With the majority of teams in the Sheldon and District Summer League having just two more games to play, all three group titles are still up for grabs. Group one produced a top of the table clash in week eight with leaders Langley Arrows travelling to take on second placed Raven Arrows. The result was a somewhat surprisingly large 7-1 win for the hosts to see them replace their opponents in the number one spot but only on average as both teams have twelve points, Langley however do have a game in hand in their rivals.
After a 6-2 win at Langley Flights, Willclare Sports and Social continue to head the group two table with a slender one point advantage over second placed Yardley Ex Colts who won 5-2 at home against Hornet, however Willclare have only played six games and Yardley have played seven
Sheldon Marlborough Ridge lead group three, they taking their points tally to twelve after being held to a 4-4 draw by second in the group Lyndon Old Boys. Lyndon and third placed Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club are both on nine points, three short of Sheldon but both have played one game fewer than the leaders.
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The Kings Norton League are fast approaching the halfway point of their season and the latest round of fixtures produced wins for all of the away teams, something of a rare event. Four of the five results were close 4-3 wins with leaders Rubery Social Club being held to a close win by bottom of the table Kings Heath. Second in the league Copper Fox were the team with the different but outstanding result as they handed their hosts next to bottom of the table Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club a 7-0 whitewash to keep them within two points of Rubery with a game in hand.
After the top two come a quartet of teams Bournebrook, Thurlestone, E57 and Northfield all on ten points and despite being six off the top they all have one game in hand, Thurlestone being the odd one out as they have three games in hand which could take them to the top of the table.
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Aston Inn Nomads made it nine wins in as many games in the Camp Hill League when in week ten they won 4-3 playing away against third in the table Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club keeping them two points to the good, together with a game in hand on second placed Tyseley Bears who handed their hosts Peaky Blinder a 7-0 whitewash. Cotterills hold on to third place but are now four points off the top but still two ahead of fourth in the league Tyseley WMC who had a 6-1 home win over Sedgemere Devils.
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Week two in the Harborne and District League and Smethwick Cricket Club have been ousted from their number one spot after losing 7-2 at Bugle Horn, the Bugle team in outstanding form as together they chalked up no fewer than twenty one scores of a ton or more including a maximum from D.Nicholls. The win leaves Bugle Horn second in the table just two legs of average short of leaders Northfield Town who won 9-0 at Avenue Social. Third in the league Weoley Castle WMC are on the same unbeaten four points as the two teams above them and they are three legs of average behind the leaders after they won 7-2 at The Mill who are currently bottom of the table.
There are two other teams that are unbeaten in the league Copper Fox R and Bourneville Social but they have only played one game so far.
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As the Sutton and District Summer League completed game number twelve division one remained the same as before as leaders Bishop Vesey won 5-4 at second in the division Walmley CSC Flights to open a four point’s gap between the two teams. As a result of their defeat Walmley have dropped to third place two points behind The Nomads whose 8-1 win at Pint Pot Flights leaves them just two points adrift of Vesey with a game in hand.
There was no change in the top four places in division two as leaders Golden Hind Lions won 6-3 at St Thomas Arrows to stay four points in front of second placed Heartlands who had a similar 6-3 win over fourth in the division Rosey Mac’s keeping them six points ahead of third placed Oscott Social Club who again were 6-3 winners at Erdington Arrows.
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The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League played their singles knockout down to the last sixteen players and doing battle on finals night will be K.Forrest (Cross, Oldswinford) 2 A.Nicholls (Bell ‘A’) 0, V.Mitchell (Cross, Oldswinford) 0 J.Jackson (Cross, Oldswinford) 2, J.Ward (Fox Inn, Lye) 2 B.Fitzgerald (Cross, Oldswinford) 1, L.Davies (Gate Hangs Well) 0 B.Stevens (Seven Stars) 2, C.Slater (Gate Hangs Well) 2 K.Bambrick (White Horse) 1, C.Hart (White Horse) 2 J.Stevens (Seven Stars) 0, N.Gordon (Seven Stars) 0 A.Moreton (Ten Arches) 2, S.Bloomer (Cross, Oldswinford) had a bye, Quarter-Finals:- S.Bloomer 0 J.Ward 2, C.Hart 2 J.Jackson 0, B.Stevens 2 C.Slater 0, K.Forrest 0 A.Moreton 2, Semi-Finals:- C.Hart 1 J.Ward 2, B.Stevens 1 A.Moreton 2, Final:- A.Moreton 0 J.Ward 2.
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With just one more round of fixtures to play, Waggon and Horses with a 6-1 home win over bottom of the table Tamebridge have won the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League title, the win takes Waggon’s points to 36 and with second placed Dewdrop ‘A’ adding a 5-2 win at next to bottom place Sow and Pigs they are on 30 points and cannot catch Waggon but should finish as runners-up as third in the league Miners Arms ‘B’, although just two points behind Dewdrop ‘A’ have a large average deficiency.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League held their AGM to form the new season but have decided to reconvene once again at the Bulls Head on the 25th August to allow more time for teams to join the league.
Seven of the eight teams from last season have stated their willingness to return for the new season but the league is eager to add to this number to make the league bigger and better.
