In the UKDA National League’s Premier Division Warwickshire continued their fine start to the new season as they followed up their 20-16 opening away win over the mighty Yorkshire with a convincing 25-11 home victory over Essex. The win has seen the local county move up four places in the divisional table to second, just two points behind leaders Lancashire.
Saturday got the county off to a fantastic start with the ladies ‘B’ handing out a 6-0 whitewash to their counterparts with wins from Chloe McKivett, Marian Conway, Denise Keyte, Melanie Jones, Caroline Pike and Wendy Adams with opener Chloe McKivett taking the match award with her 3-2 win over Leanne Peetoom and her 20.61 average.
The men’s ‘B’ chalked up a 9-3 win with Jamie Hughes their top player, his 4-1 success over Scott Lawrie giving him a 27.09 average.
Sunday’s ladies ‘A’ won 4-2 Tammy Montgomery’s straight 3-0 win over Stacey Ellis earning her the match award for her super 22.43 average.
Jamie Hughes made it a double for the weekend when in the men’s ‘A’ team’s 6-6 draw he once again was man of the match, this time beating Steve Haggerty 4-1 with a tremendous 31.86 average.
———————————
In League Three of the National League newcomers to county darts Black Country added a 20-16 away win over Shropshire to their previous 22-14 victory over Gloucestershire to keep them in pole position with 48 points, however they are only top on average as Northumberland’s 21-15 win over Salopian puts them also on 48 points.
Heather Wright (20.71) was the top lady in the ‘B’ team’s 3-3 draw with Martin Price taking the men’s ‘B’ award with his 26.48 average in his team’s 7-5 victory.
On Sunday the ladies chalked up a 4-2 win, with an 18-18 average Tammy Chance lifted the match award.
The men’s ‘A’ finished all square at 6-6, a 4-0 win for Paul Wells (28.23) against Brian Hickman making him man of the match.
———————————
Following their huge 27-9 defeat away to Gwent in the Championship Division of the National League West Midlands moved up two places off the foot of the table with their latest 21-15 home win over Humberside.
Saturday’s games saw wins for both the ladies and the men with the former winning 4-2 and the latter 7-5, respective match awards going to Kelly Doleman (17.17) and Luke Griffiths (27.16).
The ladies ‘A’ finished all square at three each with their top lady Jacqueline Maiden (16.85) while the men’s ‘A’ matched their ‘B’ team’s result with a 7-5 win, Michael Baker man of the match with his 28.80 average.
———————————
The Kings Norton league are another league to get their season underway following the enforced COVID break and after the first couple of weeks five of the twelve teams remain unbeaten. Copper Fox, Thurlestone and Rubery Legion have all played the scheduled two games with Copper Fox leading the field on average.
After the leading trio, and making up the quintet of undefeated teams comes Toby Jug and E57 who have both only played and won one fixture.
Leaders Copper Fox had a 6-1 home win over Bournebrook while Thurlestone and Rubery Legion in turn won 4-3 against Northfield and Cock Inn.
———————————
Boldmere St Mikes and Old Oscott Arrows share pole position in division one of the Four Oaks and District League following their respective 7-2 and 8-1 wins over Erdington Arrows and Golden Hind. As a result Golden Hind drop from second to fifth and formerly third placed Erdington drop one place to fourth.
Third in the division Red Lion were 6-3 winners away to Golden Hind Lions and like the two teams above them have won both games so far.
Highcroft Social gained their 5-4 win in the final game of their match against Walmley CSC Flights to earn them their first win of the campaign, similarly Pint Pot Flights chalked up their first win and they also needed the final leg of the last game to clinch the points against Oscott Social Club.
Bishop Vesey, Heartlands and St Thomas Arrows remain undefeated in the second division with the first two team’s level on points and average at the top of the table. St Thomas Arrows trail the top two by just two legs of average. Bishop Vesey and Heartlands both had 8-1 wins over respective opponents Rosey Mac’s and Sutton Sharks while St Thomas Arrows were 6-3 winners against Erdington Flyers.
