The Four Oaks and District League have been engaged in the preliminary round of their Brian Goodman Cup which saw two second division teams eliminate their first division opposition as Bishop Vesey defeated Pint Pot Flights 7-2 and Plough and Arrows beat Highcroft Social 6-3.
Second division leaders Heartlands narrowly lost to division one leaders Boldmere St Mikes 5-4, while Oscott Social Club (division one) needed the final two games to secure a 5-4 win against Bills Arrows from division two. Sutton Sharks recorded the highest score of the week, an 8-1 home win against Rosey Mac’s.
Other teams winning through to the next round were CSC Flights, Golden Hind, Golden Hind Lions, Red Lion, Erdington Arrows and Boldmere Tap.
W.Naylor (Golden Hind), T.Kelly (Deers Leap) and Matthew Cain (Heartlands) all recorded maximums.
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After the enforced COVID-19 break, the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League has been resurrected with a new format now playing the best of seven legs as opposed to previously paying the best of nine. In the opening fixtures three of the starting line-up of fifteen teams recorded a 6-1 win to share the number one spot, Britannia, Glasscutters ‘A’ and Quarry Bank Liberal Club in turn accounting for Fox Inn, Glasscutters ‘B’ and Church Tavern.
Hot on the heels of the leading trio are Seven Stars and Ten Arches who were 5-2 winners against their respective opponents Rose and Crown and Bird in Hand. Gate Hangs Well and Lion both won 4-3 at the expense of Woodman and Crestwood, Hare and Hounds had a bye.
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Copper Fox consolidated their pole position in the Kings Norton League with a convincing 6-1 win away to Cock Inn, however they only head the table on average from Rubery Legion whose 5-2 win at Toby Jug saw them move up one place to second and like Copper Fox they made it three wins in as many games.
E57 move two places up the table to third following their 5-2 home win over Thurlestone, they have only played two games and won both, the top three teams the only unbeaten teams in the league. Thurlestone drop from second to fourth.
Kings Heath handed their visitors Grant Arms a 7-0 whitewash to put them level on four points with Thurlestone and two points off the top.
At the other end of the table Bournebrook hosted bottom placed Rubery Legion and recorded their first win in three, a 6-1 success to lift them away from the foot of the table.
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There was a first win in four for Saracens Swords in division one of the Shirley and District Monday Night League when they won their home tie against Saracens Misfits 6-3, despite the win they remain in a joint next to bottom of the table position with Wharf who lost 6-3 at home to Bears. 6-3 was also the margin by which divisional leaders Tippetts Bar won in their game at Cider House who without a win in four drop to the foot of the table while Tippetts open up a two points lead over their nearest rivals Dunky’s Boys who were surprise 5-4 losers at home to Lodge who have taken over the number three position level on six points with their hosts.
A 7-2 home win over bottom of the table Sharmans Cross keeps Highwood top of division two but only on average from HSCC and Vikings, the former winning 6-3 at home against Saracens Slingers and the latter winning 5-4 at Legion Royals.
Wythall Legion lose their previous second place and drop to fifth after going down 5-4 at home to Solihull Municipal who are now two points to the good and one place above them.
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The Camp Hill League are up to week eight and there are three teams locked together on 12 points at the top of the table. Aston Inn Nomads lead the field they have played just six games and took their unbeaten record to six with a 6-1 win away to next to bottom of the table Peaky Blinder. Second and third placed Sheldon Marlborough Flights and New Inn Lions have both played eight games, Sheldon losing their number one spot after going down 4-3 at home to New Inn Lions, they have the number two position over their rivals and victors with a better average than they have.
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It was a week of strange results in the Netherton Thursday Night League as Netherton Conservative Club moved off the bottom of the table with their first win in four games. They came back from 4-0 down to win 5-4 against Old Hill Cricket Club who were previously fourth in the table. Third placed Bulls Head suffered a somewhat surprisingly huge 7-2 home defeat at the hands of a Fairfield outfit who were fifth and move up to third, just one win short of the top two teams.
Leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club were held to a really close 5-4 home win by bottom of the table Netherton Sports and Social Club and now have to share the top spot with rivals Townsend Social Club who were 7-2 home winners over Spring Meadow Social Club to put them level on points and average.
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The Vine not only lost for the first time in six games in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League but at the same time also lost their number one spot to Waggon and Horses. Playing at home Vine went down 4-3 to third in the table Dewdrop while their rivals Waggon and Horses were chalking up a convincing 6-1 win at Horseley Tavern to take their undefeated run to six games, they are now the only team in the league to have won all of their fixtures. Vine drop to second place level on ten points with Dewdrop with a superior average, both teams are two points off the top
Tamebridge remain the only team in the league without a win so far, their latest fixture seeing them lose 5-2 at Miners Arms. Hayes Social were next to bottom but a 4-3 win at Albion, their first win in six, sees them move above their hosts who replace them just above Tamebridge.
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It’s as you were for the top four teams in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League with leaders Old Bulls Head winning 7-2 at Seven Stars who hold on to their fourth position in the table, second placed and former leaders Gornal Labour Club were the week’s biggest winners as they trounced their visitors Griffin 8-1 and third in the table New Inn were held to a close 5-4 verdict at Pensnett Liberal Club. Old Bulls Head are the only remaining team with a 100% win record and have a two points advantage over Gornal Labour Club and New Inn with Seven Stars a further two points adrift.
Despite losing 5-4 at Chainyard Jolly Crispin actually moved up one place in the table to fifth while Griffin’s defeat saw them drop three places to eighth.
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Without any Black Country Super League fixtures this week the Black Country Premier League staged their Bon Voyage Knockout.
In the quarter final sthree of the four games finished with a 3-1 scoreline as in turn Dave Simpson, Shane Sheridan and Carl Snelus accounted for Chris Hall, Liam Kelly and Luke Jones. The other game was a much closer affair with Ben Hughes just getting the better of Jordan Ward with a 3-2 win.
Once again in the semi-finals 3-1 was the popular result as Shane Sheridan beat Dave Simpson and Ben Hughes won against Carl Snelus.
The final saw Shane Sheridan claim the title with a straight 4-0 win over Ben Hughes in what was a high quality final.
Sheridan had had quite a tough run to the final taking out James Hykin 3-2, Steve Gilliam 3-1, Liam Kelly 3-1 and Dave Simpson 3-1.
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Steve Jones added a 6-2 win over his nearest rival Alex Howells in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League to take him a giant step nearer the title and the top prize of £310 as he is now on 190 points from 23 games and has a lead of 14 on second placed Howells with two games in hand.
An impressive 8-0 win for Jamie Webb over Paul Vaughan has seen Webb take over the number three spot with a total of 175 points from 24 games leaving him one point short of second placed Howells with a game in hand.
It could be quite a run-in for the runners-up place as fourth in the table Steve Lynch is on 173 points from 23 games and fifth placed Neil Wild has 170 points from 22 games. It could be a very close finish!!
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