Black Country’s fourth fixture in the UKDA National League L-Style Division One was an away game against Leicestershire. Prior to the encounter the home side were two places off the foot of the table with fifty-one points and their visitors fourth with seventy-three points.
Saturday’s ladies ‘B’ game finished all-square at 3-3 with Paige Robbins their top player with a 3-1 win over Angela Sheffield and a 15.06 average. The men’s ‘B’ chalked up a close 7-5 victory with Rob Smith their top player beating Andy Shillcock 4-1 with a 24.33 average.
Going into Sunday’s ‘A’ games Black Country held a narrow 10-8 lead but that was all about to change as the ladies lost 4-2, Tammy Chance collecting the match award for her 3-0 win over Liz Brunt plus her 22.10 average and the men’s ‘B’ slumped to a huge 10-2 defeat with Cayden Smith and Trev Brennan the only two winners. Smith beat Martin Giddings 4-1 and Brennan won by the same 4-1 margin but had the better average of 27.48 to earn him the man of the match award.
With a final result of 22-14 to Leicestershire, Black Country dropped two places in the table to sixth on eighty-seven points and Leicestershire, despite the win remain ninth, two places off the foot of the table with seventy-six points, both teams have only played four fixtures and could well move up the table when they play their game in hand.
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West Midlands, also in the L-Style Division One, played at home against bottom of the division Devon who were nine points adrift of their hosts who were four places above them.
The ladies ‘B’ ended all-square at 3-3 with Hannah Davies taking the match award for her 3-1 win over Sal McDermott and 14.68 average. The men’s ‘B’ recorded a 7-5 win over their counterparts, Ryan Locker’s super 30.36 average and straight 4-0 win over Jake Wreford earning him the team’s match award.
Like the ladies ‘B’, the ladies ‘A’ also finished with a 3-3 draw and topping their averages was Jacqueline Maiden who beat Tracy Ware 3-1 and averaged 20.20. The men’s ‘A’ took the overall score for the weekend to a 22-14 win for West Midlands as they won 9-3 with their long-serving player Ian Jones wrapping up the team’s man of the match award for his 29.39 average and 4-1 win over Andy Hitchman.
The weekends win saw West Midlands consolidate their seventh position on eighty-four points, however they still have a game in hand on three of the six teams above them.
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In the Camp Hill League, game number nine produced a local derby between seventh placed Wakefield Terriers and top of the table Wakefield Warriors. As expected the 6-1 result went to Wakefield Warriors to keep them top of the table, but only on average as second placed Erdington Nomads 6-1 home win over bottom of the table Sedgemere Devils put them on the same fourteen points as the leaders and trailing them only on average. Third in the table Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club had a somewhat comfortable 5-2 home win over Roost Rebels to leave them four points behind the top two teams as are fourth placed Roost Bosh who had a bye this week.
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It was Divisional Cup week in the South West Birmingham Clubs Winter League, and in the division one games the tie between Longbridge United and Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ produced no fewer than forty tons or over with thirteen for Longbridge and twenty-seven for the Conservative Club, the all-important 5-4 result going to Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ whose M.Lloyd hit six tons in his win over R.Higgins who hit a maximum plus three more tons. M.Benntt (Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’) also hit six tons. In the only other division one fixture Northfield Darts Club won 5-4 against Stirchley United. West Heath CEM and Bournbrook had a bye.
In the division two fixtures Quarry Club had a 7-2 win over Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’ and hit sixteen tons compared to Northfield’s twelve. Perfection also won 7-2 in their game with Moseley All Services Club. Bartley Green FC booked their place in the next round with a close 5-4 result against E57. Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club had a bye.
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Week eight in the Harborne and District League and three of the starting line-up of fifteen teams still have a 100% win record. Northfield Conservative Club top the table but only by a slender one leg of average after their latest 9-0 win at Bourneville while second in the league Copper Fox ‘R’ were involved in a local derby with Copper Fox ‘M’ to whom they handed out a first defeat as they won 6-3 to put them eleven legs of average to the good on third placed Northfield Darts Club who had a close 5-4 home win over Weoley Castle WMC. Fourth and fifth placed Smethwick Cricket Club and Copper Fox ‘M’ are both on twelve points, four short of the top three teams but they both have a game in hand, Smethwick Cricket Club winning their home game against Avenue Social 6-3.
