Just one fixture remains outstanding in the Kings Norton League and the result of that will decide who will become champions for the season. Currently ten of the league’s twelve teams have completed their programmes the remaining game is between present leaders Copper Fox who have forty points from their twenty-one games and second placed Northfield who are on thirty-eight points from the same twenty-one games with Copper Fox having the slightly better average. It would take a 5-2 win for Northfield for them to win the title, a 4-3 win would see Copper Fox scrape home with a very close one leg advantage with both teams then finishing on forty points.
It was basically the final fixtures of the season Copper Fox kept their bid for the title on course with a 4-3 away win over Bournebrook who have finished fifth in the league, Bourneville ended their campaign in third place with thirty-four points after winning 5-2 away to Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club who ended up with the wooden spoon. Coppice player A.Aindow ended the season with a maximum as his team won 4-3 at Grant Arms.
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The Harborne and District League have been involved in cup fixtures and in the preliminary round of the League Cup third in the league Smethwick Cricket Club suffered a somewhat surprising large 6-1 home defeat by third placed Copper Fox ‘R’ who were aided by a maximum score from their E.Simpson.
In the Consolation Cup there was a close 4-3 home win for sixth in the league Cock Inn who with a maximum from John Fox accounted for their opponents Weoley Castle WMC who are two places below them in the table.
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Week two in the Sheldon and District Winter League and its all-change at the top of the premier division as former leaders Dingle had their fixture with Raven Arrows postponed and drop to third in the division. Taking over in pole position is Langley Arrows, their 7-2 home win over Sheldon Dukes seeing them move up two places and their opponents drop down two places to fifth. Second placed Sheldon Marlborough Arrows, like Langley Arrows made two wins in as many games when they won 5-4 in their away game with Banbury Club.
Trident Spears continue to lead in division one adding a 5-4 home win over Kingshurst Labour Club to their account to keep them top by one leg of average over Brian’s Flights who had a 7-2 win at Smithswood Social Club which puts them two legs of average to the good on third in the table Willclare Sports and Social Club. Willclare, like the two teams above them have won both of the season’s opening two games the latest of which was a 5-4 success at Iron Horse Rebels.
Castle Bromwich WMC suffered their first defeat in two when they went down 6-3 at home to Moseley Rugby Club and as a result drop from top of the division two table to fourth. Moving up from second place to take a share of the number one spot is Sheldon Marlborough Ridge whose 7-2 home win over local rivals Sheldon Marlborough Flights puts them level on points and average with Hornet who also won 7-2 in their home tie with The Raven.
Highlight of the week came from division one side Hollywood Social Club whose Tony Colley had a 156 finish in a nine darts game, Jake Webster (Langley Arrows) and Chris Millward (Sheldon Marlborough Arrows) both recorded ten darts games.
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The Camp Hill League have been playing their Singles Knockout down to the last eight players and making a successful run into the quarter-finals were Leigh Dells (Erdington Nomads), Ashley Lattimer (Moseley Arms), Dave Heighway, Mick Tilley (Tyseley Bears), Mitch O’Donnell, Thomas Perks, Shay Darby (Clumsy Swan), Neil Parsonage (Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club).
On the night Tyseley Bears man Dave Heighway chalked up the night’s highest score of 177.
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The final week’s fixtures in the South West Birmingham Clubs League saw no change in either the singles or shadow leagues. In the singles league champions Longbridge United took their final score of points to forty, they had twenty wins in twenty-two games, their last game of the season being a 7-0 win at home over Stirchley Flights to see them finish with four points more than runners-up West Heath CEM who rounded off their season with a 6-1 win at Moseley All Services. Third placed Bournbrook also had a final 6-1 win playing at home against Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club to end up four points short of West Heath CEM.
Quarry Club have won the shadow league title, their twelve points four more than second placed Perfection who still have one game to play.
The pre-match doubles league was once again a win for Longbridge United who finished the season on 286 points, a huge twenty-two more than runners-up for a second time West Heath CEM.
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A 7-2 home win over fourth placed Red Lion helped Highcroft Hotdogs hold on to their two points lead at the top of division one in the Sutton and District Summer League, their nearest rivals Bishop Vesey with a 180 from their Stuart Abbott chalked up a 6-3 win at home over Old Oscott Arrows who are fith in the division. After the top two comes a trio of teams all on twelve points, Old Horns Lions, Red Lion and Old Oscott Arrows, Old Horns Lions winning 6-3 at Walmley CSC Flights.
There was somewhat of a shock result for leaders of the second division Scott Armers as for only the second time in eleven games they lost. Playing at home the Armers took on third in the division Erdington Arrows and finished on the wrong side of the 5-4 result. Despite the defeat Scott Armers remain at the top of the table with eighteen points and although second placed Charley’s Flights had a narrow 5-4 home win over Sutton Sharks to put them on the same eighteen points they trail the leaders by two legs of average. Third and fourth placed Erdington Arrows and Rosey Mac’s are both on fourteen points, four fewer than the two teams at the top of the table but Rosey Mac’s, who had a bye this week now have a game in hand.
