After losing their opening three games in the UKDA National League Cosmo Darts Premier Division Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will be hoping to kick-start their season this coming weekend when at their headquarters Hen Lane and District Social Club, 6 Beacon Road, Coventry CV6 4DS they will be hosting Dorset. Warwickshire go into the fixture lying eighth in the eleven team division with forty-five points, they are two places and twelve points to the good on their opponents, so the home side could not have a better opportunity to chalk up their first win of the season.
Lining up and hoping to get that win for the county will be Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Gareth Braham, Kevin Dowling, Noel Grant, Nigel Heydon, Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Mark McGeeney, Wayne Mynard, Samuel Price, Jack Wareing, Matty Washbrooke, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Carter, Adam Hancock, Dave Hill, Scott Hope, Mark Martin, Lee Miller, Will Naylor, Karl Reynolds, Noah Rose, Mark Strong, Martin Tonks, Sam Whittaker, Reserves:- Alfie Busby, Carl Green, Pete Hughes, Prakash Jiwa, Kishan Jiwa, Dave Redding, Ian Shaw, Jenson Walker, Women’s ‘A’:- Wendy Adams, Marian Conway, Caroline Pike, Donna Pinch, Courtney Hine, Natalie Gilbert, Women’s ‘B’:- Nina Bolt, Kirsty Hinchcliffe, Denise Keyte, Chloe McKivett-Saunders, Angela Jones, Melanie Jones, Reserve:- Kat Spanswick, Hannah Meek, Lucy Keyte, Kris Meek.
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In the Andy Wheeler Fisheries Championship Division of the UKDA National League West Midlands have the opportunity this coming weekend to not only return to winning ways but also to record their second win in what will be the three games they have played so far this season when they make the long trek north to take on Cleveland at the Thornaby Sports and Leisure Club, Tedder Avenue, Thornaby-On-Tees, Cleveland TS17 9JP. Going into the fixture West Midlands are seventh and their hosts eighth with only two points separating them, however West Midlands have played two games to Cleveland’s three, a win could well see them move up a couple of places in the promotional table.
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The Black Country could well increase their lead at the top of the L-Style Division One table in the UKDA National League this weekend as they travel to the Mel Inn Social Club, 513 Hawthorne Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 6JJ where they will take on the local Merseyside county team. After the opening three fixtures, Black Country are on seventy-four points at the top of the division with their hosts currently next to bottom of the table placed tenth with thirty-eight points. However,, Merseyside have only played two games so far with eight of the nine teams above them having played three fixtures.
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The latest fixtures for the Sheldon and District Winter League produced the preliminary round of their Punchbowl which saw curent premier league leaders Langley Arrows win the home tie with division one side Bell Inn 6-1. There were also 6-1 wins for Willclare Sports and Social Club, Brian’s Flights, Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Trident Spears who in turn accounted for Moseley Rugby Club, The Raven, Lyndon Old Boys and The College Arms Flights. However, the biggest win of the round went to The Banbury Club -.who beat Langley Flights. The remaining four games played all ended with a close 4-3 result with Raven Arrows, The Dingle, Sheldon Dukes and Iron Horse Rebels all progressing to the next round after defeating in turn Highwood, Hollywood Social Club, The Hornet and Smithswood Social Club, the game bewteen Maggies and Sheldon Marlborough Arrows was a late result.
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With only one more round of fixtures to be played in the Harborne and District League the title has already gone to Northfield Conservative Club but the runners-up spot is still yet to be decided with no fewer than three teams Copper Fox ‘R’, Smethwick Cricket Club and Northfield Town contesting the position, all of them on twenty-six points. The latest round of fixtures saw the league champions Northfield Conservative Club win 7-2 at next to bottom of the table Quinton RBL, while second placed Copper Fox ‘R’ handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Weoley Castle WMC. Smethwick Cricket Club lost ground and second place after losing their home game with Northfield Town 5-4, dropping to third with their victors fourth. A 6-3 defeat away to The Mill confirms Avenue Social will collect the wooden spoon this season as they are four points adrift of next to bottom Quinton RBL.
Top score of 180 this week were hit by R.Hosey (Northfield Conservative Club), A.Bomber, M.Collins (Smethwick Cricket Club), D.Marsh, T.Hykin (Copper Fox ‘R’) and S.Passetti (Weoley Castle WMC).
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The Kings Norton League split their league into three sections to make up their Top, Middle and Bottom Section Cups. In the Top Section final league runners-up Copper Fox had a 14-7 win over fifth in the league Bournebrok with T.Jeffs notching a maximum for the losers.
The Middle Section final was won by Thurlestone who had a 15-6 win over Cock Inn who ended the season placed seventh with eigteen points, one place lower than their victors with eighteen points which was four short of Thurlestone whose R.Waldron hit a maximum.
The Bottom Section title went to Longbridge who won the final against Grant Arms 12-9.
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Longbridge United took their 100% winning run to three games in the South West Birmingham Clubs League when with a 180 from their A.Sutton they won their home game with Stirchley United 7-1, keeping intact their slender one point lead at the top of the table over both West Heath CEM and Northfield Town, the latter losing the number two spot despite winning 5-3 at Perfection as West Heath CEM won 8-0 at E57 to give them a slight one leg of average lead over Northfield Town.
There was no change in the top four placing’s in the pre-match doubles league as leaders West Heath CEM took their points tally to thirty-nine with Longbridge United on thirty-three, third placed Northfield Town have thirty-two and making up the top four Stirchley United who are on twenty-six points.
