The Sheldon and District Winter League have been involved in the quarter-finals of their Divisional League Cups, the premier league play-offs brought together the divisions top two teams, leaders Langley Arrows travelling to take on second placed Shelson Marlborough Arrows. With a maximum and eight darts game from Jake Webster plus an eleven darts game from Paul Nixon, Langley Arrows ran out the 7-2 winners. Fourth in the division Banbury Club had a somewhat surprising 5-4 defeat losing out to The Dingle who are currently next to bottom of the league table. Raven Arrows won 6-3 against Yardley Ex Colts and also winning through to the last four were Highwood who beat Langley Flights 5-4.
There were no real surprises in the division one games as leaders Brian’s Flights chalked up the round’s biggest win, an 8-1 success over Shirley Misfits. A 180 from Brian Hughes was not enough for his team, Hollywood Social Club to avoid a 6-3 defeat by Smithswood Social Club, the same margin by which Iron Horse Rebels lost out to KIngshurst Labour Club whose Kevin Richards was another player to notch a maximum. Third in the division Willclare Sports and Social Club had a narrow 5-4 win against Bell Inn.
In the two games played in the division two fixtures, Hornet and Castle Bromwich WMC in turn won 6-3 against Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Raven. Due to shortage of players Lyndon Old Boys had to concede a 9-0 defeat to College Arms Flights while Sheldon Marlborough Ridge had a bye.
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Week five in the South West Birmingham Clubs League saw singles league leaders Longbridge United take their 100% win record to five games with a convincing 7-1 home win over next to bottom of the table Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’. The win keeps Longbridge two points to the good on second placed Northfield Town who had a 5-3 win against Stirchley United, Northfield in turn have a slender one points advantage over a chasing pack of three teams Bournebrook, West Heath CEM and Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ who in turn won 7-1 at Bartley Green FC, 5-3 at Moseley All Services and 5-3 against E57.
On the individual scene there was a 180 for West Heath CEM’s K.Webb and a 148 game shot for his team mate C.Taylor, plus a further 180 for Quarry Club’s C.Evans.
Just the one point separates the top two teams in the pre-match doubles division, West Heath CEM in pole position on sixty-one points with Longbridge United hot on their heels with sixty points.
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It was not a good game twelve for Wakefield Warriors in the Camp Hill League as they suffered their first defeat of the season when lost their home game with Tyseley Bears 4-3. Despite the loss Wakefield Warriors remain at the top of the table with twenty-two points, four more than second placed Erdington Nomads who won 6-1 at Clumsy Swan, the Nomads could reduce the arrears on the leaders to just two points as they have played one game fewer than them. Third placed Tyseley Bears have only played ten games, their win at Wakefield leaving them eight off the top with two games in hand and four behind the Nomads with one in hand on them.
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It was the final game of the season for the majority of teams in division one of the Sutton and District Summer League and the week’s fixtures saw a change at the top of the table. Bishop Vesey began their game away to second in the table Highcroft Hotdogs top of the table but despite their Chris Sammons finding the three treble twenties they returned on the wrong side of the 6-3 result to see their hosts replace them in the number one spot and take the title, both teams finished on the same twenty-eight points but the Hotdogs have a far superior average. Old Horns Lions finished in third place with twenty-four points after winning their last game at Red Lion 6-3.
The division one shadow league title is still up for grabs as both of the current top two teams Old Horns Lions and Nomads have completed their programme and are on eight points, third placed Walmley CSC Flights are also on eight points and still have one outstanding fixture to play against bottom of the division Aston Manor CC Flights, a win would see them finish top with ten points, however a win for Aston Manor would see them move off the foot of the table.
A 6-3 home win over Rosey Mac’s Bar in their last game of the season saw Charley’s Flights secure the division two title with a total of twenty-six points, two more than runners-up Plough and Arrows who completed their campaign with a 5-4 home win over Pint Pot Flights.
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As early as week four of the new season in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and only three of the starting line-up of twenty teams are able to boast a 100% win record, Old Liberal Club take the top spot on average after their latest 7-0 win at Queens Head while second placed Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ also won 7-0 in their home tie with Raven ‘A’ to leave them four legs of average behind Old Liberal, third in the table Bird in Hand are a further two legs adrift, they won by a close 4-3 in their home game against Glasscutters ‘A’.
Notable achievements this week were supplied by A.Nicholls (Five Ways) who hit a maximum, J.Batham (Old Liberal Club) had a 160 break and J.Ward (Fox Inn, Lye) who broke with 152 and recorded an eight darts game.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League played the early round of their singles knockout at eight venues to bring the number of players down to the last thirty-two and successfully making their way into the next round were A.Galeb, P.Nicholls, B.Carr, D.Brown, K.Wright, B.Neale, D.Richmond, G.Peters, G.Hodgetts, M.Evans, C.Bowen, P.Tonks, J.Bland, C.Hill, D.Ferney, A.Tonks, P.Chandler, C.Moreton, D.Edwards, C.Penzer, P.O’Brien, S.Tipper, D.Stanton, P.Hadley, S.Homer, A.Bunce, T.Johnson, J.Southall, L.Beasley, C.Aston, L.Palmer, J.Colley.
