Warwickshire County Darts Organisation finished their season in the Cosmo Darts Premier Division of the UKDA National League on a high, handing out a 24-12 defeat to their hosts London.
The ladies ‘B’ shared the points in a 3-3 draw thanks to a last end 3-0 win from Nina Bolt over Emma Smith, the lady of the match award going to Donna Pinch who had a 3-1 win over Kelly Livett with a 20.46 average. Claire Greenwood was the other winner, beating Nikki Wise 3-2.
The men’s ‘B had a fine 8-2 result thanks to wins from Mark Carter, Samuel Price, Adam Hancock, Mark Faulkner, Mark Strong, Karl Reynolds, Mark Martin and Zac Prince. The match award went to Mark Strong for his 4-2 success over David Payne and 25.80 average, Strong recording game shots of 119 and 114.
The ladies ‘A’ kicked off Sunday’s games with a 4-2 victory Marian Conway giving them the ideal start with her 3-2 win over Nikki Patten. After London drew level in the second game, lady of the match Wendy Adams, with her straight 3-0 win over Mandy Solomons and award winning average of 22.77 restored Warwickshire’s lead and with further wins from Hannah Meek and Natalie Gilbert victory was achieved.
The men’s ‘A’ trailed 1-0 and 2-1 but with wins from Wayne Mynard Sam Whittaker, Matty Washbrooke, Jack Wareing, Kevin Dowling, Nigel Heydon, Danny Lauby, Steve Hine and Jamie Hughes they went on to win 9-3. Jamie Hughes took the match award with a 31.81 average and 4-0 win over Graham Rackstraw.
The overall 24-12 win for Warwickshire saw them finish fourth in the table and clock up a total of 209 points which was only two points short of runners-up Lincolnshire, another successful season for the Bears.
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West Midlands went into their final game of the season in the L-Style Division One of the UKDA National League, second in the table knowing a win at Leicestershire would almost certainly guarantee them promotion and although Hannah Davies gave them the perfect start when she opened up the ladies ‘B’ game with a 3-1 win over Lisa Deslandes to earn herself the match award for her 16.70 average, the only other winner for the Midlanders was last on Jodie Rowlands to see the ladies ‘B’ lose 4-2.
The men’s ‘B’ lost the opening game but with wins from Ash Khayat, Rob Thompson, Dean Simmons-Fullwood, Shane Price and Cameron Baird were 5-1 up at the halfway stage. Martin Price made it 6-1 before man of the match Will Beaden with his 27.08 average, won the ninth game against Paul Hughes, to ensure a 7-5 victory.
Sunday was a better day for the ladies as the ‘A’ team went on to chalk up a 4-2 win. After losing the opener Kat McLean levelled the game and was followed by a further win from Jacqueline Trott before Evonne Taylor made it 3-1 with her 3-0 win over Paula Swain, Evonne’s 20.59 average earning her the match award. The winning game didn’t come until the final encounter when Jacqueline Maiden defeated Kelly Welsh 3-0 to give her team mates a 4-2 victory.
West Midlands won four of the six games in the first half of the men’s ‘A’ match, the winners being Richard Platt, Jon Platt, Jack Aldridge and Gavin Baker. They then had a repeat performance in the second half adding another four wins from Callum Parkes, Ryan O’Connor, Dan Nicholls and Paul Price with Dan Nicholls taking the man of the match award for his 4-1 win over Paul Harbourne and 31.11 average.
The overall 21-15 win for the West Midlands saw them finish as runners-up in the division with 222 points, eight fewer than champions Middlesex but enough to earn them promotion to the Championship Division, where they will play next season. Well done to all involved in the West Midlands, players and officials.
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Black Country went into their last game of the season in the L-Style Division One knowing mathematically they could still get promotion to the Championship but realistically believing it was a bridge too far as they were fifth in the division and although only seven points behind local rivals West Midlands who were second, their final fixture was a home tie with divisional leaders Middlesex who were some seventeen points ahead of them.
It was not a good weekend for the ladies as both the ‘B’ and ‘A’ teams lost 4-2 with award winner Grace Angell and McKenzie Raine Thomas the only two winners for the ‘B’ side with the former lifting the award for her 16.70 average and 3-0 win over Leah Nelson. For the ‘A’ team the winning duo were Chez Allcock and Heather Wright with the match award going to Heather Wright for her 3-2 win over Hayleigh Shaw and 17.72 average.