Golden Hind’s A.Kimberley recorded the weeks only maximum, while in his first match for Erdington Arrows C.Winters hit no fewer than seven tons, quite a debut!
———————————
The Camp Hill and District League had the first round of their Singles Knockout on their fixture card which was played at the Meadway Social Club.
From a total of 65 entries 46 players turned out on the night and winning through to the quarter finals were Dan Lee Aston, Liam O’Donnell, Len Carter, Anthony Daly, Dave Heighway, James Hinkley, Paul Henderson and Mick Tilley.
The highest break of the night was 160 and went to Sheldon Marlborough’s Len Carter, Liam O’Donnell (Meadway Social) had the highest score of 180 and his team mate Steve Harper the least darts which was nine.
———————————
Copper Fox hold on to pole position and their undefeated run in the Harborne and District League with a 7-2 win at Smethwick Cricket Club, Smethwick dropping three places in the table to fifth, replacing them in the number two spot is Northfield Conservative Club who had a convincing 8-1 win at the Cock Inn to leave them two points behind Copper Fox with a game in hand.
Third in the table Bugle Horn, like Northfield Conservative Club have only played and won three games after this week having a bye.
———————————
The top two teams in division one of the Shirley and District League, Tippetts Bar and Dunky’s Boys in turn both won 7-2 against Wharf and Cider House to leave Tippetts top by just a single leg of average.
Saracens Misfits and Lodge are both two points off the top, Lodge losing for the first time in three as they went down 6-3 at home to Misfits.
Vikings have been ousted from their number one spot in division two after losing their home game with Highwood 5-4 their victors replacing them at the top of the division with a superior average over Wythall Legion, HSCC, Vikings and Solihull Municipal, all five teams are on four points.
———————————
Waggon and Horses have taken over the number two position from Dewdrop in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League after they won 6-1 on Dewdrop’s board. Waggon go level on ten points with leaders The Vine whose 5-2 win over Hayes Social gives them a four points of average lead over Waggon and Horses.
At the other end of the table the two bottom teams squared up to each other with next to bottom Albion winning 5-2 away to bottom placed Tamebridge, After the first five games Tamebridge and Hayes Social are the only teams in the league with a point.
———————————
There were important wins for Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Bulls Head in the Netherton Thursday Night League as leaders of the league Ex Serviceman’s won 6-3 away to Fairfield, who prior to the fixture were placed second but now drop to fifth while Bulls Head moved up from fifth to third with a close 5-4 result away to Old Hill Cricket Club who drop one place in the table to fourth.
Townsend Social were the week’s biggest risers as they went from sixth to second with a 7-2 win over bottom of the table Netherton Conservative Club. The top three teams are all on nine points with Old Hill Cricket Club, Fairfield and Spring Meadow all on six, Spring Meadow winning 5-4 at Netherton Sports and Social Club.
———————————
In game five of the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League Gornal Labour Club lost their undefeated record and their number one spot when they lost 5-4 at home to fourth placed Seven Stars. The Labour Club now placed second have been replaced in pole by the league’s only unbeaten team Old Bulls Head who added their fifth win when they won 6-3 away to third in the league New Inn. Gornal Labour Club, New Inn and Seven Stars are all two points behind Old Bulls Head.
———————————
Alex Howells suffered a huge setback to his title hopes in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League as he went down 7-1 to Steve Lynch who was ninth in the table but has now climbed to fourth after adding an additional 8-0 win over Shaun Hartopp to his tally giving him a total of 168 points from 22 games. Meanwhile Howells with 174 points from 24 games is in second place behind new leader Steve Jones whose 7-1 win against Sophie Fawcett gives him a total of 182 points from 22 games and with fixtures now beginning to run out is well on target to take the title.
———————————