2001-03-01

With five of the nine fixtures completed in division two of the BDO Inter Counties Championship, West Midlands so far have not had the best of seasons. Their record to date is lost four and drawn one and without a win it looks as though the final four games are going to be a fight against relegation.
The most recent encounter was a home tie against a high riding Sussex outfit. Playing at this seasons new venue, the Club 99, Oldbury the women’s ‘B’ got the proceedings underway. Firmly rooted at the foot of the table after five consecutive defeats, any points would be gratefully received. Unfortunately this was not to be the day that their fortunes changed.
The visitors got off to a cracking start. Despite Teresa Johnston (West Midlands) winning the first leg against Christine Allen, it was her opponent who got the 3-1 verdict with Teresa unable to reach a double in her last three legs. The third leg of the second game was the only leg that Sue Smith got to a finishing double, but again it was in vain as Marcia Brett won the tie in three straight legs.
At number three for the hosts was Val Arnold, she unlike her previous team mates reached a finishing double in every leg, unfortunately she was unable to cash in on this and went down 3-0 to Bridget Guildford, giving Sussex a 3-0 lead. Jane Hubbard was another casualty on finishing doubles as she lost by the odd leg of five to Glenys Laker and that was after she had clawed her way back from a 2-0 deficit to force a deciding leg.
Having realised a 4-0 winning margin the visitors added to their lead with a further success by Tina McGovern, Tina winning 3-1 against Angela Barnett. West Midlands only success came in the final game, when Ann Jones (15.82) defeated Carole Evans in just three legs, putting the final scoreline at 5-1 to the away team.
The men’s ‘B’ were defending a proud record of four wins and just one defeat. They begin the match in superb style storming to an unassailable 6-0 lead. Ian Hartland started the ball rolling with his 3-1 defeat of Andy Hills. Jamie Parsons added to the scoreline with his three legs beating of Steve Agate and his father Fred, after trailing 2-0 to Phil Hill fought back to snatch a 3-2 verdict a open up a 3-0 lead for the home side. Vic Lloyd had a similar game to Fred Parsons he saw his opponent John Nisbet take a 2-0 lead and but for poor finishing by Nisbit could have lost 3-0, nevertheless, Lloyd stuck to his task and was rewarded with a 3-2 win.
Martin Tibbetts (West Midlands) won the first two legs against Mark Davis, but was made to work for his winner, which came in the fifth and final leg. Rounding off the first half was veteran Joe Biggs. Joe was made to work for his 3-2 win when Jason Hills won the opener and then squared the game in the fourth to force a decider.
The first game of the second half saw Sussex record their first win. Lee Gladman, with a 3-1 result got the better of Ron Johnson. Then Steve Brindley, put the score beyond the visitors reach when he beat Paul Russell, again with a 3-1 scoreline, giving West Midlands a 7-1 advantage.
Martin Brown reduced the deficit for the away side with his straight win over Bill Hadley, but it was a brief respite for Sussex as Clive Francis added another win to the home team’s tally when he accounted for Andy Diffey. In the penultimate game West Midlands produced their man of the match, Roger Kinsella (28.49). Roger had a slow start when his counterpart, Ian Burnett won the opening leg in eighteen darts. From there on in it was Kinsella’s game. He won the second leg in 15v darts, followed up in 16 and won the game in 19. The final game went to Craig Deeley (Sussex) who beat Frank Johnson 3-0 to put the result at 9-3 for the West Midlands.
First to the oche in the Sunday games was Diane Tolley. Diane below her usual standard lost 3-0 to Rhonda West and although Rose Mycock pulled back to level terms after trailing 2-0 to Trish Kidd she lost the decided and West Midlands trailed 2-0. Gill Cook (17.16) proved to be the home team’s lady of the match when she beat Karen Blackman 3-1, not only the lady of the match but the only winner West Midlands could muster as the last three players all lost. Claire Downing finished on the wrong side of a 3-0m scoreline against Karen Winter and then Angie Perry looked all set to win the fifth game against Carla Blay when she won the first leg and then took the second with a tremendous 144 outshot. Unfortunately, as is often the case after a high checkout, finishing doubles eluded her and Blay went on to win 3-2. Donna Rainsley gave the away team their 5-1 success when she beat Claire Hobbs 3-1.