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The Sutton and District Summer League played off their Jubilee Cup and with one hand on the division one league title Highcroft Hotdogs lifted the cup with a final 3-1 win over Red Lion (1). In the last four games the Hotdogs won 3-1 against Old Horns Lions while Old Horns Arrows lost 3-0 to Red Lion (1).
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After completing week six fixtures in the Mighty Travels Heartlands Double Top League Ryan Cain and Steven Cain top the table both on twenty-five points from eleven games with third in the league Martin Cooper just one point behind the leading duo after he has played ten games. In the latest round of fixtures Ryan Cain beat Chris Vann 3-0 before losing 2-1 to Gerry McCormack while Steven Cain also won 3-0 against Chris Vann and then by the same 3-0 margin won against Gemma Whatley. Martin Cooper also kicked-off with a 3-0 win in his game against L.J.Austin but then suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Hayden Valovec. Dean Bond had a 160 break but it was not good enough to earn him an overall win as he lost 2-1 to Emma Cain.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League have got their new season underway and in the opening games four of the twenty starters had a 6-1 win. The four teams sharing the number one spot are Five Ways, whose A.Dimmock had a 160 break, Netherton Conservative Club ’B’, Old Liberal Club and Princess who accounted for respective opponents Glasscutters ‘A’, Britannia Inn, Glasscutters ‘B’ and Queens Head. After the top four comes three teams who won 5-2, Bird in Hand beat Mount Pleasant, Gate Hangs Well ‘A’ won against Rose and Crown ‘B’ and Seven Stars defeated Raven ‘A’.
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As a result of having their fixture with Old Liberal Club postponed, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ have lost their pole position in the Netherton Thursday Night League and have dropped to third place with a perfect eight points from their four games, two points short of the two teams above them but with two games in hand on both of them. New leaders in the league are Townsend Social Club whose 9-0 home win over Olde Queens Head has given them three legs of average lead on second placed Bulls Head who had a much closer 5-4 home win over middle of the table Spring Meadow Social.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League completed their fixture card with champions Allen’s Bar ‘A’ wining 5-2 at Ivy Bush to give them a final total of fifty-six points, a huge twelve points more than runners-up Cottage Spring who had a final 4-3 home win over Tamebridge to put them two points ahead of third placed Horseley Tavern who in the last week of the season had a bye. Albion won the wooden spoon ending their campaign with a 6-1 defeat at Vine ‘A’ seeing them finish the season with six points, four fewer than next to bottom Vine ‘B’.
The league are now looking for new teams to join them for their 2024 season which will get underway around mid-January. Anyone wishing to enter a team in the forthcoming season should contact John Wright through the league’s Facebook page.
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As the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League reach week eleven of their season only four legs of average separate the top four teams as they are all on the same sixteen points. A 6-3 win at New Inn has seen White Horse move to the top of the table with a one leg of average lead on former leaders Gornal Labour Club who somewhat surprisingly went down 5-4 at home to Seven Stars who are in the bottom half of the league. Old Bulls Head are third, a further two legs short after they won their home game against Jolly Crispin 6-3 and then making up the top four is Netherton Sports and Social Club who lost ground as they went down 6-3 at Baggeridge WM.
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With only three more fixtures to play in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League Old Liberal Club ‘A’ made it twenty-five wins in as many games when they won 7-0 at Netherton Conservative Club which almost guarantees them the league title. Cottage had a bye and dropped one place to fourth mathematically they are now the only team that could possibly steal the title from the leaders, but with the points and average difference that is very unlikely. Second in the league Bird in Hand ‘E’ also won 7-0 in their game at Kings Head to put them on the same forty points as third placed Hollybush who had a 6-1 win at Old Liberal Club ‘B’.
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A 180 from T.Brennan plus an eight darts game from E.Price helped Rowley Monday League champions Bell to a 9-0 victory against Windmills End. Second placed and runners-up White Swan won their home game against Tividale FC 6-3 leaving them four points behind Bell but four points ahead of third placed Gate Hangs Well who won 5-4 at home against Rowley Bar and Grill. There were further 180’s from M.Hadley (Rowley Labour Club) and G.Marsh (Wonder).
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Week two of the Amblecote RBL Premier League and Reece Colley takes over as leader following his 6-1 wins over Jayden Harper and Jake Robinson plus a 7-0 success against Stephen Cartwright which has taken his points tally to thirty-one from five games and given him a lead of five points over second placed Jamie Barrowman who on the night won 5-2 against Nick Wyer, 6-1 against Jake Robinson and 5-2 against Joe Poole. It was not such a good night for former leader Nick Fullwell who began with narrow 4-3 wins over Cayden Smith and Aaron Colley before losing 5-2 to Dave Simpson to leave him placed fourth on twenty-three points one behind third in the league Gavin Smith.
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In a local derby against their ‘A’ side Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ won 4-1 to keep them top of the Black Country Men’s Super League with eighty-two points, three more than second placed Allen’s Bar ‘C’ who beat their ‘A’ team 3-2 leaving them with a game in hand on Gilbert’s ‘B’. Pensnett Liberal Club won 5-0 in their home game with Horse and Jockey, they are one point short of Allen’s ‘C’ and like Allen’s have a game in hand on the leaders.
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Dog and Partridge took another step nearer the West Midlands Men’s Super League title with a 5-0 win over Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ while second in the league Kings Head ‘A’ beat Gilbert’s Bar ‘C’ 4-1. Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ are third they won their home game with Corpus Christi 4-1.
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On the 1st December Scott Thornton will be taking over and opening the Lion, 171 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AX., Scott is eager to get involved in darts, set up a team and enter a local league. Anyone interested in playing for Scott at the Lion and also helping him to sort a league they can enter should give him a ring on 07305-170757 or drop in the Lion for a quick pint and chat with Scott.
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