Paul Nicholls (Charley’s Flights) was another player to hit a maximum this week and there was a 160 break for St Tom Cat’s man John Paul Roddy.
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It was League Cup final week in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and contesting the final were, Cottage who finished sixth in the league and they squared up to league champions Old Liberal Club. As expected the result was a win for Old Liberal Club, making it a superb double with a final score of 4-2.
The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League will be holding their AGM on Sunday 5th November at the Old Liberal Club, Quarry Bank to form the 2023/2024 season. The meeting will get underway at 11.15am with both old and new teams invited to attend.
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The Rowley Monday Night League played off the finals of their doubles knockouts and the winners of the Top-Half Doubles knockout were Shane Price and Trev Brennan with Conker White and Steve Gillam runners-up. The Shadow League Champions were Dale Locke and Jason Tart who defeated Steve Hadley and J.Keller in the final.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ are back where they finished last season in the Netherton Thursday Night League, top of the table, although currently they have to share the top spot with Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ made it two consecutive wins when they won 8-1 at Hare and Hounds with a maximum score for their Antony Tonks while Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club had a 7-2 win at Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’. Third in the table Old Liberal Club won 6-3 at Townsend Social Club to leave them trailing the top two by five legs of average. Spring Meadow Social and Old Glasshouse are the only other two teams from a starting line-up of thirteen to remain undefeated but they have both only played one fixture so far.
Old Liberal Club’s Jeff Batham not only found the three treble twenties this week but also recorded a fourteen darts game while Grant Jackson (Bulls Head) also notched a maximum.
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Leaders and champions of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League Allen’s ‘A’ had a 4-3 win at Horseley Tavern this week which saw them open up a massive fourteen points gap between them and a following pack of three teams. Second in the league Vine ‘A’ had a bye but hold on to the number two position on average from both Cottage Spring who won 6-1 at home against Vine ‘B’ and Horseley Tavern who drop from third to fourth. Vine ‘A’ and Cottage Spring have both played twenty-seven games whereas Horseley Tavern have played twenty-eight.
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Old Liberal Club ‘A’ consolidated their pole position in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League with a 5-2 win at Garibaldi and at the same time took their undefeated run to twenty-one games. The win keeps the Liberal Club eight points to the good on Bird in Hand ‘E’, Hollybush and Cottage. Bird in Hand ‘E’ won 6-1 at the Shovel, Hollybush had a narrow 4-3 win at Wheatsheaf and Cottage were also held to a close 4-3 victory at Ashwood.
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Baggeridge WM lost their third place in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League and dropped one place to third after losing their home game with second in the league Old Bulls Head 7-2. Gornal Labour Club continue to lead the field, their 7-2 home win over Britannia keeping intact their unbeaten record after six games and also maintain their two points lead over Old Bulls Head who are also undefeated but have only played five games. The Cabin lost 7-2 at Seven Stars and remain the only team in the league without a point so far after six games.
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Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ continue to dominate the Black Country Men’s Super League adding a further 5-0 win over Horse and Jockey to their tally to give them a total of sixty-nine points from eighteen games. A 4-1 home win for Pensnett Liberal Club takes them into second place, just having the edge on third placed Allen’s Bar ‘C’ who had a bye this week, both teams are on sixty points.
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With the majority of players in the three divisions of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League having completed all of their fixtures, outstanding rearranged games are now all that are being played which will have no effect on the already acclaimed winners of the three divisions, Scott Baker (division one), Jason Hough (division two) and Alan Melling (division three).
With the season all but ended the league are now looking for entrants and sponsors for the forthcoming season and with a total of fifty-seven already signed up the figure has already passed the forty-five from the current season. So if you would like to be part of the biggest Individual Leagues in the Midlands, season four of the Gilberts Individual Monday Darts League which paid out in excess of £5,000 last season then Simon (Wookie Mon) Pritchard is the man to speak to he can be contacted on simonshropshiredarts@hotmail,com
Simon will be able to answer any of your questions regarding the league, match fees, pay-outs and all league playing rules.
There will be a reforming meeting on Monday 13th November at Gilbert’s Bar when all entry fees have to be paid.
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As the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League goes into the final third of its season current leaders of the singles division Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ were involved in a local derby with their ‘B’ side which saw them win 4-1 to keep them top of the table with 42 points and a five legs of average lead on second placed ECC ‘A’ who handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their visiting team Railway to give them the same 42 points. Third placed Woodfield won 5-2 at Corpus Christi ‘A’ to keep within four points of the top two teams.
The doubles division has turned into a two-horse race with leaders ECC ‘A’ taking their points tally to forty-two with a 3-0 win over Railway and second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ winning 2-1 against their ‘B’ side to stay two points behind the leaders. After the top two there is a gap of twelve points to Ring of Bells who won 2-1 at Dog and Partridge.
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