Warwickshire County Darts Organisation have finally broken their spell of three consecutive defeats in the UKDA National League Cosmo Darts Premier Division by winning their latest fixture a home tie against Dorset 21-15 to move them up three places in the divisional table to fifth on sixty-nine points, just eleven short of second placed Hampshire.
Saturday saw the ladies ‘B’ romp to a convincing 5-1 victory with wins from Melanie Jones, Chloe McKivett-Saunders, Angela Jones, Nina Bolt and Natalie Gilbert with Natalie Gilbert in superb form beating Cathy Campbell 3-2 with a fantastic 24.27 average to take the lady of the match award. It was not such good news for the men’s ‘B’ as they slipped to a narrow 7-5 defeat, their winners being Samuel Whittaker, Mark Carter, Adam Hancock, William Naylor and Martin Tonks with Adam Hancock taking the match award for his 4-1 win over Carl Beattie and top average of 29.70.
The ladies ‘A’ team after opening up a 3-1 lead through Courtney Hine, Donna Pinch and Caroline Pike then finished all square at three each. Award winner for the ladies ‘A’ was first on Courtney Hine who won 3-2 against Sally Old with a 19.62 average. The men’s ‘A’ after trailing 2-0 won 8-4 thanks to wins from Jack Wareing, Jamie Atkins, Noel Grant, Steve Hine, Mark McGeeney, Nigel Heydon, Wayne Mynard and Matty Washbrooke with anchor man Washbrooke the man of the match beating Ryan Gowans 4-1 with a superb 31.10 average.
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West Midlands didn’t have the best of starts in their away game against Cleveland in the UKDA National League’s Andy Wheeler Fisheries Championship Division as the ladies ‘B’ slumped to a 5-1 defeat with Shellbie Simmons their sole winner, Shellbie winning 3-2 against Jessica Fredericks with a 15.70 average. The men’s ‘B’ result was far more rewarding as they won 9-3 winning all six of their opening six games. Ryan O’Connor closed the first half with a 4-2 win over Jamie Owens, his 28.40 average earning him his team’s match award.
Sunday had the same opening as the previous day as the ladies ‘A’ also fell to a huge 5-1 defeat and on this occasion it was Jacqueline Maiden their only winner beating Frances Elwick 3-2 to take the match award with her 16.13 average. Once again the men’s team came to the rescue, the ‘A’ side winning 7-5 with their man of the match Rob Thompson winning 4-1 against Ray Hutchinson with a great 32.00 average.
The overall result for the weekend was an 18-18 draw which saw West Midlands move up one place in the table to seventh with thirty-eight points, just three short of fifth in the division Sussex.
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After wins in their opening three games Black Country fourth fixture in the L-Style Division one of the UKDA National League was an away tie with Merseyside. Going into the fixture Black Country were riding high at the top of the table with seventy-four points, six more than their nearest rivals Gwent while their hosts were lying next to bottom of the table on thirty-eight points but with a game in hand.
After completing both of Saturday’s ladies and men’s ‘B’ games the scoreline was level at 9-9 with Grace Angell getting the ladies match award for her 18.79 average, Ian Townsend taking the men’s award for his 26.84 average.
Merseyside won the ladies ‘A’ match 4-2 with Black Country’s top player Sarah-Jane Parker the lady of the match with a 17.93 average. The men’s ‘A’ rescued a final 18-18 draw with a much needed 7-5 victory. Winning the men’s ‘A’ award was Martin Price who averaged 27.83.
Despite being held to a draw Black Country hold on to pole position but their ninety-three points are now just one more than second placed Gwent who won their home game with Buckinghamshire 21-15.
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The Shirley and District Monday Night League had cup games on their fixture card and winning through to the next round of the Main League Cup were Royals, Tippetts Bar, Sharmans, Maggies, Cider House, Botteville, Sharmans Swords and Yardley Wood Social Club.
First round losers going intothe draw for the Consolation Cup were Highwood, Saracens, Misfits, Nomads, Wharf, Slingers, Bears and HSCC.
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The Camp Hill League staged the semi-finals of their League and Consolation Cups and in the former currently second in the league Erdington Nomads beat fifth place Clumsy Swan 6-1. The other game between Tyseley WMC and Peaky Blinder was postponed.
In the Consolation Cup semi-finals Moseley Arms lost 6-1 to Tyseley Bears, once again the game between Sedgemere Devil’s and Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club was postponed.
The Camp Hill League are saddened to report the passing of one of their players Dean Wakefield and as a mark of respect for Dean his team-mates have decided to re-name their team from Tyseley WMC to Wakefield Warriors.
Thoughts and condolences go from the league to Dean’s family and friends
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Langley Arrows top the premier league in the Sheldon and District Winter League and in the latest round of fixtures they played away against Raven Arrows who at the time were third in the division, however a 6-3 defeat has seen them drop to sixth with six points, eight fewer than their top of the table opponents. Second placed Sheldon Marlborough Arrows won 7-2 at The Dingle to remain four points behind Langley but with a game in hand. Third placed Sheldon Dukes are a further two points adrift after they also won 7-2 playing away at Langley Flights with their Lee Molyneux helping them to their win by hitting a maximum.
In division one Brian’s Flights held on to pole position with a 6-3 home win over Heartlands. For the home side Anthony Hoey hit a 180 and Dean Young recorded an eight darts game. Trident Spears are second in the division, two points behind the leaders after they won 5-4 at The Bell Inn. Smithswood Social’s Martin Mills scored a 180 in his team’s 6-3 home win over Shirley Misfits.
