In fixture number four of the Elite Premier Division in the UKDA National League Warwickshire made the long trek to the south-west to take on Cornwall, their 21-15 win keeping them within four points of leaders Lancashire and opening up a thirteen points advantage over third placed Yorkshire who won 20-16 playing away against London.
The ladies were in top form Wendy Adams (16.34) taking the match award in the ‘B’ team’s 5-1 win while Tammy Montgomery was the ‘A’ team’s top player with her 21.17 average.
Both men’s teams finished all square at six each with the relative ‘A’ and B’ match awards going to Gareth Braham (30.70) and Karl Reynolds (26.03).
Warwickshire will be in action again this coming weekend when they will take on fourth in the division London at the Hen Lane Club, Beacon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DS.
Selected to play for Warwickshire will be Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Gareth Braham, Kevin Dowling, Steve Giddings, Noel Grant, Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Prakash Jiwa, Ian McFarlane, Ian Shaw, Mark Strong, Jack Wareing, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Carter, Carl Green, Dave Hill, Dave Honey, Tom Martin, Wayne Mynard, Will Naylor, Karl Reynolds, Darren Swords, Mark Tomlinson snr, Martin Tonks, Matty Washbrooke, Reserves:- Tom Aldridge, Adam Hancock, Scott Hope, Mark Martin, Dean Stewart, Women’s ‘A’:- Natalie Gilbert, Sue Gulliver, Angela Jones, Chloe McKivett, Tammy Montgomery, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Wendy Adams, Nina Bolt, Marian Conway, Melanie Jones, Denise Keyte, Caroline Pike, Reserves:- Lucy Keyte, Sue Maclennan.
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In the AON Championship Division of the UKDA National League West Midlands were held to an 18-18 draw by Buckinghamshire, the opening four games seeing them record one win, one draw and two defeats to leave them ninth in a division of twelve teams.
The result for both men’s teams was 7-5 with the ‘A’ losing by that scoreline and the ‘B’ winning. John Morris took the ‘A’ man of the match award for his 30.10 average while Richard Platt (27.42) received the same accolade for the ‘B’ side.
As the men finished with a similar 7-5 result the ladies both had 3-3 draws as Jacqueline Maiden’s 20.50 average was top for the ‘A’ and 14.92 for another Jacqueline, this time Simmons took the ‘B’.
Game number five will see West travel this coming weekend to take on bottom of the division Oxfordshire.
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The Black Country’s inaugural season in county darts just gets better and better as in their latest Darts for Windows Division Three fixture they returned from Wirral with a 23-13 win, their fourth success in as many games. Although they have had such a good start to their campaign Black Country only have a slender four points lead over their nearest rivals, second placed Gloucestershire.
Both men’s teams chalked up big wins, the ‘A’ team winning 8-4 with Ben Hollowood (26.98) their top player and the ‘B’ going one better as they beat their counterparts 9-3 with the match award going to Liam Kelly (28.75).
It was all even in the ladies games as both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ finished 3-3. Chez Allcock (20.14) took the ‘A’ award while the top average of 17.08 for the ‘B’ was shared by Heather Wright and Lacey Hughes.
Black Country have a home tie this coming weekend when they will take on fellow newcomers to county darts Salopian
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In the Four Oaks and District League there was a comfortable 8-1 win at Oscott Social Club for division one leaders Boldmere St Mikes to maintain their two points lead over second placed Erdington Arrows who had a narrow 5-4 win at home against Old Oscott Arrows.
Red Lion’s 5-4 victory over Highcroft Social sees them move up to third place four points behind Erdington.
It finally happened after losing four matches 5-4 Golden Hind Lions hung on to win 5-4 at Pint Pot Flights to secure their first win in seven but they still remain rooted to the foot of the table on two points, two short of Pint Pot Flights, Oscott Social Club and Walmley CSC Flights, the three teams just above them.
Some excellent darts in the second division that produced three nine dart games from R.Franks (Charley’s Flights), J.Rogers and Jim Frost (Heartlands) this week but they were eclipsed by an 8 darts game by T.Hines of Charley’s Flights.
A 5-4 win over Deer’s Leap by Bishop Vesey and an 8-1 victory for Heartlands over Bills Arrows puts Vesey and Heartlands on the same points and average at the top of the second division.
T.Evans (Walmley CSC Flights) and R.Davies (Plough and Arrows) both hit 180’s this week.
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Copper Fox consolidated their number one spot in the Kings Norton League by handing their hosts Grant Arms a 7-0 whitewash. The big win has seen the top side open up a two points lead as Rubery Legion, who were formerly in second place lost 4-3 playing away to E57 who have now replaced them in the number two position, both teams are on14 points but E57 have the better average.
Fourth and fifth placed Thurlestone and Bournebrook played each other with the latter getting the huge 6-1 verdict to put them level on 12 points with their hosts, trailing them by only two legs of average.
