The Lincolnshire voodoo continues for Warwickshire County Darts Organisation as in their latest fixture in the Cosmo Darts Premier Division of the UKDA National League for the fourth consecutive season, they lost. Home advantage proved to be no benefit whatsoever on this occasion as three of the four teams all finished on the wrong side of their respective results. Saturday’s games saw the ladies ‘B’ go down 4-2 after leading 2-0, Jodie Rigg and Donna Pinch the two winners with Rigg taking the match award for her 3-1 win over Heather Lodge and 17.28 average. The men’s ‘B’ suffered a huge 10-2 defeat with Ian McFarlane not only levelling the match in the second game when he came from 3-0 down to beat Dave Wilson 4-3 but he also took the team’s match award for his 25.43 average. Warwickshire’s only other winner came in game number eight when Mark Faulkner beat Danny Goddard 4-2.
Sunday had no better start than the previous day as the ladies ‘A’ like their ‘B’ side lost 4-2 with Natalie Gilbert and Hannah Meek winning the last two games. Lady of the match was Hannah Meek who won 3-2 against Paula Jacklin and chalked up an average of 21.33. The men’s ‘A’ provided the only shining light of the weekend when they won 8-4 thanks to wins from Mark Carte, Samuel Price, Sam Whittaker, Martin Tonks, Nigel Heydon, Gareth Braham, Jamie Hughes and Danny Lauby. Nigel Heydon was the team’s top player in a game that swayed one way and then the other against Lloyd Pennell. Heydon went one up in 18 darts with Pennell replying by opening a 2-1 lead in 17 and 18 darts. Heydon levelled in the fourth in 15 darts and then went ahead again in the fifth with a 13 darts game. The tie went to a decider when Pennell won the sixth in 15 darts but a 14 darts leg in the seventh went Nigel Heydon for a hard fought 4-3 win with a superb 32.30 average.
The overall score for the weekend was 22-14 to Lincolnshire but despite the defat Warwickshire actually moved up one place in the table to sixth with 52 points, twenty short of new leaders Yorkshire.
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In the L-Style Division One of the UKDA National League Black Country had an away game against Berkshire, the weekend not getting off to the best of starts as the ladies ‘B’ went down 4-2 with Sarah-Jane Parker and Paige Robbins their two winners. A 3-0 win over Tracey Kingston and 15.66 average gave Sarah-Jane Parker the match award. The men’s ‘B; had a super 9-3 win after trailing 2-1. Man of the match Dave Edwards gave them a great start as he won 4-0against Ryan Priestley with a 25.69 average and making up the nine winners were Mark Jones, Mark Rollinson, Kieron Bridgwater, Wayne Hobday, Ian Townsend, Sam Bissell, Rich Bowen and Al Smith.
Sunday saw both games shared as the ladies ‘A’ finished a 3-3 and the men’s ‘A’ 6-6, taking the respective match awards were Chez Allcock who with a 20.88 average beat Karen Jackson 3-0 and Liam Kelly took the men’s award for his 27.56 average and close 4-3 success over Peter Bisset.
The 20-16 win saw Black Country move up one place in the table to seventh with 50 points, twenty-four fewer than leaders Middlesex but Black Country have a game in hand on all above them apart from third placed Merseyside.
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West Midlands division one game was a home tie against Somerset, a game that saw them register a much needed win to lift them off the foot of the table, although in their win neither of the ladies teams managed to come out on top as the ‘B’ finished all-square at 3-3 and the ‘A’ side lost 5-1. Kelly Doleman was the ‘B’ team’s top player, winning 3-2 against Sue Lane with an 18.17 average and for the ‘A’ team it was sole winner Gemma Barrett’s similar 3-2 win over Tracey Stiling and 15.89 average that earned her the award.
It was better news for the men as the ‘B’ side won 8-4 and the ‘A’ 9-3. Mark Craddock’s 26.20 was the best average for the ‘B’ game which he chalked up in his 4-1 win over Peter Messer, while Shaun Carroll beat Mike Harper 4-0 and averaged 32.32 to take the ‘A’ award.