Division two leaders Hornet had a bye this week but nevertheless remain top of the division with eight points. However their lead is on average only as the chasing pack of Sheldon Marlborough Ridge, Lyndon Old Boys and Castle Bromwich WMC, whose Elliott Astley had a tremendous 151 game shot, are all on the same eight points.
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With only one more fixture to play in the Sutton and District Summer League, Highcroft Hotdogs have been knocked off their top of their table perch following a surprising 5-4 defeat playing away against Walmley CSC Flights who are seventh in the division. Bishop Vesey have taken over the number one spot, their 7-2 home win over Red Lion taking them two points ahead of the Hotdogs, but to win the title Vesey have to win their final fixture as their rivals, although two points behind them, have a far superior average.
In division two current leaders Scott Armers completed their fixture card with a 6-3 home win over their nearest rivals Charley’s Flights. However, Charley ‘s Flights still have one game to play, a home game against Rosey Mac’s Bar who are just two places off the foot of the table. All that Charley’s Flights require to win the title is a win as that would take their points tally to twenty-six, two more than Scott Armers.
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Week eight of the Mighty Travels Heartlands Double Top League sees Matthew Cain topping the table with thirty-one points with second placed Martin Cooper on the same points and average but having lost one game more than Cain. In the latest fixtures Matthew Cain began with a 2-1 defeat to Ryan Cain but then by the same scoreline accounted for Chris Vann while Martin Cooper also lost his opener 2-1 to Ryan Barritt and followed that with a 3-0 success against Tony Pedley. In his 3-0 win over Sue John, John Frost scored this week’s only maximum.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League had their doubles knockout finals this week the semi-finals seeing D.Newman & B.Stanley beat J.Riley & T.Legacy then L.Jordan & D.Bull beat L.Gill & G.Taylor. The final was, despite the result a close affair with Allen’s Bar ‘A’ duo Lee Jordan & Dennis Bull running out 3-0 winners to lift the title with D.Newman & B.Stanley worthy runners-up.
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After the starting line-up of twenty teams in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League only four teams Old Liberal Club, Crestwood, Bird in Hand and Gate Hangs Well ‘B’, remain undefeated after completing the opening three fixtures. Old Liberal Club’s 6-1 home win over Rose and Crown ‘B’ keeps them in pole position by two legs of average over Crestwood who also won 6-1 playing away against Fox Inn, Lye, the win putting them one leg to the good on third placed Bird in Hand who had a close 4-3 success at Netherton Conservative Club ’B’ while Gate Hangs Well in fourth place are a further one leg adrift after winning the local derby with their ‘A’ side 4-3.
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Bulls Head player Steve Tipper hit a maximum in his team’s 7-2 win over Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ in the Netherton Thursday Night League to keep them top of the league with fourteen points with a slender one leg of average lead over second placed Townsend Social Club whose Paul Hadley also found the three treble twenties in a 6-3 home win over Plough and Harrow. Reigning champions Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ moved up one place to third following their 6-1 win at Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club, they are the only unbeaten team in the league and although four points short of the leading duo they have three games in hand. Ian Stokes hit a 180 for Hill and Cakemore.
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Champions of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League Old Liberal Club ‘A’ added a 4-3 home win over Ashwood to their tally to make it twenty-six unbeaten games with just two more to play. Second placed Hollybush opened up a two points lead over third placed Bird in Hand ‘E’ with a 5-2 win at home against Netherton Conservative Club while Bird in Hand ‘E’ had a bye this week.
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Leaders of the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League Netherton Sports and Social Club held on to their position at the top of the table with a 6-3 win at Seven Stars while White Horse surrendered their number two spot to Gornal Labour Club and dropped to fifth after the Labour Club beat them 5-4. Gornal Labour have two points fewer than the leaders as do third and fourth placed Old Bulls Head and Baggeridge who in turn accounted for Meadow Lark (5-4) and Jolly Crispin (6-3).
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A 5-2 win over Rob Pierce and a 6-1 win against Sam Page has seen Dan Nicholls take over the top position in the Amblecote RBL Premier League with forty-six points from eight games. Former leader Reece Colley didn’t play this week and drops to second place one point short of Nicholls and one ahead of third in the league John Green who after losing 6-1 to Nick Fullwell beat Carl Hipkiss 6-1, he has now played nine games.
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A 4-1 win over Allen’s Bar ‘B’ keeps Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ top of the Black Country Men’s Super League with ninety points from twenty-five games. Second in the league Allen’s Bar ‘C’ won by the same 4-1 margin against Halesowen Cricket Club to remain two points behind the leaders with a game in hand.
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Kings Head ‘A’ top the West Midlands Men’s Super League table, their latest 3-2 win over ECC giving them a two points lead on second placed Dog and Partridge who have a game in hand on the leaders.
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The Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League have got their new season underway and the early pacesetters after the opening two weeks games are, in division one Dean Simmons-Fullwood and Wayne Jones who are both on the same average and nineteen points with third placed Steve Lynch just one point behind them. In division two, leading the way is Kurt Wright who has a total of sixteen points which is two more than a chasing pack of three players Bradley Martin, Gemma Barrett Jenkins and Alan Melling, all on fourteen points. After only three fixtures Gareth Walsh has already opened up an eleven points lead at the top of division three, his twenty-eight points comparing to second and third placed Warren Bower and Dave Thackeray who are both on seventeen points.
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