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The Shirley and District Monday Night League staged the semi-finals of their Main and Consolation Cups. In the former, division one leaders Dunky’s Boys thrashed their opponents Wythall Legion 9-0 with 180’s from S.Edwards, D.Wilson and P.Healey. The other semi was a much closer affair with Tippetts Bar just getting the close 5-4 verdict over Saracens Swords, L.Coles hitting a maximum for Swords.
In the Consolation Cup Sharmans Cross, who are bottom of division two and without a win in seven beat HSCC 5-4. Lodge made their way into the final with a 6-3 win against Solihull Municipal with P.Sinnett recording a 180 for the winners.
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Leaders of the Camp Hill League Aston Inn Nomads were short of players for game twelve and as a result had to cancel their fixture with New Inn Lions. Nevertheless Aston remain in pole position with a perfect 20 points from ten games, Sheldon Marlborough Flights reducing the points deficit to two with a 6-1 win over Tyseley WMC, however Sheldon have now played two more games than Aston.
New Inn Lions are third in the league on 14 points from eleven games with fourth placed Moseley Arms on the same 14 points but from twelve games after they beat Roost Rebels 4-3.
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Langley Arrows and Sheldon Marlborough Arrows extended their unbeaten runs in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League to four games when Langley, who top the division by one leg of average won 5-4 at Iron Horse Flights with Robbie Earl hitting a maximum for the home team. Sheldon Marlborough had a 6-3 win at Mackadown Social. Dunky’s Boys were the division’s biggest winners, winning 7-2 at Highwood Gerry’s Boys to see them replace their hosts and move up one place to third, only two points off the top.
In division one Kingshurst Labour Club held on to pole position with a 9-0 win over Irish Centre, they and second placed Sheldon Dukes have won all four of their games, the Dukes latest win being a closer 5-4 result as they handed their opponents, fourth in the division Hollywood Social their first defeat of the season so far.
Langley Arrows lost their top spot in division two as they went down 5-4 at home to Journeys End who kept their 100% win record intact and took over the top spot from their opponents who are now joint second with Sheldon Marlborough Ridge who were awarded a 9-0 walkover as Small Heath Gardeners failed to turn out.
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In the Netherton Thursday Night League leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club held on to not only their six points lead but also their game in hand after adding a 6-3 win at Netherton Sports and Social Club. Old Hill Cricket Club moved up one place to joint second with a 7-2 home win over bottom team Netherton Conservative Club while Townsend Social Club, despite winning 6-3 against Spring Meadow Social Club now have to be satisfied with sharing second place with the cricket club.
Fairfield drop one place to fifth and are replaced at number four by their victors Bulls Head who beat them 6-3.
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Bell ‘A’ top the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League but being as they had a bye in game week seven had their lead reduced to just average, with a game in hand as their nearest rivals Britannia won their home game with Bird in Hand 6-1 to leave both teams on 12 points. Third in the league Quarry Bank Liberal Club are the only team in the league not to have lost so far, they have only played six games compared to Bell ‘A’ having played seven and Britannia eight and are therefore on the same 12 points as the two teams above them as they won their latest fixture against Rose and Crown 5-2.
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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League have been involved in the first round games of their Team Knockout and Team Trophy. In the Team Knockout the league’s top two teams Old Bulls Head and New Inn both had byes, in the two games played Gornal Labour Club beat Red Cow 6-3 and Seven Stars won 5-4 against Jolly Crispin.
In the Team Trophy it was Chainyard and Griffin who had the byes while Five Ways handed Meadow Lark a 9-0 thrashing and Lamp Tavern made it into the next round with a 6-3 win over Pensnett Liberal Club.
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It’s tight at the top of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League with the top four teams all on 10 points. Bird in Hand ‘E’ top the table on average although they lost their game at Bell ‘A’ 4-3, Bell ‘A’ are joint second with Ten Arches ‘B’ who beat their ‘A’ side 5-2. Both joint second teams have a game in hand on the leaders as they have only played six games.
Fox Inn (Lye) make up the top four, their 4-3 home win over White Horse giving them ten points from seven games.
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Week thirteen of the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League matched the top two teams against each other as leaders Vine played away against Dewdrop and won 4-3 to keep them two points to the good on the rest of the field while their hosts dropped one place to third behind Waggon and Horses who won 4-3 against Horseley Tavern.
At the other end of the table bottom team Tamebridge played hosts to Miners Arms who won 7-0 to leave the home side without a win in thirteen games.
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The Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League have completed their inaugural season and the very first champion is Steve Jones with a total of 223 points, ten more than runner-up Ben Johnson.
Steve Jones completed his fixtures with a 5-3 win over fourth placed Neil Wild followed by a similar 5-3 win against Jon Blakemore.
With more than twenty confirmed entries and more to come, season two has already been confirmed.
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