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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