Round one of the Sheldon Shield was on the agenda for the Sheldon and District Winter League which produced a couple of shock results for two of the premier league teams as Sheldon Dukes, who are fifth in the premier lost 4-3 playing away against The Hornet who are currently placed second in division two and The Dingle also from the premier lost 4-3 in their away game against Maggies who are bottom of division one with only one win from twelve league games. A maximum plus an eleven darts game from Dave Cherry helped premier side Highwood to a 4-3 home win over division one outfit The Bell Inn while 4-3 was also the margin by which Hollywood Social Club beat Kingshurst Labour Club in the all division one fixture with Ben Proctor recording a 126 finish for the Labour Club. In the all division two clashes Sheldon Marlborough Flights handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts The College Arms Flights while Sheldon Marlborough Ridge had a much closer 4-3 win over The Raven. Division one teams Brian’s Flights and Smithswood Social Club in turn won 7-0 and 5-2 against their division two opponents Lyndon Old Boys and Moseley Rugby Club.
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Game number four in the Four Oaks and District League brought together the top two teams in division one, leaders Bishop Vesey travelling to take on second placed Highcroft Hotdogs who trailed their hosts by just two points. The outcome was a 5-4 win for Bishop Vesey to take their wining run to four games and at the same time open up a four points lead over their hosts who hold on to the number two spot and retain their average lead over third placed The Beehive after they also lost 5-4 playing away against next to bottom of the division Old Horns Lions.
Red Lion lost pole position in division two after going down 6-3 playing away against Walmley CSC Flights who are fourth in the division but level on the same six points as the three teams above them. Heartlands take over at the top of the table on average following their convincing 8-1 win at Erdington Arrows with Red Lion dropping to second one leg of average short of Heartlands and two to the good on third placed Drakes Drum who won their home tie with The Rise Club 5-4. Walmley CSC Flights are on the same average as Drakes Drum.
Pint Pot Flights made it four straight wins and remain top of division three after adding their 6-3 win away to Sutton Sharks to their account, second placed Deer’s Leap won by the same 6-3 margin at Sutton Sports leaving them two points behind Pint Pot Flights as are third in the division St Thomas Arrows who made it a 6-3 win for all of the top three teams when they won their home game against Rosey Mac’s.
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The South West Birmingham Clubs League have got the second half of their season underway but it was not such a good start to the second half as in the first for leaders of the singles division Longbridge United as they lost their undefeated record. Playing away against seventh in the league Perfection, Longbridge returned on the wrong side of the 5-3 result despite a 160 break and 111 finish from their Phil Hughes. Even though Longbridge tasted defeat for the first time they stay top of the league with twenty-two points from their twelve games and have a lead of four over second placed West Heath CEM who with an eight darts game from their Tim Taylor won 5-3 at home against Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’. Northfield Town are third in the league and with sixteen points are a further two off the top after their convincing 7-1 win at Moseley All Services Club.
West Heath CEM top the pre-match doubles league with 136 points from 12 games and have a lead of seven points over their nearest rivals Northfield Town who in turn are two points better off than third placed Longbridge United.
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It was doubles knockout week for the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League and in the semi-finals J.Churchill and A.Smith had a 4-2 win over one of the fancied pairings to win the title K.Bambrick and I.Jones. In the other last four game A.Floyd and K.James were taken to a decider by A.Galeb and M.Hadley but came out as 4-3 winners. Lifting the winners silverware were J.Churchill and A.Smith who accounted for A.Floyd and K.James with a final 5-3 result.
Making their exit in the quarter-finals were N.Lain and D.Hand, N.Cooper and J.Batham, C.Newton and M.Tibbetts 0 plus A.Nicholls and S.Hough.
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Just the one rearranged fixture played in the Netherton Thursday Night League but what a fixture it turned out to be with Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ losing 5-4 at home to second in the league Old Liberal Club to see the home side lose not only for the first time in eleven games but also pole position and drop to second, two points behind their victors but with a game in hand which could see them return to the number one spot with the superior average.
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After completing the opening four fixtures of the season in the Silver End Sunday Morning League just three teams of a starting line-up of nineteen are able to boast a 100% win record. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club top the table with a two legs of average lead after their latest 7-1 win at Brier Rose with Dudley Sports ‘A’ and Tenth Lock joint second after Dudley Sports ‘A’ won 5-3 at Rose and Crown and Tenth Lock won 7-1 at Three Crowns ‘A’. Two points behind the top trio is fourth in the league Church Tavern who beat their hosts Old Cat Inn 6-2 to put them one point ahead of Old Star, Mount Pleasant and Brickmakers Arms who are all on nine points. Dudley Sports ‘B’ are the only team in the league without a point so far, their latest fixture at home against Brickmakers Arms seeing them lose 5-3.