The overall score for the weekend was a 21-15 win for West Midlands to take them off the bottom of the table into ninth place with thirty-eight points from two games.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League are up to week three of their new season and leading the way in the Premier Division is Sheldon Marlborough Arrows who held on to pole position with a 5-4 home win over Langley Arrows, Neil Parsonage recording an eight darts game for the winners. Hot on the heels of the leaders are RAFA whose 5-4 home win over EBAHA puts them on the same undefeated nine points as Marlborough Arrows and trailing by just three legs of average.
There were two maximum scores this week both coming in the premier division and they were supplied by Chris Millward (Mackadown Social) and Jason Moss (Banbury Club).
In division one Yardley Ex Colts remain top of the table after adding their latest 5-4 win at Hunters Moon, keeping intact their winning run of three games and giving them a two points lead on Old Salts Darts, Smithswood Social Club, Kingshurst Labour Club and Langley Flights, Smithswood are the only other undefeated team in the division but they have only played two games.
Five teams are at the top of division two, all on four points and they are Maggies and Moseley Rugby Club who share the top spot level on average, third placed Digby are the only team in the division with a 100% win record but have only played two games, Lyndon Old Boys are fourth just one leg of average behind the top two and Sheldon Marlborough Ridge make up the top five, they are three legs of average behind the top two teams.
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Highcroft Hotdogs suffered a 7-1 home defeat to Nomads @ Hollyfields in division one of the Four Oaks and District League and as a result Nomads have replaced Hotdogs at the top of the table with a superior average as both team are on eight points with Nomads having played one game more than their third place opponents. Old Oscott Arrows won 5-4 at Old Horns Lions to put them second on the same eight points as Nomads and again with a game in hand. Bishop Vesey had an 8-1 home win over Charley’s Flights and although placed fourth, and on the same eight points as the teams above them they have only played five games. After the top four teams come, Old Horns Lions, Red Lion and Walmley CSC Flights who are all on six points Old Horns have played six while Red Lion and Walmley have only played five.
No change in the top three places in division two Erdington Arrows continuing to lead the field with a 5-4 win at Drakes Drum. After their six games Erdington Arrows have a better average than second placed Rosey Mac’s who won 5-4 at home against Deer’s Leap to put them on the same ten points as Erdington but from seven games. After the top two there are four teams Drakes Drum, Beggars Bush, Pint Pot Flights and St Thomas Arrows all on eight points, Drakes and Beggars having played five games while Pint Pot and St Thomas have played six.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League had the finals of their Doubles Knockout on the fixture card and taking the title with a straight 3-0 result in the final over B.Stevens and N.Gordon (Seven Stars) were the Five Ways duo of A.Nicholls and R.Riaz.
In the last four games Nicholls and Riaz won 2-1 against K.Safe and L.Marson (Netherton Conservative Club ‘B’) while Stevens and Gordon won by the same margin against the Raven ‘A’ pairing of J.Wrench and C.Wrench.
Losing quarter-finalists were M.Perry and S.Wise (Mount Pleasant), C.Plant and S.Gough (Five Ways) and B.Hughes and D.Edwards (Princess), K.Safe and L.Marson (Netherton Conservative Club ‘B’) had a bye.
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The 5-A-Side Knockout finals were the order of the day for the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League and congratulations go to Allen’s Bar who after winning 3-2 in the semi-finals against Three Horseshoes ‘A’ won the final against Three Horseshoes ‘B’ 3-0 to lift the silverware. Three Horseshores ‘B’ won their semi-final game against Tamebridge 3-1.
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There are two more fixtures to play in the Rowley Monday Night League and already acclaimed champions Bell continue to impress winning 7-2 playing away against fourth in the league Whiteheath Tavern. There is still a battle going on for the runners-up spot as currently placed second Plough and Harrow added a convincing 8-1 win at Spring Meadow to their tally to put them on forty-eight points and keep intact their two points advantage over third in the table Hawthorns who with a maximum and seven darts leg from their G.Jackson won 6-3 at home against White Swan. There were also maximum scores from L.Vincent (Hawthorns ‘B’) and S.Booton (Rowley Labour Club), G.Edwards (Romsley Cricket Club) had a 160 break.
