Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will be hoping to make it three wins in a row this coming weekend when they take on Glamorgan at their home venue Hen Lane and District Social Club, 6 Beacon Road, Coventry CV6 4DS. Going into the fixture Warwickshire are placed seventh in the Cosmo Darts Premier Division of the UKDA National League with ninety-four points from five games while their opponents are in fourth position with 111 points from six games. After a somewhat slow start to the latest campaign Warwickshire will be looking for a win to help them climb a little further up the table.
Hoping to secure another victory for Warwickshire will be Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Gareth Braham, Kevin Dowling, Noel Grant, Nigel Heydon, Steve Hine, Mark McGeeney, Wayne Mynard, Jenson Walker, Jack Wareing, Matty Washbrooke, Chris Wickenden, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Carter, Adam Hancock, Dave Hill, Scott Hope, Mark Martin, Will Naylor, Sam Price, Karl Reynolds, Noah Rose, Mark Strong, Martin Tonks, Sam Whittaker, Reserves:- Pete Hughes, Lee Miller, Ian Shaw, Women’s ‘A’:- Kirsty Hinchcliffe, Courtney Hine, Natalie Gilbert, Hannah Meek, Caroline Pike, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Nina Bolt, Marian Conway, Angela Jones, Melanie Jones, Chloe McKivett-Saunders, Reserve:- Kat Spanswick, Denise Keyte, Kris Meek.
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In the Andy Wheeler Championship Division of the UKDA National League West Midlands are placed tenth in the eleven teams division with seventy-seven points from five games and although they began their season with a 19-17 win at Cheshire they haven’t won since and now desperately need a win to lift them away from the relegation zone. This coming weekend they have the opportunity to do just that as they play at home against Sussex who are just three places above them with ninety-five points and although a win would not ensure they catch them up on points it would definitely reduce the gap between them.
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In the last round of fixtures in the L-Style Division One of the UKDA National League Black Country had a bye but prior to that after three consecutive wins and a draw they suffered their first defeat of the opening five games when they went down 24-12 at home against Leicestershire which cost them their number one spot in the division and after their bye they have dropped five places in the table to sixth on 105 points. Although they have game in hand on leaders Suffolk they are some thirty-six points behind them. This coming weekend they will be hoping to return to winning ways and close the gap on the teams above them when they travel to the Wellmans Sports and Social Club, Parc Bryn Cefni Industrial Estate, Llangefni, Anglesey LL77 7JA where they will take on local county Gwynedd. Gwynedd who have played one game more than Black Country are two places off the bottom of the division on ninety-one points some fourteen fewer than their visitors.
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The Four Oaks and District League staged the preliminary round of their Brian Goodman Cup which brought together the top two teams in division one, leaders Bishop Vesey travelling to take on second placed Highcroft Hotdogs. The result was a close 5-4 win for the Hotdogs whose Leigh Dells had a 160 break. Biggest win of the round went to division two’s Walmley CSC Flights who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their division three hosts St Tom Cats. Not far behind Walmley were The Beehive (division one) who won 8-1 at home against Plough and Arrows (division two). Andy Kimberley was in top form for division one side Old Horns Lions as he hit a maximum, had a 160 break and recorded an eight darts game in his team’s close 5-4 win at home against division two leaders Red Lion whose J.Collins also notched a maximum. Drakes Drum, with a 180 from James Clarke, Old Oscott Arrows and the Rise Club in turn had 7-2 wins against Rosey Mac’s, Sutton Sharks and Sutton Sports. There was a 180 for Luke Sinclair (Deer’s Leap) as his team went down 6-3 at Beggars Bush, Heartlands and Erdington Arrows winning by the same 6-3 margin against Charley’s Flights and Rosey Mac’s Bar while Pint Pot Flights moved into the next round following their 5-4 win at The Nomads.