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The Rowley Monday Night League have now completed six of their scheduled thirty fixtures and no fewer than four teams are level on ten points at the top of the table. Romsley Cricket Club top the table on average, their latest fixture seeing them win 5-4 at home against Snooks with G.Edwards having a 160 break and a winning nine darts leg. Second place is shared by Bell and Gate Hangs Well who are on the same average, five legs short of Romsley after Bell won 6-3 at Tividale FC and Gate Hangs Well lost by the same margin at Rowley Labour Club. Whiteheath Tavern are fourth and a further three legs of average behind after winning their most recent fixture at Spring Meadow 6-3, M.Tibbetts helping them along with a score of 177 and a nine darts game. Huntingtree lost 6-3 at home to Loyal Lodge, this being their sixth defeat in as many games they are the only team without a point so far.
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Round two of the Black Country Windscreens Shield was the order of the day for the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League in which unbeaten league leaders Vine ‘A’ stormed into the next round with a 6-1 over this season’s newcomers to the league King Arthur. Currently second in the league Cottage Spring lost their home tie with Tamebridge 5-2 while third placed Allen’s Bar booked their place in the next round with a narrow 4-3 win away to Ivy Bush. Also going into the hat for the next round draw are Three Horseshoes who had a 5-2 win away to Horseley Tavern ‘A’.
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Game twelve in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League brought about no changes in the top six places in the league with Old Liberal Club extending their undefeated run to twelve games with a 6-1 win at Rose and Crown ‘A’ with the Liberal Club’s S.Tipper chalking up a seven darts leg. Bird in Hand are second, two points short of the leaders after they added a 5-2 win over Gate Hangs Well ‘A’ to their tally which keeps them two points ahead of third placed Princess who handed their visitors Raven ‘A’ a 7-0 drubbing. Fourth and fifth placed Five Ways and Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ six points off the top of the table but with a game in hand the latest results seeing Five Ways win 6-1 against Seven Stars and Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ go one better winning 7-0 against Queens Head. Netherton Conservative Club ‘B’ are sixth their 6-1 win against local rivals Netherton Conservative Club ‘A’ giving them sixteen points from eleven games.
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League are up to week three of their fixtures and only three of the nine teams are undefeated. Plough and Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘B’ are joint leaders, the former having a 5-2 win at Brickmakers Arms in their third game of the season while the latter had a convincing 6-1 home win over Tenth Lock. Fifth in the league Quarry Bank Liberal Club ’A’ have only played and won two games, their latest fixture seeing them hand out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Quarry Bank Social Club ‘B’.
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Just two rearranged fixtures played in the Black Country Men’s Super League which saw top side Pensnett Liberal Club win 5-0 against old Bulls Head and second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ win 4-1 against Soccer Zone.
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It’s as-you-were for the top four places in the Amblecote RBL Premier League with leader Nick Fullwell adding a 5-2 win over Jake Robinson plus a 4-3 win against Shane Sheridan to take his points tally to 141 from 27 games while second placed Dan Nicholls, after beating Josh Hodgkins 7-0 won 4-3 against Tom Bissell to put him level on 141 points with Fullwelll but with two games in hand. Reece Colley is third on 128 points from 23 games with Jamie Barrowman fourth with 126 points from 26 games after he won 5-2 against Josh Wheeler and then lost by the same margin against to Chris Williams.
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Wayne Jones kept his hopes on course for the division one title in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League with an 8-0 win over Clayton Edge to give him ninety-five points from eleven games and a lead of eleven points over his nearest rival Ian Stanton who had a 6-2 win over Jimmy Stackhouse. Stanton in turn is just two points ahead of third placed Darren Williams who on the night won 6-2 against Tony Singh.
Alan Melling tops division two, his 6-2 win over Jon Williams taking his points to sixty-seven from ten games, however second placed Kurt Wright’s 7-1 win against Kevin Bate has put him within two points of Melling with two games in hand.
Dave Thackeray has not only a fifteen point’s lead but also a game in hand at the top of division three. His latest fixture seeing him win 7-1 against Sarah Barrett while second placed Michele Pritchard lost ground in the title race as she went down 5-3 to Warren Bower who is fourth in the division on seventy points, five fewer than his opponent.
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A reminder that on Friday 15th March at 8.00pm local Tipton man and Czech Darts Open Champion Jamie (Yozza) Hughes will be taking on players in a darts exhibition at the Blackheath Liberal Club, St John Street, Rowley Regis, B65 0EP. Tickets are on sale at £5 each which includes a buffet.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League will be holding their meeting at Gilbert’s Bar, Field Street, Willenhall on Tuesday 19th March to reform the league for the 2024-2025 season. The meeting will get underway at approximately 8.30pm and anyone interested in entering a team for the forthcoming season should attend. Alternatively, anyone requiring any further information should phone or text Simon Pritchard on 07706-180947.
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