Jon Underhill 7-0 to give him a final score of 328 points. Gavin Smith began the night in second place and the runners-up spot is where he finished the season as he added wins over Paul Pollard 7-0, Rob Pierce 5-2 and Jayden Harper 4-3 to finish on 318 points, ten short of Nick Fullwell.
The wooden spoon went to Tony Bennett who with 70 points won three of his sixty games.
———————————
Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ kept their title hopes on track in the Black Country Men’s Super League with a 3-2 home win over Townsend Social while second placed Allen’s Bar ‘C’ won by the same 3-2 margin again at home against Quarry Bank Liberal Club to keep within four points of the leaders. Third in the league Townsend Social ‘A’ with 54 points are a further four points off the top, their latest fixture seeing them also win 3-2 at home against The Ashwood.
———————————
Only a handful of games played in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League this week in which current leader Danny Nicholls added an 8-0 win over Jack Rolo to his account giving him a total of 112 points from fourteen games and a lead of eight over second placed mark Jones.
———————————
Dog and Partridge continue to hold on to pole position in the West Midlands Men’s Super League, their latest 3-2 home win over their nearest rivals Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ seeing them open up a six points lead over their second placed opponents, Dog and Partridge also have the advantage of a game in hand on Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’. Third in the league Kings Head ‘A’ had a bye this week, they are on 146 points, just one behind Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ and they have played one game fewer than them.
———————————