Anyone looking to enter a tea in the league or just requiring further information should contact either Ron Nicholson on 07970-694450 or Carl Hadlington on 07898-299992.
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It was cup week in the Rowley Monday Night League, the singles knockout which was played down to the last sixteen players and qualifying for finals night were M.Archer, M.Smith, C.Allen, M.Perkins, C.Whitehouse, R.Grigg, D.Locke, K.Harrison, M.Tedstone, D.Timmins, C.Eaves, T.Barr, J.Tart, I.Hartland, P.O’Brien, D.Whittle.
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As the teams in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League completed game number eight there were wins for the top six teams in the league. Top of the table Labour Club had an emphatic 7-0 success at Bell ‘B’ to not only maintain their 100% start to the new campaign but also keep them two points to the good on second placed Ten Arches after their 6-1 win at home over Dudley Sports.
Bird in Hand ‘E’, Hollybush, Fox Inn (Lye) and Stourbridge FC have all won six of their eight games and are four points off the top, in turn they won against Raven (7-0), Ashwood (6-1), Shovel (5-2) and Bell ‘A’ (5-2).
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League have all but finished their season with just the one fixture between Chop House and Plough still to be played. Church Tavern who had already been acclaimed champions rounded off their season with a convincing 7-0 win over Quarry Bank Social Club, the Tavern having just the one defeat in their fourteen games. Netherton Sports and Social finished as runners-up they also ended on a high beating Wheatsheaf by the same 7-0 scoreline giving them a massive twelve points advantage over third in the league Bulls Head.
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Week 26 of the Ashwood Premier League saw no change in the top five places as leader Nick Fullwell added 7-0 wins over Craig Lowin and Tony Bennett to take his points to 270 from 43 games. Currently second in the league is Chris Williams Williams had a great night as he played and won four games. A 7-0 success against Mitch Pickett got Williams out of the starting blocks, he then won 4-3 against Chris Fox, beat Chris Manoila 6-1 and completed his quartet of wins with a 4-3 success against Shane Passey. Williams wins has taken his number of points to 238 from 46 games. Third in the league Dave Simpson, after 43 games is eleven points short of Williams, his latest fixtures saw him win 6-1 against Mark Glaze and 4-3 against Chris Manoila. A further eight points adrift on 219 from 41 games is fourth place Geoff Marson who played just the two games on the night against Mike Cullis and Mark Glaze and won them both 6-1.
The league are now taking entries for season 4 as season three is nearing its end with just over a month of scheduled fixtures to play, It is expected the new season will start in October with dates yet to be confirmed but anyone interested in playing or require any further information should contact Chris Williams on Facebook Messenger.
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Despite not playing in week 25 of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night League Scott Baker continues to lead the field with 194 points from 21 games. His nearest rival John Simms played and won 5-3 against Chris Hill to leave him on 155 points, 39 short of Baker and from 22 games. Third in the league Jon Blakemore lost ground in the title race as he went down 6-2 to ninth placed Reece Cook-Lucas, Jamie Webb reducing the arrears to seven points on Blakemore with his 6-2 win over Simon Mountford.
Ben Johnson may be sixth in the current league table and after his 7-1 win over Mal Pugh on 143 points but he has only played 18 games but he has at least three games in hand on all five players above him.
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Of the top six players in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League only three actually played in week 21. Leader Nick Fullwell began the night well with an 8-0 clean-sweep against Benjamin Hollowood but then suffered only his sixth defeat in 36 games when he lost 6-2 to Jamie Hughes. Prior to his game against Fullwell Jamie Hughes had won 6-2 against Justin Evans, 7-1 against James Davies and 8-0 against Danny Knight to see him move up one place in the table to third with 263 points from 31 games, twelve points short of second placed Rich Bowen who has played eight games more than Hughes. On the night Bowen beat Stella Sims 7-1and Martin Angell 8-0.
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Allens Bar ‘A’ took their undefeated run to ten games in the Black Country Men’s Super League with another impressive 5-0 win over their ‘B’ side to give them a total of 66 points and a lead of eleven over their nearest rivals Railway Tavern who won their home tie against Halesowen Cricket Club 4-1. Yeltz Bar ‘A’ are third and a further three points behind Railway following their close 3-2 home win over Whiteheath Tavern who are four places below them and some eleven points short of them.
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A bye in week 14 has seen Woodfield lose their second place in the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League and drop to third two points behind Gilbert’s Bar in second place. Railway remain top of the division, their 4-3 win at Dog and Partridge putting them two points ahead of Gilbert’s Bar who had a 5-2 win away to Red Lion (Wednesfield).
In the doubles division it’s Hurst Hill who lead the field, their 3-0 win at Moreton Arms keeping intact their two points advantage over second placed ECC who after their 3-0 win at Stile have played one game more than Hurst Hill. As in the singles division Woodfield are third, they have played the same eleven games as the leaders but are a huge eight points short of them.
After the top three teams come a bunch of four all on twelve points, Railway, Moreton Arms, Wednesfield Legion and Stile, all have played twelve games apart from Wednesfield Legion who have played eleven.
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