Two players found the three treble twenties this week and they were C.Fowler (Copper Fox ‘M’) and P.Brookes (Smethwick Cricket Club).
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A 6-1 home win over Longbridge keeps Copper Fox top of the Kings Norton League with twelve points from seven games, however second placed Northfield handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Toby Jug to put them on the same twelve points as the leaders but from only six games and remain the only team in the league yet to be beaten. Third and fourth in the table Stirchley and Bournebrook are both two points behind the top two, Stirchley winning 4-3 at Perfection while Bournebrook won by the same 4-3 margin at Cock Inn.
Four players hit a maximum this week and they were P.Taylor (Perfection), R.Hitchmough (Northfield), D.Murray (Bourneville) and N.Porter (Copper Fox).
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With a 6-3 win at Brian’s Flights, Sheldon Marlborough Arrows remain top of the Premier League in the Sheldon and District Winter League with a perfect score of sixteen points from their eight games. Second placed Langley Arrows had a bye and are now six points behind the leaders with a game in hand. Raven Arrows are third on the same ten points as Langley after they won their home tie with RAFA 6-2, they have played on game more than Langley Arrows.
The top three teams in division one are all on fourteen points, Smithswood Social Club top the table on average despite suffering a first defeat in seven games when they lost 6-3 playing away against second placed Langley Flights. Nevertheless Smithswood stay top on average and they also have a game in hand on Langley Flights and third placed Yardley Ex Colts. Yardley Ex Colts had a narrow 5-4 win at iron Horse Rebels.
Sheldon Marlborough Flights top division two after adding their latest 5-4 home win over Shirley Misfits giving them a two point’s lead on second placed Digby who lost their home game against Raven 6-3. After the top two are Castle Bromwich WMC, Moseley Rugby Club and Lyndon Old Boys all on eight points, the WMC and Rugby Club have both played eight games, one more than the top two teams and Lyndon.
Sheldon Marlborough Flights Steve Whatmore hit the only maximum this week.
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The Four Oaks and District League kicked-off the second half of their season this week and in division one former leaders Walmley CSC Flights lost 5-4 at Nomads@Hollyfields to drop two places to third on sixteen points. Taking over in pole position is Highcroft Hotdogs who won their home game with Heartlands 5-4 to give them eighteen points and leave them two points to the good on second placed Nomads@Hollyfields and Walmley. Fourth in the division Red Lion are on fourteen points after having a bye this week.
In division two, leaders Drakes Drum had a bye but hold on to the top spot with eighteen points, two more than second placed Erdington Arrows who had their home fixture with Sutton Sports postponed. In the local derby between Rosey Mac’s and Rosey Mac’s Bar the former won 7-2 to put them third on fourteen points but they have played on game more than the teams above them. Also on fourteen points are fourth and fifth in the division St Thomas Arrows and Pint Pot Flights who in turn won 5-4 in a local derby with St Thomas Misfits and 7-2 at home against Sutton Sharks whose Chris Gardener hit a 180. Also hitting a maximum was Tony O’Kereke (Old Horns Lions) in his team’s 9-0 win over Charley’s Flights.
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The Netherton Thursday Night 501 League played off the quarter-finals of their Andy Bastable Cup and Andy Bastable Shadow Cup. In the former, league leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ with two maximums from P.Tonks, won 9-0 against Old Glasshouse whose S.Home hit one maximum. Not such good news for fourth in the league Bulls Head who lost 7-2 to second placed Old Liberal Club. There were 6-3 wins for Townsend Social Club and Spring Meadow Pub who in turn accounted for Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club and Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’.
