The Sheldon and District Winter League have got their new season underway and the good news is that they have once again increased their number of entrants, despite losing a few of the previous teams, they have been replaced and their numbers increased to twenty-seven which is two more than last season. The league is made up of three divisions with nine teams in the Premier League, ten in division one and eight in division two.
Topping the Premier League with a 6-3 home win over Yardley Ex Colts is The Dingle with three teams, Sheldon Marlborough Arrows, Sheldon Dukes and Langley Arrows all sharing the number two spot after they in turn won 5-4 against Raven Arrows, The Banbury Club and Highwood, Gary Fleetwood notched a maximum for Banbury Club.
An 8-1 win at Hollywood Social Club puts Trident Spears top of division one with Shirley Misfits not far behind following their 7-1 home win over Maggies. After the top two, a trio of teams Willclare Sports and Social, Brian’s Flights and Kingshurst Labour Club all had respective 5-4 wins over Bell Inn, Iron Horse Rebels and Smithswood Social Club with Dean Young hitting a maximum for Brian’s Flights.
Three games were played in division two with all three finishing with a 5-4 scoreline to put Castle Bromwich WMC, Sheldon Marlborough Ridge and Hornet all sharing the top spot after defeating in turn Lyndon Old Boys, Raven and Moseley Rugby Club, Elliott Astley recording a 160 break for Castle Bromwich WMC.
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It is so close at the top of the Kings Norton League that a 4-3 win at Coppice was not enough to keep Northfield top of the table as they slipped to second behind Copper Fox whose 6-1 home win over Longbridge put them on the same thirty-eight points as Northfield but with a slender three legs of average advantage plus they also have a game in hand. Third placed Bourneville were also 6-1 winners in their home tie with Thurlestone but despite the convincing win they are still some six points short of the top two teams.
There were no fewer than seven scores of 180 this week with E.Simpson (Copper Fox) and N.Steventon (Northfield) both recording two. Northfield’s M.Lloyd and M.Hopkins had one each and there was also one for Thurlestone’s J.Downer.
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The top two teams in the Camp Hill League squared up to each other in game number seven with leaders Tyseley WMC taking their undefeated run to six games with a 4-3 win over Erdington Nomads to open up a four points lead for the working men’s club over the chasing pack of three teams Erdington Nomads, Clumsy Swan and Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club. Clumsy Swan won their home game with Moseley Arms 6-1 while Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club had a closer 4-3 home win over Tyseley Bears who drop two places in the table to fifth, now six points adrift of the leaders.
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It’s as-you-were for the top six teams in the singles division of the South West Birmingham Clubs League with top of the table Longbridge United winning 6-1 away to bottom of the table Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club to keep them four points to the good on second placed West Heath CEM who won their home tie with Northfield Conservative Club 5-2. Third placed Bournebrook are a further four points behind after they lost 5-2 at Avenue Social who are sixth in the table on twenty-two points, sixteen fewer than Longbridge United. Fourth and fifth placed Stirchley United and Northfield Town are now both on the same twenty-six points after Stirchley United lost 4-3 at Northfield Town.
After completing twenty-one games in the Pre-Match Doubles division, Longbridge United have increased their lead to a huge twenty-two points over their nearest rivals West Heath CEM who in turn are fifty-nine points ahead of third placed Bournebrook.
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In division one of the Sutton and District Summer League leaders Highcroft Hotdogs added a close 5-4 win away to fifth placed Old Horns Lions to their account to keep them two points better off than second placed Bishop Vesey who also had a close 5-4 win, but their narrow victory was a little more surprising as they were playing away against next to bottom of the division Aston Manor Cricket Club Flights. Walmley CSC Flights lost 6-3 at home to Old Horns Arrows, this being Old Horns Arrows first win in eleven games, but despite the win they remain rooted at the foot of the table. The only highlight for Walmley CSC Flights was the 160 break by their Jamie Meredith.
In division two Scott Armers continue to lead the field adding a 7-2 home win over St Tom Cats to their tally keep in place their two points lead on second in the division Charley’s Flights who had a narrow 5-4 win at Pint Pot Flights.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League had the finals of their singles knockout on the fixture card. There were only three games played in the quarter-finals with all three being straight 2-0 results as I.Kelly (Bird in Hand), T.Cunningham (Ten Arches) and K.Safe (Ten Arches) in turn took out S.Smith (Church Tavern), B.Fitzgerald (Cross, Oldswinford) and C.Hart (Old Liberal Club), D.Moreton (Princess) had a bye. The 2-0 trend continued into the semi-finals with I.Kelly beating T.Cunningham and D.Moreton losing to K.Safe. Yet again in the final the straight win sequence continued with I.Kelly winning 3-0 against K.Safe to lift the winner’s trophy.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League are another league to see their new season numbers increase as they added a further four teams to take their starting line-up to twelve teams. Last season Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club finished fourth but have got their new campaign off to the best of possible start by handing their visitors new to the league, Olde Queens Head a 9-0 whitewash to put them top of the table with reigning champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club placed joint second after their 8-1 home win over Bulls Head and Townsend Social Club’s similar 8-1 win at Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B’. Newcomers Old Glasshouse are third, they had a 7-2 success at home against another new addition to the league Hare and Hounds.
