Last season Warwickshire County Darts Organisation kicked off their fixtures in the Cosmo Darts Premier Division of the UKDA National League with an away game against Cornwall and returned on the wrong side of the 20-16 result. The new 2024-2025 season saw the two teams matched once again on opening day with Warwickshire as hosts but unfortunately the result was exactly the same with once again a 20-16 win for Cornwall.
Saturday was not a good day as the ladies ‘B’ lost 4-2 after Denise Keyte had given them the opening win when she won 3-1 against Sarah Hill, the home team’s only other winner came in the third game as Nina Bolt accounted for Emma Dow with another 3-1 win, Nina clinching the team’s match award for her 17.94 average. The men’s ‘B’ slumped to a 9-3 defeat, again after going 1-0 up as Mark Faulkner beat Tex Thomas 4-3, the second win coming in game four when Karl Reynolds won 4-2 against Joseph Yendle. Warwickshire then had to wait until the final game of the day for their third winner that came in the shape of Ian McFarlane who not only won 4-1 against Simon Rees but also took the man of the match award for his 26.68 average.
Sunday’s games got off to a better start as the ladies ‘A’ went on to win 4-2 with wins from Wendy Adams, Marian Conway, Natalie Gilbert and Hannah Meek, Hannah Meek‘s straight 3-0 win over Laura Shepherd giving her an award winning average of 25.47. The men’s ‘A’, after losing the first game then won five in a row thanks to Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Kevin Dowling, Jamie Atkins and Nigel Heydon. Second half winners were Matty Washbrooke and Danny Lauby, Lauby beating Rob Ruberry 4-1 with an award winning average of 30.43 to give the men’s ‘A’ a 7-5 victory.
The overall 20-16 defeat leaves Warwickshire sixth in the division with sixteen points, nine short of leaders Yorkshire.
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It was cup week in the South West Birmingham Clubs League, the quarter-finals of their Bob Price Cup in which both of the Northfield Conservative Club teams proved to be successful, the ‘A’ side beating Northfield Darts Club 4-3 and the ‘B’ winning by the same margin against Bartley Green FC. Current division one leaders Stirchley United who are undefeated in the league, won 5-2 against Bournbrook and joining them in the last four will be Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club who had a convincing 7-0 victory over Moseley All Services Club.
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Week ten results in the Sheldon and District Summer League saw just one change across all four groups and that change came in group one, a 6-2 win for Mackadown Sports and Social Club at Brian’s Flights saw them replace their hosts in fourth place with both teams on five points, Mackadown having the slightly better average. The group one title had already been decided with Langley Arrows champions their latest 7-1 win at RAFA giving them eighteen points with one fixture still to play. Second placed Raven Arrows were held to a 4-4 home draw by Highwood to complete their fixtures and putting them on fourteen points, third placed Highwood are also on fourteen points with one more fixture remaining which could see them finish as runners-up.
The group two fixtures have all been played with Trident Spears ending the season with a 4-4 home draw with Kinghurst Labour Club to win the group with seventeen points one more than second placed Banbury Club who finished on a high with a 7-1 win over EBAHA who took the wooden spoon.
Like group two, group three have also completed all of their fixtures and finishing as champions are Smithswood Social Club who ended their campaign with a 7-1 win over bottom of the group Maggies. Runners-up are Old Salts Darts, their 5-3 win at Shirley Misfits leaving them two points behind the group- winners but two to the good on third placed Sheldon Marlborough Ridge.
Moseley Rugby Club played their final game of the season in group four and lost 5-3 at Sheldon Marlborough Flights, they remain in pole position with fourteen points but second placed Raven who also lost 5-3 at Langley Stems still have one more game to play and they are just one point behind Moseley Rugby Club.
On the individual scene this week there were maximums from Neil Parsonage and Jake Liggins (Raven Arrows), Kristian Green (Banbury Club) Mick Bown (Shirley Misfits) and Chad Perry (Langley Stems).
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The Camp Hill League have staged their AGM and agreed to a league start date of 9th October and with one addition to their numbers will get underway with a total of nine teams. Although the league will get going on the 9th October there will be a preliminary cup round played on the 2nd October.
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Week two in the Four Oaks and District League and only two of the starting eleven teams in division one are able to boast a 100% win record. A narrow 5-4 home win over Bishop Vesey keeps Old Horns Lions top of the division with a slender one leg of average lead over Highcroft Hotdogs who also had a close 5-4 home win over Red Lion. After the leading pair there are six teams all on two points, Nomads @ Hollyfields, Old Oscott Arrows, Plough and Arrows, Walmley CSC Flights, Bishop Vesey and Rise Club.
There is a similar situation in division two with Rosey Mac’s and Pint Pot Flights the only two teams from eleven to have played and won both games, however Drakes Drum have only played one and won that one game. A 6-3 win at Beggars Bush gives Rosey Mac’s a one leg of average advantage over Pont Pot Flight who won their home tie with Sutton Sports 5-4, the chasing pack of Erdington Arrows, St Thomas Arrows, Beggars Bush, Sutton Sharks and Drakes Drum are all on two points.
Just the two maximums this week and they were supplied by A.Heslip (Old Horns Lions) and James Clarke (Drakes Drum).
