The Sheldon and District Winter League had the first round of their Punchbowl on the fixture card in which premier division leaders Dunky’s Boys took out division two opponents Raven with a 5-2 scoreline. There was a battle royal between Sheldon Marlborough Arrows Langley Flights who are currently placed second and third in the premier, the close 4-3 result going in favour of Sheldon.
Division two leaders Willclare Sports and Social had a notable 4-3 win over Hornet who are at the foot of the premier division while Hampton and Solihull CC, who are without a win in the league and bottom of division two held their premier opponents Iron Horse Flights to a very close 4-3 win.
In the all premier clash between Langley Arrows and Hob Meadow, it was the former who got the convincing 6-1 verdict. Yardley Ex Colts won the division one battle with Shirley Misfits by 4-3 and with the same result Sheldon Marlborough Ridge got the better of their fellow division two opponents Lyndon Old Boys.
Journeys End, who are second in division two beat Meadway Sports and Social who are bottom of division one 5-2.
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Division one leaders in the Four Oaks and District League Boldmere St Mikes had a vital 6-3 win playing away against Highcroft Social who as a result of their defeat drop one place to third and are replaced in their former second place by Red Lion who had a similar 6-3 win at Oscott Social Club. Second in the division and four points behind St Mikes are Erdington Arrows who turned a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 win against Walmley CSC Flights to leave them four points off the top.
Not a good week for Golden Hind as Pint Pot Flights and Old Oscott Arrows both secured narrow 5-4 wins against respective opponents Golden Hind and Golden Hind Arrows.
In the second division fourth placed Charley’s Flights handed leaders Heartlands a 5-4 defeat, this being only their second loss in ten games. A comfortable 6-3 win at Plough and Arrows has seen Bishop Vesey draw level on 16 points with Heartlands and trailing by just two legs of average.
D.Jarvis jnr (Boldmere St Mikes), S.Shorthouse (Highcroft Social), Roxy Bennett (Plough and Arrows) and R.Nelson (St Thomas Arrows) all recorded their first 180’s this week.
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Copper Fox remain top of the Kings Norton League and hold on to their two points lead after beating Bournebrook 6-1. Second placed E57 went one better than the leaders as they handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their visitors Rubery Social Club. A further two points adrift on 20 points is Thurlestone who have replaced Bournebrook in third place after their 5-2 win at Northfield. Bournebrook and Rubery Legion are currently joint fourth, level on 18 points with the same average after Rubery Legion won 5-2 at Cock Inn.
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It was cup semi-finals week in the Camp Hill League, first the League Cup which saw league leaders Aston Inn Nomads earn their final spot with a 5-2 win over New Inn Lions and in the final they will be facing currently third in the league Roost Rebels who had a close 4-3 win over Meadway Social.
In the Consolation Cup there was a convincing 6-1 win for second placed Sheldon Marlborough Flights over bottom of the table Sedgemere Flights. From the other side of the draw Tyseley Newbies beat local rivals Tyseley WMC 4-3.
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Dunky’s Boys stayed on track for the division one title in the Shirley and District Monday Night League when in week 13 they won 7-2 at Saracens Swords to keep their four points lead intact over nearest rivals Tippetts Bar who had a narrow 5-4 success playing at Saracens Misfits who are bottom of the division. Although four points behind Dunky’s Tippetts do have a game in hand as do third placed Lodge, however after suffering a 6-3 defeat away to Bears they are now some six points off the top.
Little change at the top of division two with all of the top three teams winning, leaders Wythall Legion won 5-4 at home against fourth in the division Vikings, second placed Solihull Municipal had a 6-3 home win over Sharmans Cross to remain two points behind Wythall and third in the division Highwood, who are a further two points adrift, were the division’s biggest winners of the week beating Saracens Slingers 7-2.
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A 5-2 home win over Gate Hangs Well has seen White Horse take their unbeaten run in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League to nine games which keeps them two points ahead of the rest of the field. Second and third placed Britannia and Woodman both chalked up massive 7-0 wins as in turn they accounted for Crestwood and Rose and Crown leaving the Brit two points behind the leaders and Woodman four points adrift, however both teams have played one game more than White Horse.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club held on to their six points lead at the top of the Netherton Thursday Night League by adding an 8-1 win over Spring Meadow Social Club to their account. Townsend Club, with 33 points are second and they won a vital game against third in the league Bulls Head 5-4 to open a three points gap between the two teams.
Fourth in the table Old Hill Cricket Club lost ground in the title race as they lost 6-3 playing away against Netherton Sports and Social who are just two places off the foot of the table.
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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League are two games into the second half of their season and leaders Old Bulls Head stretched their undefeated run to thirteen games when they won 6-3 playing away against Lamp Tavern. Second placed New Inn kept the deficit to four points by winning 5-2 at fifth in the table Jolly Crispin and making it wins for all of the top four sides, third and fourth placed Gornal Labour Club and Seven Stars in turn won 7-2 against Red Cow and Meadow Lark.
There was a rare win for Pensnett Liberal Club as they won 5-4 at Griffin, this being only their third win in thirteen games.
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The fixtures produced a top of the table clash in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as leaders Bird in Hand ‘E’ travelled to take on second placed Fox Inn (Lye). The outcome was a close 4-3 win for Bird in Hand ‘E’ to see them open up a two points lead over their hosts. Third in the table Bell ‘A’ lost ground as they went down 5-2 playing away against White Horse who move up the table one place to fourth.
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Tomorrow night (Thursday 27th January) at 8.00pm there will be a meeting at Allen’s Sports Bar, Newhall Street, Tipton, DY4 9HL with a view to forming a new Black Country Singles League. The league is open to male and female players with the format being eight legs of 501 straight start double finish, one point per leg, one bonus point for a draw and two bonus points for a win with all legs to be played.
There will be a £5 registration fee plus a further £3 per week for each player. Based on 32 players playing all the games there will be a prize pot of £4000 with all players receiving a pay-out at the end of the season.
Please note that if you drop out at any time you will forfeit any monies paid in, so only join if you can play all season.
It is proposed the league will get underway on the 10th February. For more information contact Bob Shaw at Allen’s Bar on 0121-557-9223 or Marie Millward on 07376-489887.
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In the latest of the Black Country Super League fixtures Railway Tavern had a close 3-2 win over Allen’s Bar ‘B’ but it was not enough to have their lead reduced at the top of the table as second placed Yeltz Bar ‘A’ handed out a 5-0 whitewash to their visiting team, bottom of the table Rowley Bar and Grill to see them move to within one point of Railway.
In the local derby between Allen’s Bar ‘A’ and Allen’s Bar ‘C’ it was the former and lower in the table ‘A’ team that got the 3-2 verdict and the ‘C’ team, although still third in the league are now some ten points off the top.
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I end this week’s column on a very sad and also personal note as I sadly report the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends, and long-time darts comrade Matt Kelly.
Matt, one of the finest darts players to come out of Tipton played in county, super league, many local leagues and in addition local, National and American competitions to name but a few.
My sincere condolences go to Matt’s family, he will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace Matt, many thanks for all the happy hours we spent on the dartboard together.
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