West Midlands County Darts Organisation brought forward their fixture in division one of the UKDA National League at home to County Durham scheduled for the 10th and 11th December and played it on the weekend of the 26th and 27th November and it turned out to be a game of two halves with the two men’s teams winning and both of the women’s teams losing.
With one defeat and one win in their previous two fixtures West Midlands were languishing at the foot of the divisional table, although they do have a game in hand on the majority of teams.
For the ladies it was another weekend to forget as the ‘B’ team went down 4-2 with Crysta Wilcox and Shellbie Simmons their only winners, Shellbie taking the match award for her straight 3-0 win over Babs Smith giving her a 19.03 average. The ‘A’ side suffered a huge 5-1 defeat with Jacqueline Maiden their sole winner. Jacqueline was taken the full five legs distance by Clare Stewart before sealing her 3-2 victory and at the same time the match award for her 16.64 average.
Saturday’s men’s ‘B’ game saw them gain a narrows 7-5 win after at one stage leading 4-1. Glen McGrandle assured at least a share of the points in the tenth game, his 3-2 win over Robert Howe taking the home team’s lead to and unbeatable 6-4 before Rob Thompson in the final game of the day beat John Teal 3-1 to give the West Midlands men’s ‘B’ victory. Man of the match was Dean Simmonds-Fullwood whose 3-2 win over Carl Redden gave him a 28.31 average.
Sunday’s men’s ‘A’ tie saw the hosts romp to a 10-2 win with Shaun Carroll (28.63) their top player winning 4-1 against Jack Bell to not only give West Midlands their second win in three, an overall 20-16 result but also lifting them off the foot of the table to a healthy fourth position with 62 points twelve short of current leaders Derbyshire.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League are up to game six and in the premier division Sheldon Marlborough Arrows with a maximum from Terry Webster held on to pole position with a 7-2 win away to bottom of the division Hollywood Social whose Tony Colley also notched a 180. Langley Arrows kept within two points of the leaders with a 6-3 home win over Kingshurst Labout Club, Jake Webtser chalking up winning legs of 10 and 11 darts for the victors. Third in the division Dunky’s Boys had a bye this week but with eight points and a game in hand are only two points short of the leaders.
There were 6-3 wins for the top two teams in division one, leaders Langley Flights winning at Journeys End while second placed Yardley Ex Colts won at Willclare Sports and Social. Both of the top two teams are on eight points, Yardley with a game in hand on Langley.
The best team performance in division one came from Maggies who trailed 4-0 in their game at The Dingle but fought back to go on and win 5-4. John Smythe hit a maximum for The Dingle while Steve Hall had a 120 game shot for Maggies.
In division two Brian’s Flights are the only team in the league with an undefeated record, they made it five straight wins when in their latest fixture they won 6-3 against Hampton and Solihull Cricket Club who drop one place in the table to third with Iron Horse Rebels replaing them in second place, on the same eight points as Hampton and Solihull but with a superior average.
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The Harborne and District League had their League Cup on the fixture card which produced a top versus bottom game between Avenue Social and Bugle Horn. In line with current league form the 6-1 result went to unbeaten league leaders Bugle Horn whose M.Poolton recorded a maximum. Second in the league Northfield Conservative Club also had an away game playing at Copper Fox ‘M’ and returning with a convincing 7-0 victory with a 180 from their Richard Hosey. The other Northfield team Northfield Town, who are fourth played away against bottom of the league The Mill and won 6-1.
Smethwick Cricket Club are third in the league and they had a close 4-3 win away to Bourneville Social whose G.Bailles was the man to find the three treble twenties.
In the other games played Quinton RBL lost 6-1 to Weoley Castle WMC and Cock Inn, despite a 180 from their L.Fox lost by the same margin to Coppice Fox ‘R’ whose Tom McGlone also hit a maximum.
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In the Four Oaks and District League only four teams remain unbeaten in each of the two divisions. Leaders of division one Old Oscottt Arrows had a convncing 7-2 win at Golden Hind Lions to keep them two legs of average to the good on both Highcroft Social and Nomad Flights, Highcroft winning 7-2 at Charley’s Flights and Nomads having a much closer 5-4 success away to Bishop Vesey. Fourth in the division Old Horns Lions, like the three teams above them are undefeated and won their game at Walmley CSC Flights 5-4.
