Not since the 2012-2013 season in the BDO Premier Division when Warwickshire lost their first three fixtures to Yorkshire (23-13), Oxfordshire (19-17) and Cheshire (19-17) have they lost their opening three fixtures since but their recent 20-16 defeat away to Lincolnshire in the UKDA Cosmo Darts Premier Division was their third consecutive loss in what was their third game of the new season. The reversal followed 20-16 and 23-13 defeats to Cornwall and Lancashire leaving them eighth in the league table with forty-five points, thirty-eight short of leaders Lancashire.
Both of the ladies teams are still looking for their first win of the campaign, the ‘B’ team having lost their two openers and the ‘A’ after losing the first then held Lancashire to a 3-3 draw in the second. Unfortunately the away game at Lincolnshire was not to be where either team collected their first win. The ‘B’ side lost 4-2 with Nina Bolt taking the match award for her 3-0 win over Heather Lodge with an 18.11 average and the ‘A’ suffered a 6-0 whitewash, their heaviest defeat since losing by the same margin away to Hampshire on the 16th April 2023.
The men’s ‘B’ had a satisfactory 7-5 win with Noah Rose collecting the match award for his straight 4-0 win over Richard Hubbard and his superb 32.85 average. The men’s ‘A’ won by the same 7-5 margin with Kevin Dowling their top man beating James Beeton 4-0 and averaging 31.31.
On a brighter note for the county congratulations go to both Chloe McKivett and Mark McGeeney whose selection to play against Lincolnshire was their fiftieth appearance for Warwickshire.
Neil Pritchard with Chloe McKivett
Neil Pritchard with Mark McGeeney
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In the UKDA National League Andy Wheeler Fisheries Championship Division West Midands were hoping to add to their narrow 19-17 win at Cheshire in their last fixture the only game they had played at that point as they had a bye in the opening fixtures of the season. Alas it was not to be as despite home board advantage they lost 20-16 to Kent who with 68 points are second in the promotional table just four points behind leaders London. West Midlands however although losing actually moved up one place in the table to seventh with 38 points but having a game in hand on the top four teams.
The ladies ‘A’ and ‘B’ replicated the 4-2 defeats they suffered in their Cheshire fixture with Jacqueline Maiden (16.63) and Shellbie Simmons (20.31) taking the respective ‘A’ and ‘B’ awards.
The men’s ‘A’ chalked up their first win of the season winning 8-4 with Owen Maiden (28.97) picking up the match award for beating Mike Brett 4-2 while Jack Aldridge made it two consecutive award winning games when he won 4-1 in his ‘B’ team game against Lewis Venes with a 26.98 average.
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Black Country had their UKDA National League L-Style Division One home fixture against Berkshire rearranged and will be playing it this coming weekend. Because of the fixture not being played on the scheduled date Black Country have lost their pole position in the division and dropped to seventh with 48 points some twenty short of new leaders Gwent while their opponents are ninth and a further nine points adrift. A win could well see Black Country return to the top of the table.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League are up to week four and of the nine starters in the Premier Division only Langley Arrows are able to boast a 100% win record. After adding their latest 7-2 home win over The Dingle Langley hold a two point’s lead on Sheldon Marlborough Arrows who have replaced Raven in second place after they won 5-4 at Highwood and Raven lost 5-4 at home to Yardley Ex Colts. Highlights for Langley Arrows was a maximum for Bobby Nixon and a 164 outshot by their Jake Webster who finished with treble nineteen, treble nineteen and the bull, what a finish!!
A 6-3 home win over Willclare Sports and Social Club was not enough for Trident Sports to hold on to pole position in division one as Brian’s Flights chalked up an 8-1 win at Shirley Misfits to give them a slender one leg of average lead on Trident. In addition to Brian’s Flights and Trident spears having six points so do Kingshurst Labour Club and Hollywood Social Club who in turn won 7-2 at Maggies and 7-2 at home against The Bell Inn.
With Sheldon Marlborough Ridge having a bye in division two they have been replaced at the top of the table by Hornet whose 9-0 win over The College Arms Flights has given them a two points lead over the former leaders who in second place now have a game in hand.
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Erdington Nomads are second in the Camp Hill League but this week had their fixture at Tyseley Bears cancelled and as a result are now, despite having a game in hand on leader’s Tyseley WMC, some six points behind them after the WMC won 7-0 playing away against bottom of the table Sedgemere Devils. Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club moved up two places to third following their 4-3 home win over Clumsy Swan who drop two places to sixth with eight points, Cotterills have ten. Tyseley Bears are fourth with eight points but have two games in hand on the leaders.