In the last four games for the Shadow Cup Plough and Harrow with a 180 from J.Southall, won 9-0 against Mount Pleasant, while Spring Meadow Social, who also recorded a maximum from their L.Eaves won 7-2 against Netherton Conservative Club. 7-2 was also the margin by which British Oak beat Cottage Spring. Netherton Sports and Social Club made their way in to the semis with a 5-4 win over Rose and Crown.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League got their new season underway with wins for Glasscutters ‘A’, Gornal British Legion, Crestwood, Gigmill, Bird in Hand, Old Liberal Club, Raven ‘A’, Rose and Crown ‘A’ and Ten Arches in the opening games.
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With just one more round of fixtures to play in the Silver End Sunday Morning League the top three places are all but confirmed as a 6-2 win at Raven gives Dudley Sports ‘A’ the title, with eighty-nine points they have a four points advantage over second placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club who whose 8-0 win at New Talbot ‘B’ will see them finish as runners-up as third placed Old Star, despite winning 7-1 at High Acres ‘B’ and only two points behind the Ex Serviceman’s Club have a much inferior average.
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The Brierley Hill Monday Night League played off the second round of their League Cup and winning through to the next round were, Raven, Mount Pleasant, Roebuck ‘A’, High Acres ‘A’, Glasshouse ‘B’, Brickmakers Arms, Glasshouse ‘A’ and Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’.
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With the end of the season fast approaching in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League, the title is being battled out between two teams, current leaders Old Liberal Club ‘A’ and second placed Swan. The latest fixtures saw the Liberal Club win 5-2 at Red House and Swan win 6-1 at Five Ways ‘B’ to leave both teams on forty-six points with Swan having played one game more than Old Liberal Club ‘A’.
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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League played the second week of their John Walters Trophy and in league ‘A’ Red Cow made it two wins in as many games when they won 5-4 at Netherton Sports and Social Club to go two points clear at the top of the table with New Inn 2, Netherton Sports and Social Club, Royal and Parkes Hall all on two points.
In league ‘B’ an 8-1 win for Cabin sees them go top on average from Meadow Lark, New Inn and Baggeridge Club, New Inn and Baggeridge Club have played one game more than Cabin and Meadow Lark.
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Week two in the West Midlands Ladies Super League and only three of the eighteen starters are undefeated, one is Evonne Taylor who added a 3-1 win over Kelly Doleman plus a 3-0 success against Kath Jenkins to her tally to keep her top of the table with sixteen points and gives her a lead of two over second placed Gemma Barrett who had a 3-0 win over Kelly Doleman before losing 3-2 to Kat McLean who is third with twelve points and has won all three of her games. Reigning champion Jacqueline Maiden is third, she has also won all three games the latest of which saw her win 3-2 against Tara Simmons-Fullwood to put her level on twelve points with McLean.
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A straight 5-0 home win over Allen’s Bar ‘B’ has taken Allen’s Bar’s points to eighty-three at the top of the Black Country Men’s Super League and gives them a huge ten points lead on second placed Townsend ‘A’ who won their home tie with Halesowen Cricket Club 4-1. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club also won 4-1 at home over Northfield Darts Club to leave them three points behind Townsend ‘A’.
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In the second week of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League Simon Mountford won 8-0 against Jon Blakemore to put him top of division one with nineteen points, two more than his nearest rival Chris Manoila who beat Josh Pickett 6-2.
Reece Cook Lucas heads division two with eighteen points after he added a a 7-1 win over Ashley Marklew to his tally. Second in the division Richard Brown is two points short of Cook Lucas after he won 7-1 against Warren Bowere.
Dave Akers played two fixtures this week in division three beating Tanya Dolman 8-0 and John Walsh 6-2 to top the divisional table with twenty-three points. Second placed Jade Wellings has only played two fixtures, the latest producing an 8-0 win over Ffoebi Bower to leave her five points adrift of Akers with a game in hand.
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The top two places in both the singles and doubles league in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League remain the same with Junction ‘B’ heading both leagues and Hotshots second in both. In the singles league the leaders won 6-1 at home against Corpus Christi ‘A’ while Hotshots won 4-3 at Woodfield to keep within four points of the leaders.
In the doubles league a 2-1 win over Corpus Christi ‘A’ took Junctin ‘B’s’ total points to fifty-two to keep them two points ahead of Hotshots after they added their 2-1 in at Woodfield.
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