With the overall picture giving Sussex a narrow 13-11 lead the men’s ‘A’ still had everything to play for, an 8-4 win would be enough to give the Midlander’s an overall victory. Those odds were lengthened when opening duo Gary Taylor (2-3) and Colin Davies (1-3) lost in turn to Tim Norris and Paul Eves. Jonathan Platt stopped the rot when he beat Andrew Wood 3-1 and at the same time began West Midlands revival. Nick Walters won 3-0 against Adrian Boyle, Tom Aldridge beat Shayne Burgess 301 and to give the hosts a 4-2 lead at the halfway stage Mick James had a 3-2 win against James West.
Adrian Gray pulled one back for the visitors as he began the second half with a 3-1 win over Steve Penwright, only to see Adrian Arnold restore the West Midlands two game cushion when he defeated Rod Hawkins 3-0. An assured share of the spoils could not have come in a better manner as Ian Jones put on a super show to beat Keith Price 3-2. Jones won the first in 17 darts, Price responded with a similar game. The Sussex man then took the lead in 15 darts, with Jones down to double twenty after only a dozen darts, hitting 100-180-83 and 98. With three scores of a ton or more in the fourth leg Jones levelled in 17 darts and then went on to win the scrap in 16 darts recording a 30.61 average.
Now 6-3 up the overall win was still a possibility. However, the task was made more difficult when Ricky Blay beat Paul Johnson 3-0 and it was impossible after Steve Barraclough took out Dave Robbins in a five legs affair. Then from a position where the overall win was still on and the ‘A’ team’s second win of the campaign more than a reality, the worst possible thing happened. In the final game Geoff Taylor beat West Midlands anchor man Avtar Singh 3-1 to give the away side not only a 6-6 draw but also an overall 19-17 victory.
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The former Mercury Ladies Charity team have played their first game under their new name the “Ace of Clubs Charity Team”. The match was a fun night whereby the charity squad took on opposition comprising of the Gulp Charity team and a Haverfordwest select, the exhibition being staged at the White Lion, Muntz Street, Small Heath, Birmingham. The result was a close 9-8 success for the Ace of Clubs with a fabulous total of £100 raised. Acorns Hospice, Selly Oak, Birmingham and the Haverfordwest Children’s Home will both benefit to the tune of £50 each.
Full results (Ace of Clubs names first), C. Lucas lost to C.Walsh, B. Andrews beat C.Thomas jnr, P.James lost to D.Wilson, C.Stokes lost to P.Thomas, J.Webster beat J.Phipps, J.Lucas lost to C.Thomas, A.Bourne beat E.O’Sullivan,J.Warner lost to M.O’Sullivan, B.Andrews beat A.O’Sullivan, C.Lucas lost to B.Phipps, A.Bourne lost to E.Hockell, P.James beat G.McBride, J.Warner beat S.Hockell, J.Lucas beat I.McLean, C.Stokes beat D.Cavanagh, J.Webster lost to J.Phipps, B.Andrews beat J.Haywood.
Anyone wishing to arrange a match against the Ace of Clubs should contact Joyce Webster on 0121-604-5081.
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At a recent presentation the Sheldon and District League Charity Darts Squad handed over two £1800 cheques, one each to their chosen charities, the Diana, Princess of Wales Children’s Hospital, Birmingham and the Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit of the Birmingham University Hospital. These latest donations have taken the teams donations so far to a staggering £52,446.00.
The breakdown of the monies raised and handed over so far is, Birmingham Children’s Hospital £23862, Birmingham Accident Burns / Skin Culture Unit £11850, University Hospital Plastic surgery & Burns Unit £9300, Birmingham General Skin Culture Research and Development Unit £3600 and other local charities £3834.
Congratulations go to Tony Randell, who representing the Custard House in the Small Heath Winter League has lifted the singles crown. A final success over Red Hill’s Dave Bourne gave Randell the title. Losing semi finalists were Gerry McCormack (Saltley Flights) and Kevin Maloney (Custard House). Quarter finalists were Chris Mortlock and Tom Webster (Custard House), Noel Cook (Red Hill) and Nigel Parsonage (Black Horse).
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