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Week ten in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League and a bye for Red Cow has seen them slip from second place to fourth on fourteen points just two short of leader’s new Inn 2 who after their 8-1 win at Cabin have played nine games. Taking over in second place is Mount Pleasant who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Britannia to leave them eight legs of average behind the leaders and two to the good on third placed Netherton Sports and Social Club who were 7-2 winners at Jolly Crispin. Red Cow are a further thirteen legs of average behind New Inn 2. Fifth in the table Gornal British Legion with a maximum from their A.Hughes won 5-4 at home against Royal to leave them four points off the top but with a game in hand. Britannia’s E.Adderley also found the three treble twenties.
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Week four in the Netherton Thursday Night 501 League was a real high-scoring week with no fewer than seven maximums scored with J.Batham notching two. There was on each for Bulls Head’s S.Priest and G.Jackson and also one each for the Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club duo T.Johnson and G.Edwards, S.Charlesworth (Spring Meadow Social) also hit one while B.Carr (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club) had a 160 break.
On the league front the top three teams remain undefeated with Old Liberal Club topping the table, their 5-4 win at British Oak keeping them one leg of average ahead of Bulls Head who won 5-4 at Plough and Harrow while third in the league Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ won 7-2 at home against Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club to put them within two legs of average on the leaders.
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Just three rearranged fixtures played in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League to take the league up to the halfway stage. Mount Pleasant’s 8-1 home win over High Acres ‘B’ saw them move up three places in the table to fourth but still leaving them ten points short of leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’.
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Dudley Sports ‘A’ won a vital game in the Silver End Sunday Morning League when they beat third in the table Old Star 6-2 to put them on 74 points from 29 games and their opponents on 68 from 30 games. Second in the league Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club won 5-3 at Tenth Lock to give them 73 points from 30 games.
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The top two teams in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League are both on 40 points and in their latest fixtures both won 4-3, leaders Oold Liberal Club winning at home against Ashwood and second placed Swan winning at Hollybush. Third in the league Bird in Hand ‘E’ ‘lost ground as they went down 4-3 at home to Stourbridge FC, they are now four points behind the top two teams.
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Dog and Partridge took another step nearer to wining the West Midlands Men’s Super League when they won 4-1 at home against Landywood to give them 110 points from 27 games and a lead of eight over second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ who were 5-0 home winners in their local derby with their ‘A’ side.
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A 4-1 home win over Pensnett Liberal Club ‘B’ takes Allen’s Bar account to 65 points from 16 games and gives them a lead at the top of the Black Country Men’s Super League of ten points over second placed Townsend ‘A’ who had a narrow 3-2 home win over Allen’s Bar ‘B’. Third and fourth placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘B’ are both on 51 points and have played respectively 16 and 15 games.
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As a consequence of not playing this week in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League Scott Baker has been ousted from his number one perch in division one as second placed DEAN Simmons-Fullwood completed his fixtures with a 6-2 win over Paul Price followed by a 7-1 win over Jimmy Stackhouse to give him a total of 242 points for the season, Baker now in second place, is on 240 points and still has two games to play which should see him clinch the title for a third successive season..
Division two have completed their fixtures and in division three there is no change in the top eight places.
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There is very little change in the singles and doubles league for the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League with the top six places intact in the singles division and the top eleven the same in the doubles division. Singles leaders Junction ‘B’ won 6-1 at Golden Lion to give them 40 points from 21 games and second placed Hotshots kept within two points of the leaders with a 4-3 home win over Junction ‘D’.
In the doubles division the same two teams hold the top two places, despite a 2-1 defeat at Golden Lion Junction ‘B’ hold on to pole position with 38 points while second placed Hotshots drew level on the same 38 points with a 3-0 win over Junction ‘D’ and now only trail the leaders by seven legs of average.
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