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It was the Captains and Delegates Knockout on the agenda for the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League and clinching the title in a close final was Matt Wall (Vine ‘A’) who beat Si Sayce (Tamebridge) 3-2.
The new season for the league will get underway in the third week of January.
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Winner of the Rowley Monday Night League’s Masters Knockout was Dan Homer (Gate Hangs Well) who defeated Shane Price (Bell) in the final.
YTHe league will be holding their AGM Monday 8th January at Rowley Labour Club at 8.00pm all teams, old and new are invited to attend.
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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League played the first games in their John Walters Cup and John Walters Trophy and in the former there were 5-4 wins for Netherton Sports and Social Club and Baggeridge who in turn won against White Horse and Gornal British Legion. Gornal Labour Club and Old Bulls Head both had a bye.
In the John Walters Trophy Britannia had a comfortable 7-2 win over New Inn while both Red Cow and The Cabin had much closer 5-4 wins in turn against Meadow Lark and Seven Stars, Jolly Crispin had a bye.
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A 6-1 win at Kings Head has confirmed Old Liberal Club ‘A’ as champions of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as they are now on fifty-four points with one more fixture to play and have a lead of eight points over second placed Hollybush who also won 6-1 in their game at Ashwood leaving them with one more fixture. Third placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ have two games remaining, their latest fixture seeing them win 4-3 at home against fourth in the table Cottage to leave them two points short of Hollybush but with a better average and a game in hand which could see them finish as runners-up.
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Last weekend the Birmingham Festival of Darts was played off at the Weoley Castle WMC, Saturday’s Men’s Birmingham Classic saw Dom Taylor lift the winners silverware and take home the top prize of £1100 with a final 6-4 win over Jim Williams who collected £500.
The ladies Classic title went to Maria O’Brien whose final 5-2 win over Jane Robson earned her the top prize of £530 with Robson receiving £240.
On Sunday it was the Birmingham Open and in the men’s competition there was a second win in the two days for Dom Taylor who doubled his money with a final 6-2 win against Daniel Astbury who swelled his funds with a £500 pick-up.
The final of the ladies Open saw Rose Mort win 5-3 against Vicky Pruim to take home £450 with Pruim getting £180.
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Dan Nicholls didn’t play in week five of the Amblecote RBL Premier League and as a result loses his number one spot and drops down the table to seventh place. Taking over from Nicholls in pole position is Nick Fullwell who began the night with a close 4-3 win over Martyn Harper but then his wins gradually got better as he beat Jack Pritchard 6-1 and rounded off the evening with a 7-0 result against Josh Wheeler to put him on fifty-nine points from twelve games and a lead of five points over second placed Reece Colley. Colley like Fullwell had an opening 4-3 win as he accounted for Carl Hipkiss before adding a 5-2 win against Craig Lowin to his tally and although trailing Fullwell he does have two games in hand on him.
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With twenty-five fixtures played in the Black Country Men’s Super League only one point separates the top three teams. Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ top the table with ninety points with Pensnett Liberal Club and Allen’s Bar ‘C’ both one point behind them after the Liberal Club won 4-1 at home against Allen’s Bar ‘C’. Fourth placed Whiteheath Tavern were also 4-1 winners playing at home against Halesowen Cricket Club to leave them only two points off the top.
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A straight 5-0 home win over Three Crowns sees Dog and Partridge top the West Midlands Men’s Super League table with 201 points, they have a seven points lead over second placed Kings Head ‘A’ who had a narrows 3-2 home success against third in the table Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ who are now seven points behind their victors.
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Tomorrow evening Langley Hall Social Club is the place to be as there is a Christmas Darts Open being staged there. Doors will open at 7.00pm at the club in Langley Hall Road, Olton, B92 7HE, the event carrying a top prize of £200 based on 32 entries. For any further information give Jamie Carter a call on 07786-244118.
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The Gilberts Bar Monday Night Singles League are up to week three and two players Dean Simmons-Fullwood and Wayne Jones share the number one position in division one. The latest fixtures saw Simmons-Fullwood win 7-1 against John Simms while Jones won by the same scoreline against Simon Pritchard.
A 5-3 win over Kevin Bate has given Alan Melling the lead in division two with Bradley Martin and Keith Hollowood both two points behind him.
The top spot in division three goes to Gareth Walsh his 28 points four better than second and third in the division Dave Thackeray and Thomas Hollowood.
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There were 5-2 wins for the top three teams in the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League, leaders ECC ‘A’ (56 points) beating their ‘B’ side, second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ (52 points) winning against Three Crowns and third in the table Woodfield (52 points) winning at Railway.
In the doubles division Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ are top their 2-1 win over Three Crowns taking their points to 54 while second placed ECC ‘A’ beat their ‘B’ team 3-0 to slightly reduce the arrears, they are on 52 points.
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Just a note to everyone who supplies me with their weekly darts results and information, there will be a two weeks break for the darts column in the Birmingham Mail over the festive period but please continue to send me all of your results as they will all be included in my next round-up which will be on the 10th January 2024.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors and readers of my various columns for their support over the last year and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year.
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