The men’s ‘B’ turned out to be the Black Country’s only winners of the weekend, beating their counterparts 8-4 thanks to wins from Mark Jones, Sam Bissell, Rob Smith, Rich Bowen, Ian Townsend, Martin Greenwood, Adam Edgar and Jake Shipley. The man of the match award going to Adam Edgar for his 4-2 win over Chris Grannell and 25.95 average.
It all began well for the men’s ‘A’ side as Michael Powell, Kieron Bridgwater and Paul Wells put them 3-0 up, but by the halfway point it was level pegging at 3-3. As the second session got underway Middlesex went ahead leading 5-3and although Black Country’s award winner Tom Bissell beat Josh Hook with a 31.69 average, Aaron Colley was their only other winner as they lost 7-5.
The overall 19-17 defeat saw Black Country finish the season fifth in the league with 208 points, fourteen short of a promotional place.
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The Harborne and District League had the preliminary rounds of their Section Cups on the fixture card and in the Top Section the two Copper Fox teams squared up to each other with the close 11-10 result going to the ‘M’ team with ‘R’ just losing out. E.Simpson amd J.Hykin both hit a maximum for ‘R’ while A.Harvey replied for ‘M’.
The Middle Section also finished with a close 11-10 result with Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club just getting the edge on Weoley Castle WMC and making it three 11-10 results were the Bottom Section in which Avenue Social got the better of Harborne Social.
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With the majority of teams in the Kings Norton League now only having four more games to play leaders Northfield require just a couple more wins to guarantee them the title as after their 6-1 home win over Dingle they hold a six points lead on second placed Copper Fox who kept up the chase with a 4-3 win at Bourneville. After Copper Fox, there is further six point’s gap to, third placed Bournbrook who won 7-0 at Longbridge.
There were no fewer than eight maximums scored this week in the league two of them coming from J.Hykin (Copper Fox) with another from his team mate E.Simpson. Others to find the three treble twenties were Jamie Fisher (Kings Norton Flights, D.Witcombe, C.Davenport (Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club), R.Allcock (Cock Inn) and N.Steventon (Northfield).
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It was Divisional Cup week in the South West Birmingham Clubs League, in the division one games Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club lost their home tie with Northfield Darts Club 13-8 and despite a maximum form M.Bennett Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ lost 12-9 to Stirchley United whose K.Webb had a 160 break. Quarry Club and Northfield Conservative Club’A’ had a bye.
E57 won their division two fixture with West Heath CEM 15-6 while Bartley Green FC lost their home game against Bournbrook 12-8. Perfection were the only home winners beating Mosley All Services Club 12-9. Longbridge United had a bye.
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The Sheldon and District Summer League have got their new season underway and three teams, Trident Spears, Langley Arrows and Raven Arrows share the top position in group one, all winning 5-3. In group two Banbury Club and RAFA top the table, again both winning 5-3. Group Three provides a clear-cut leader as Old Salts Darts lead the field after their 8-0 win at Moseley Rugby Club but it’s back to 5-3 winners in group four, Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Iron Horse Rebels the leading duo.
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One rearranged division one fixture was played in the Four Oaks and District League which saw the divisional champions Nomads @ Hollyfields lose 6-3 at home to Old Oscott Arrows, the win seeing Old Oscott move up one place in the table to finish fifth and one place in the Shadow League to see them replace Old Horns Lions and finish in pole position with fourteen points, two more than the previous leaders.
In addition two cup finals were also played off and in the Brian Goodman Cup Walmley CSC Flights lost 5-4 to Bishop Vesey while with a 6-3 result Old Horns Lions beat Charley’s Flights to win the Ken Rust Cup.
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The Preliminary Round of the League Cup was the order of the day for the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League, the biggest win of the round 7-0 going to Hollybush who took out Stourbridge FC ‘B’. Not far behind Hollybush with 6-1 wins were Fox Inn (Lye) and Raven who in turn defeated Brickmakers Arms and Five Ways. Bird in Hand ‘E’ and Stourbridge FC ‘A’ in turn won 5-2 against Netherton Conservative Club and Chop House while Wheatsheaf, Swan, Old Liberal Club ‘B’ and Old Liberal Club ‘A’ all had narrow 4-3 win against respective opponents Plough, New Inns, Ashwood and Beech Tree Miners.