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The South West Birmingham Clubs Winter League have got their new season underway and Longbridge United are kicking off the new season where they left off the Summer season, top of the table. A 7-1 home win over Perfection whose O.Draper had a 158 game-shot has put Longbridge joint top of the table with Northfield Town who in their home tie with Moseley All Services Club also won 7-1. Bournbrook’s P.Nevin scored the only maximum in the opening night’s fixtures as his team finished all square at 4-4 away to Stirchley United. A 6-2 win at E57 puts Quarry Lane in third position, one leg of average short of the two teams above them but one ahead of fourth placed West Heath CEM who won 5-3 away to Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’.
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With the majority of teams now having only four more games remaining in division one of the Sutton and District Summer League Highcroft Hotdogs are looking more than likely to lift the winners silverware as in game fourteen they won 5-4 at Aston Manor CC Flights, and with a 7-2 defeat for second in the division Bishop Vesey at Walmley CSC Flights the Hotdogs now have a lead of four points. Third placed Old Horns Lions won the battle of the “Old Horns” as they won 7-2 at Old Horns Arrows but despite their win and Bishop Vesey’s defeat they are still six points off second place.
Highlights for division one were 180’s for Phil Locke (Old Oscott Arrows), Des Shannon (Aston Manor CC Flights), Dave Sammons (Bishop Vesey) and Tony O’Kereke (Old Horns Lions who had a 156 finish.
In the second division leaders Scott Armers were 6-3 winners at home against Rosey Mac’s while second placed Charley’s Flights had a close 5-4 home win over third in the division Erdington Arrows keeping them within two points with a game in hand on the leaders and giving them a four points breathing space plus a further game in hand on their opponents.
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The Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League title is now within touching distance for Old Liberal Club ‘A’ as their latest 7-0 win at The Shovel has kept intact not only their 100% win record for their twenty-three games but also their eight points lead on second placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ who were also 7-0 winners at Netherton Conservative Club. The race is on however for the runners-up place as third and fourth placed Cottage and Hollybush are both on the same thirty-eight points as Bird in Hand ‘E’ with only average separating them.
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After completing the opening five fixtures in the Netherton Thursday Night League the top four teams are all on eight points with current leaders and reigning champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ’A; topping the table and having only played and won four games. In the latest round of fixtures Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ with a 180 from George Peters won 9-0 at Netherton Sports and Social Club while second placed Bulls Head returned from Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club with an 8-1 win under their belts. Third in the league Old Liberal Club with a maximum from their Jess Archer won 7-2 against Old Glasshouse putting them level on points and average with fourth in the league Townsend Social Club who had 180’s from both Paul Hadley and Abdul Galeb in a 7-2 win at Spring Meadow Social.
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With still two more fixtures to play in the Rowley Monday Night League Bell with a 180 from S.Price and an 8-1 win at Rowley Bar and Grill have secured the league title as they have a four points lead on second placed White Swan and cannot be caught on average. White Swan kept their last hopes alive with a similar 8-1 win at Huntingtree and although the title has evaded them the runners-up spot is well and truly within their reach as they have a four points lead on their nearest rivals third placed Gate Hangs Well who won 6-3 at Tividale FC.
Other notable achievements on the night came from C.Whitehouse (Tividale FC) and R.Lenton (Rowley Labour Club) who both found the three treble twenties plus J.Gibbs (Wonder) who had a 160 break.
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Gornal Labour Club stay top of the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League with 16 points from 9 games after adding their latest 5-4 win at Baggeridge WM. Old Bulls Head lost second place after surprisingly losing 7-2 at home to Netherton Sports and Social Club, both teams are now on 14 points and have a game in hand on the leaders, the Sports and Social Club just one leg of average to the good on Old Bulls Head.
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Black Country Men’s Super League leaders Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ lost 4-1 playing away to their nearest rivals Allen’s Bar ‘C’, the victors now four points behind the top team but with a game in hand.
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A surprise 3-2 defeat for Dog and Partridge leaders of the West Midlands Men’s Super League as they went down playing away against third placed Kings Head ‘A’. Second placed Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ won 4-1 against ECC but are still five points adrift of the leaders and have played one game more than them.
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It was not a good week for John Frost in the Mighty Travels Heartlands Double Top League as he lost both games against Martin Cooper and Matthew Cain 2-1 to see him ousted from the number one spot and be replaced by Martin Cooper who preceded his win over Frost with a 3-0 success against Joe Bayliss to put him on 18 points, two more than second placed Gerry McCormack who had mixed fortunes as he beat Emma Cain 3-0 and then lost 2-1 to Matthew Cain, with Cain hitting the only maximum of the night.
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