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Old Liberal Club not only moved another step nearer to the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League title but also one more win towards an undefeated season, their latest 4-3 win at Princess takes them to a total of thirty-one wins in thirty-one games. Old Liberal’s most recent win was vital as their hosts Princess were second in the league however their defeat has seen them drop one place to third. A 4-3 win at Bird in Hand has seen Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ take over from Princess in second place, both teams are on fifty-two points, ten short of Old Liberal Club but Princess have played one fixture more than Gate Hangs Well ‘B’.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club lost ground and their number two spot in the Silver End Sunday Morning League when they lost somewhat surprisingly 6-2 at Old Liberal Club who are seventh in the league and still some seventeen points short of their opponents. No such problem for leaders Dudley Sports ‘A’ who had a 6-2 win at New Talbot ‘A’ to put them on sixty-four points which gives them a lead of six over Old Star who have moved up into second place following their 6-2 win at Old Cat Inn.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ march on in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League a 7-2 win at Glasshouse ‘A’ making it sixteen wins in seventeen games to give them thirty-two points and a lead of four over second and third placed Roebuck ‘A’ and Maverick. Roebuck ‘A’ were the week’s biggest winners handing out an 8-1 defeat to their hosts Tommy Turners ‘B’ to give them a two legs of average lead on third in the table Maverick who were not far behind with their 7-2 success t Roebuck ‘B’. Third and fourth placed Mount Pleasant and Roebuck ‘B’ are a further two points adrift with twenty six points with Roebuck ‘B’ having a game in hand on all four teams above them.
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Both of the semi-finals of the League Cup in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League went according to league form with currently second in the league Old Liberal Club ‘A’ winning 7-0 against White Horse who are placed eleventh. Facing Old Liberal Club ‘A’ in the final will be fourth in the league Hollybush who had a 5-2 win against eighth placed Stourbridge FC.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League played off the finals of their Memorial Cup and in the semi-finals Three Horseshoes defeated Sow and Pigs while Allen’s Bar won against Cottage Spring. Three Horseshoes lifted the winner’s silverware after beating Allen’s Bar in the final.
The league wished to thank Paul Hazel for his well-organized running of the finals.
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It was cup semi-finals week in the Rowley Monday Night League first the Bill Bishop Cup in which second in the league Hawthorns won against Romsley Cricket Club who are fifth while third placed Plough and Harrow lost to Tividale FC who are sixth.
The final of the Challenge Cup wll be contested by White Swan who booked their place with a win over Rowley Labour Club and Rowley Bar and Grill after their defeat of Tividale Sports.
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A 6-3 home win over Meadow Lark keeps Netherton Sports and Social Club top of the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League while second placed Red Cow, like the leaders made it three consecutive wins when they won their home tie with Britannia by the same 6-3 margin to leave them just two legs of average behind the leaders. Third in the league New Inn 2 have only played two games the most recent a 7-2 success at home over Royal to keep intact their unbeaten run. The only other team in the league not to have lost is Gornal British Legion who after having a bye and this week’s game against Triangle postponed have only played and won one game and lie in seventh place.
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Leader of the Amblecote RBL Premier League Dan Nicholls didn’t play this week and second placed Nick Fullwell didn’t have the best of starts to his night as he lost 4-3 to Ian Townsend, he quickly recovered to win 5-2 against Jamie Barrowman but he is now twenty points short of Nicholls and they have both played the same sixty-four games. Tom Bissell although placed fifth is still in with a shout, like Nicholls he also didn’t play this week but he is on 302 points from only fifty-five games and his nine games in hand could well see him take over at the top of the table.
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The latest fixtures in the West Midlands Ladies Super League saw the top two ladies square up to each other as leader Jacqueline Maiden took on and won 3-2 against second in the league Gemma Barrett to put her on sixty-seven points with a one point lead plus one game in hand on her rival. Third place Jackie Trott lost 3-2 to Sarah Barrett then won 3-1 against Hannah Davies to give her sixty-one points from 22 games.
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Dog and Partridge did their title hopes in the West Midlands Men’s Super League no harm whatsoever in game 23 when they won 5-0 at home against third in the league Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ giving them a five points breathing space on second placed Kings Head ‘A’ who also 5-0 at home against Three Crowns. Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ are on 84 points, one behind Kings Head ‘A’.
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Still with games to be played in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League it does appear that the three titles could already be sewn-up as leader of division one Scott Baker is on 208 points and has a lead of 21 plus four games in hand on second placed Darren Williams and although third placed Dean Simmons-Fullwood has only played 27 games he is 24 points off the top.
Kurt Wright heads the table in division two with 207 points from 26 games and he is 28 points to the good on his nearest rival Alan Melling while in division three Dave Thackeray after twenty-eight games remains undefeated and is on 259 points from 28 games, second in the division Joe Bartolo has 234 points and has played 30 games.
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A 7-0 win at New Gate Inn ‘A’ keeps Junction ‘B’ top of the Singles League in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League but only on average as second placed Hotshots also made it 16 wins from 17 games when they won 5-2 at Junction ‘C’.
In the Doubles League once again Junction ‘B’ lead the way with 32 points, two more than second placed Hotshots despite suffering their first defeat in 17, a 2-1 reversal at New Gate Inn ‘A’. Hotshots reduced the arrears with a 3-0 success at Junction ‘C’.
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