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With their latest 6-1 win at Raven ‘B’, Gornal British Legion hold on to the top spot in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League but only by four legs of average as second placed Old Liberal Club won their home tie with Queens Head 5-2 to put them on the same thirty-two points as the leaders. Third and fourth placed Glasscutters ‘A’ and Ten Arches ‘A’ in turn won 7-0 and 6-1 against Ten Arches ‘B’ and Crestwood to leave them four points behind the top two teams.
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Spring Meadow continue to rule the roost in the Silver End Sunday Morning League, their most recent 6-2 home win over New Talbot taking them to twenty-three points and giving them a lead of two over second placed Old Star who also had a 6-2 result in their home game with Dudley Sports ‘B’. Dudley Sports ‘A’ are third, just one point behind Old Star after they were held to a 4-4 draw at home by Brickmakers Arms to keep them two points ahead of fourth and fifth placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Tenth Lock who in turn also had 4-4 draws with High Acres ‘A’ and Union.
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Leaders of the Brierley Hill Monday Night League Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ had a bye this week but despite a 6-3 win from second placed Bridge at Glasshouse ‘B’ to bring them level on 41 games played with the top team, they still remain six points behind them and games are now beginning to run out fast.
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Wonder not only consolidated their pole position in the Rowley Monday Night League, but also made it eighteen straight wins when they handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors Ex Serviceman’s. Second placed Bell kept within two points of the leaders with a 6-3 home win over Hawthorns ‘B’. Third and fourth placed Tividale FC and Plough and Harrow are a further eight points adrift on 26 points.
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Leaders of the Netherton Thursday Night 501 League, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ were awarded a 9-0 win this week due to Cottage Spring dropping out of the league, the win taking the leader’s points to 69, six more than second placed Old Liberal Club who were also awarded a 9-0 win as their would-be opponents Netherton Conservative Club, also dropped out of the league. Third placed British Oak had a 7-2 win at Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club to leave them nine points off the top.
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With leader of the West Midlands Ladies Super League, Evonne Taylor not playing this week, second placed Jacqueline Maiden took advantage to reduce the arrears to five points with a 3-0 win over Sam Rowley however Jacqueline has now played three games more than Evonne.
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Although Kings Head suffered a 4-1 defeat in the West Midlands Men’s Super League at Staffordshire Knot they remain top of the table with 59 points, but the win for Staffordshire Knot keeps them in second place and reduces the deficit to just two points on the leaders.
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In the Amblecote RBL Premier League, leader Jason Lowe added a 5-2 win over Gavin Smith plus a 7-0 win against Rob Hartill to take his points from 40 games to 268 while second placed Nick Fullwell beat Ryan Hardman 6-1 and Tom Gantley 4-3 to give him a total of 238 points from 38 games. Ian Townsend remains third on 231 points after he won 6-1 against Carl Hipkiss and Matt Davies too put him on 231 points from the same 38 games as Fullwell.
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The top two players in division one of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League, Scott Baker and Chris Manoila didn’t play this week, nevertheless Baker holds on to pole position with 116 points from 14 games but Manoila drops to third place with 109 points from 17 games. Simon Mountford takes over in second place following his 4-4 draw with Andrew Jervis and 7-1 win over Josh Pickett giving him a total of 115 points from 18 games.
An 8-0 win over Martin Smith keeps Michael Smith top of division two, his 141 points, 32 more than his nearest rival Richard Brown after he was held to a 4-4 draw by Kobi Holyhead and then beat Jimmy Stackhouse 6-2.
Olly Garratt had an 8-0 win over Liam Davies in division three to cement his position at the top of the table with 120 points from 15 games while second placed Michele Pritchard had a similar 8-0 win in her game with Eddie Gripton to put her on 104 points from 16 games.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League have got their new season started and setting the pace in the singles league are Junction ‘A’ and Junction ‘B’ who in turn had 7-0 wins over Junction ‘D’ and Red Lion.
Junction ‘B’ also share the number one spot in the doubles league, their 3-0 win against Red Lion emulated by Pheasant who beat Golden Lion ‘A’ by the same 3-0 margin.
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