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A score of 180 and a ten darts game for Richard Nixon helped his team Langley Arrows to a 9-0 win at The Dingle to keep them top of the premier league in the Sheldon and District Winter League, taking their undefeated run to twelve games and giving them a lead of six points over second placed Sheldon Marlborough Arrows whose fixture with Highwood was a late result. Bottom of the division Langley Flights are still seeking their first win after eleven games their latest seeing them go down 8-1 to Banbury Club whose Paul Connolly was another player to hit a maximum.
In division one Darren Whitehouse also found the three treble twenties in a 7-2 home win for divisional leaders Brian’s Flights who accounted for next to bottom of the table Shirley Misfits. Danny Chiswell had a score of 180 and a 142 checkout as his team Bell Inn lost 5-4 at home to Hollywood Social. Second placed Willclare Sports and Social beat third placed Trident Spears 6-3 and remain two points short of Brian’s Flights but have played one game more than them.
Division two leaders Sheldon Marlborough Ridge had a bye this week but despite that hold on to pole position on average from second in the table Hornet who have now played one game more than the leaders after they won 8-1 at The College Arms Flights who are bottom of the division without a win in nine games.
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The Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League played off the finals of their 3 A-Side Knockout and making their way into the final were J.Batham, K.Bambrick, I.Jones and A.Nicholls, A.Dimmock, S.Gough whpo in turn had 4-1 wins in the semi-finals against N.Cooper, S.Tipper, C.Hart and M.Tibbetts, C.Newton, D.Oakes. The final was a somewhat one-sided affair with J.Batham, K.Bambrick and I.Jones running out the 5-0 winners against A.Nicholls, A.Dimmock and S.Gough.
Making their exits in the quarter-finals were J.Gennard, L.Bird and L.Willetts, R.Rubery, K.Safe and L.Marson, J.Poole, M.Cullis and D.Hand and C.Smith, D.Fox and L.Zirra.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League were also involved in their 3 A-Side Knockout, playing the competition down to the last eight sides and winning through to the quarter-finals were P.Hadley, W.Cairns, R.Mohammed (Townsend Social Club), D.Edwards, C.Moreton, S.Gough (Old Liberal Club), L.Banner, M.Redding, J.Southall (Plough and Harrow), R.Hodgetts, M.Abbott, G.Hodgetts (Plough and Harrow), P.O’Brien, B.Ratcliffe, K.Wright (Bulls Head), S.Tipper, M.Bowen, S.Priest (Bulls Head), J.Batham, N.Fullwell, G.Moreton (Old Liberal Club), P.Tonk, B.Carr, K.Cooksey, R.Nicholson (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’).
The league would like to remind team captains to bring their signing list to the next meeting (7th March) or send Carl a message with their signed players please as no players can be signed after this point.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League are up to week four of their new season and leading the field of fourteen teams is unbeaten Vine ‘A’ who in their latest fixture beat former leaders Tamebridge 4-3 to replace them at the top of the table and see their opponents drop five places to sixth but on the same six points as four teams above them Cottage Spring, Allen’s Bar, Horse and Jockey and Ivy Bush. Cottage Spring won 4-3 against Three Horseshoes, Allen’s Bar had a 7-0 win at Sow and Pigs, Horse and Jockey were 4-3 winners at Horseley Tavern ‘A’ and Ivy Bush won 6-1 at Albion.
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After the opening three fixtures in the Silver End Sunday Morning League three teams remain unbeaten at the top of the table, all of them on nine points and two of them, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Dudley Sports ‘A’ sharing pole position with the same points and average. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club had a 7-1 home win over Dudley Sports ‘B’ while Dudley Sports ‘A’ won by the same margin at home against Old Cat Inn. Third in the table Tenth Lock are just two legs of average short of the leading duo after adding their latest 6-2 home win over Rose and Crown. Fourth in the league Church Tavern were held to a 4-4 draw at home by Old Liberal Club, and with seven pints are two behind the top three teams.