On the individual scene T.Johnson (Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club) hit a maximum as did H.Williams (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’) as well as recording a 120 break and a 141 finish.
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With the majority of teams still having eight more fixtures to play in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League leaders Old Liberal Club ‘A’ consolidated their pole position with a 7-0 home win over Wheatsheaf to keep intact their eight points lead over the chasing pack of three, Bird in Hand ‘E’, Hollybush and Cottage and their possible title win. Bird in Hand ‘E’ won 5-2 against Dudley Sports, Hollybush won by the same 5-2 margin against Brickmakers Arms while Cottage had a slightly closer 4-3 win over Fox Inn, Lye.
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There are only four remaining fixtures in the Rowley Monday Night League and top of the table Bell maintained their four points lead and moved another step nearer the title with an 8-1 win over Loyal Lodge with Paul Bishop chalking up a maximum for the winners. White Swan are second, they had a narrow 5-4 win at Whiteheath Tavern who are sixth in the league and some sixteen points short of their opponents, but they stay on track for the runners-up spot as they also have a four points advantage over their nearest rivals Gate Hangs Well who were 7-2 winners at Wonder.
Rowley Labour Club’s Rich Lenton and Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club player Kurt Wright also found the three treble twenties with Rowley Bar and Grill’s A.Bonehill having a 160 break.
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As the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League get up to game five only two of the starting line-up of thirteen teams are able to boast a 100% win record and they are leaders Gornal Labour Club and second placed Old Bulls Head who have only played four games compared to the labour Club’s five. Gornal Labour had a 7-2 win at The Cabin while Old Bulls Head won their home game with fourth in the league New Inn 6-3. Baggeridge WM are currently third in the league on the same eight points as Old Bulls Head but from five games, they lost ground as they suffered their first defeat of the season a somewhat surprising 5-4 reversal at Britannia.
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Despite already having won the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League title Allen’s ‘A’ still keep adding to their account as they finished their season with a 4-3 win against runners-up in the league Vine ‘A’ who ended their campaign a massive twelve points behind their opponents as did third placed Horseley Tavern who finished on the right side of the 4-3 result in their final game at Tamebridge.
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With the majority of teams having played seventeen games in the Black Country Men’s Super League Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ top the table with sixty-four points, four more than their nearest rivals Allen’s Bar ‘C’ who in turn have a four points lead on third placed Pensnett Liberal Club. There was a rare win this week for Soccer Zone, their 3-2 home win over Horse and Jockey only their third in seventeen games.
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The West Midlands Men’s Super League played off their Doubles Knockout which brought together Ryan O’Connor & Dan Nicholls against Ben Johnson & Rob Thompson in the final.
On their path to the final O’Connor (117f) and Nicholls beat Neville Quinton & Doug Cotton 4-0, they then with a 170 finish and a twelve darts leg, after going 2-0 down won 4-2 against Owen Maiden & Mark Maiden. O’Connor (120f) & Nicholls then booked their last four place with a close 4-3 win over Kieron O’Mahoney & Dave Carnall before reaching the final with a 4-0 success against Martin East & Craig Capewell.
From the other side of the draw Ben Johnson & Rob Thompson beat Reece Cooke Lucas & Simon Pritchard 4-0, Ian Jones & Mark Craddock 4-2 and Luke Griffiths & Jack Aldridge 4-3.
With a 106 checkout from Ryan O’Connor, he and his partner Dan Nicholls lifted the winners trophy with a final 4-2 win against Ben Johnson & Rob Thompson.
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The winners of the three division in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League have all now been decided as in division one Scott Baker with one more game to play is on 215 points and has a lead of 25 over second placed Martin Price who has two games to play.
The top four players in division two have all completed their fixtures with Jason Hough top of the pile with 203 points, he wins the division with Clark Cook runner-up on 196 points.
In division three Alan Melling has run away with the title, after playing 27 games he is on 234 points and with still three more fixtures to play he has a lead of eighteen points plus two games in hand on Robert Harris who will end his campaign as runner-up.
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The Singles League in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League could not have finished much closer with both of the top two teams ending on forty points. Champions Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ won the title by eight legs of average despite surprisingly losing their final game 4-3 away to Wednesfield Legion who finished eighth on eighteen points, twenty-two fewer than their opponents. The runners-up spot went to ECC ‘A’ who had a better finish to their campaign winning 5-2 at home against Corpus Christi ‘B’.
Although they narrowly missed out on the Singles League title ECC ‘A’ did win the Doubles League title. With a final straight 3-0 win over Corpus Christi ‘B’ in the last game of the season ECC ‘A’ took their total points to forty, two more than runners-up Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ who in their season end game won 2-1 at Wednesfield Legion.
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