Minworth Flights top the second division once again on average as the top four teams remain unbeaten. Minworth won 7-2 at Plough and Arrows, the win giving them a three legs advantage over second placed Oscott Social Club who had a 6-3 success at The Funky Bear. Third placed St Thomas Arrows are a further one leg of average adrift after their 5-4 win at Erdington Arrows and another further leg of average behind is fourth in the division Scott Armers who won 5-4 at home against Sutton Sharks.
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With a bye this week in division one of the Shirley and District Monday Night League Lions have dropped from pole to third in the table, Tippetts Bar made it two wins in their opening two games when they won 6-3 at Saracens Swords to give them a single leg of average lead over second placed Dunky’s Boys whose second consecutive win was a similar 6-3 result at Cider House. Third placed Lions are the only other team in the division not to have lost so far but have only played one fixture.
In division two leaders Wharf travelled to take on fourth in the division Yardley Wood Social Club and returned with a favourable 7-2 result which sees their hosts drop two places to sixth. Sharmans Cross are second their 5-4 success at HSCC leaves them five legs short of Wharf but on the same four points. Third placed Saracens Misfits are the only other team in the division not to have lost so far but they have only played the one game which was this week and saw them hand out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Saracens Head.
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Old Liberal Club made it nine wins from as many games in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League when they added a 6-1 result over Fox Inn, Lye to their account. The Liberal Club top the table with a perfect eighteen points but have a lead of only average over second placed Cross, Oldswinford who had a bye this week. After the top two teams come Ten Arches and Bell both of whom have played ten games and are on sixteen points, in their latest fixtures Ten Arches won 5-2 at Seven Stars while Bell won by the same margin at Cat Inn.
The bottom two teams Glasscutters and Rose and Crown ‘B’ have both played nine games and are both seeking their first points of the season.
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Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ had their fixture with Clock postponed in the Netherton Thursday Night League this week and as a consequence lose their number one position and drop to second place behind new leaders and reigning champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ who take over at the top after their 7-2 home win over Bulls Head which gives them a total of twelve points, the same number as the former leaders but from one game extra played. Third in the league Townsend Social Club are also in twelve points, they won their home tie with Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 5-4 and like the new leaders have played eight games.
There were three maximums recorded in the league this week and they were supplied by L.Beasley (Townsend Social Club), P.Tonks (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’) and H.Johnson (Spring Meadow.
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After completing their opening two fixtures in the Camp Hill League’s new season just two legs of average separate the top three teams. Erdington Nomads hold on to the top spot after their 4-3 home win over Tyseley Bears, Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club are second and just one leg short of the Nomads after adding a 6-1 win at Sedgemere Devils to their tally and third in the table Tyseley WMC, with score of 177 from James Taylor are in turn just one leg short of Cotterills after their 5-2 win against Peaky Blinder.
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With just six more games to be played in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League only four points separate the top three teams and this week both of the top two lost. Quarry Bank Labour Club lead the field with 36 points from their twenty games the latest of which saw them, for only the second time in twenty games lose as they finished on the wrong side of a 4-3 scoreline at Bird in Hand ‘E’. As a result of their win Bird in Hand ‘E move up into second place two points behind the Labour Club. Ten Arches who formerly were second were unable to capitalise on the Labour Club’s demise as they also lost 4-3 at home to Bell ‘A’ who are sixth in the table.
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The Bell completed their domestic fixtures in the Rowley Monday Night League on a high winning 7-2 at the Wonder to give them a final total of 54 points from their thirty games and the league title. Bell finished four points ahead of runners-up Plough and Harrow who beat Hare and Hounds 8-1 in their final game. Clock (Whiteheath) lost out on the second place by just two points as they brought the curtain down with a 6-3 home win over Loyal Lodge. The defeat for Loyal Lodge cost them the runners-up place in the Shadow League as they finished third on 73 points. The Shadow League title went to Windmills End who amassed 83 points from their final fifteen games and it was Ex Serviceman’s who replaced Loyal Lodge in second place with a total of 77 points.
Roost had an unenviable double finishing bottom of both the Main and Shadow Leagues.
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With the fixture between the top two teams Allens Bar ‘A’ and Railway Tavern being postponed the top two places in the Black Country Men’s Super League are still the same with Allens Bar ‘A’ leading on 136 points and Railway Tavern second with 118. Yeltz Bar ‘A’ lost their number two spot after a somewhat surprising 3-2 defeat away to Bell, Kingswinford ‘A’ who after the win are still twenty-three points short of their opponents. The defeat has seen Yeltz Bar ‘A’ drop to fourth on 107 points and be replaced in third place by their local rivals Yeltz Bar who took their number of points to 110 with a convincing 5-0 home win over Rowley Bar and Grill.
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