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Romsley Cricket Club have been ousted from their number one spot in the Rowley Monday Night League after, for the first time in five games they lost. Playing away against Whiteheath Tavern, who were eighth in the league prior to the game, Romsley lost 5-4 and drop to second place on eight points, Whiteheath Tavern now moving up to fourth place on the same eight points. Leaders Gate Hangs Well took their winning run to five games with a 7-2 home win over Hawthorns and have a two points lead on Romsley Cricket Club, Bell, Whiteheath Tavern and Rowley Bar and Grill. Reigning champions Bell, with a maximum from their R.O’Connor won 8-1 in a home tie with Plough and Harrow while Rowley Bar and Grill won their home game against Huntingtree -7-2.
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Played eleven, won eleven that’s the record for Old Liberal Club in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League after adding their latest success, a 7-0 home win over Fox Inn (Lye) to their account. Second placed Bird in Hand kept within two points of the leaders with a similar 7-0 win away to Queens Head which in turn gives them a two points advantage over third placed Princess who won their away game at Gate Hangs Well ‘A’ 6-1. Rose and Crown ‘B’ suffered a 7-0 home defeat at the hands of Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ to remain the only team in the league without a win in their opening ten games.
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Just one leg of average separates the top three teams in the Cradley Tuesday Night League after the opening two fixtures. Plough lead the way, their 6-1 home win over Liberal Club (Blackheath) giving them a slender one leg of average lead on both Old Liberal Club ‘B’ and Quarry Bank Social Club ‘A’ who in turn won against Bulls Head (4-3) and Brickmakers Arms (6-1). There were maximums for Ben Watts (2) and Chris Morton (Old Liberal Club ‘B’), Steve Plant (Liberal Club, Blackheath, Will Caine (Bulls Head) and Steve Hall (Old Liberal Club ‘A’).
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Both of the top two players in the Amblecote RBL Premier League played two fixtures in their latest outing, leader Nick Fullwell had a narrow 4-3 win over Jamie Barrowman and then won 6-1 against Mitch Pickett to give him 132 points from 25 games while second placed Dan Nicholls also beat Mitch Pickett 6-1 and then won 5-2 against Ian Townsend to leave him two points behind Fullwell with two games in hand.
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With the leaders of the Black Country Men’s Super League Pensnett Liberal Club not playing this week second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ took full advantage to close the gap on them to just one point by winning 3-2 in their home tie with Old Bulls Head.
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Last weekend Gilbert’s Bar laid on a couple of knockouts one for the men and one for the ladies. Losing out in the semi-finals of the men’s event but still collecting £50 each were Rob Thompson, Spike Green who in turn lost out to Adam Smith-Neale and Ben Johnson. The final saw Adam Smith-Neale win 6-3 to collect the top prize of £300 with Ben Johnson as runner-up collecting £100.
The winners £100 for the ladies knockout went to Steph Clarke with her final opponent Grace Angell receiving £50. Rowena Sidley and Jodie Rowlands each picked up £20 for reaching the semi-finals.
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Despite losing his first game of the night in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League Wayne Jones was quick to recover from his 5-3 defeat by Conor Whitehouse and go on to beat Clark Cook 8-0 to take him back to the top of division one with 85 points and a lead of nine over second placed Ian Stanton.
Reece Cook Lucas tops division two after 5-3 wins over Allan Davies and Kevin Bate giving him a total of 64 points, however second placed Alan Melling is just five points short of the leader with three games in hand.
Top place in division three goes to Dave Thackeray whose latest fixture saw him win 8-0 against Sandra Beardsmore to take his points tally to 81 with a lead of nine over second placed Michele Pritchard plus a game in hand.
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The Knockout Cup finals were on the agenda for the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League and in the semis ECC ‘A’ beat Ring of Bells 0, while Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ had a much closer 4-3 win over Woodfield. The final 4-2 result went in favour of ECC ‘A’ with Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ finishing as runners-up.
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