After gaining promotion to the premiership in the UKDA National League last season, West Midlands had their opening fixture, a home tie with Glamorgan brought forward. Saturday’s games saw the ladies ‘B’ share the points in a 3-3 draw, the men’s ‘B’ also finishing all-square in what was a 6-6 result.
Sunday saw the ladies ‘A’ go down 4-2, the men’s ‘A’ providing the one and only shining light from the weekend when they won 7-5 to put the overall score for the fixture at 18-18.
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It was League Cup final week in the Sheldon and District Summer League, group one champions Raven Flights taking on rivals Langley Flights, who finished as runners-up in the same group. The result, an emphatic 6-1 win for Raven Flights to make it a fantastic league and league cup double. Zac Prince and Jason Prince both hit maximums for Raven Flights.
There were two rearranged league fixtures played, in group two, Family Tree ended their campaign on a high winning 5-2 at home against Smithswood Social Club to double their number of wins to two for the season and at the same time lifting themselves off the foot of the table to finish two places above RAFA who finished bottom of the group. Kevin Lapper hit a maximum for Smithswood.
The other rearranged fixture was in group four with Shirley Misfits hosting Langley Pints, the home side going down 5-3 to see Langley Pints end the season as group champions and their opponents finish next to bottom of the group. Although Shirley Misfits lost, their Mark Hodgson found the three treble twenties.
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Although there is only two points separating the top four teams in the Harborne and District League, actually only two of those teams are in with a chance of winning the title. A 5-4 win for Copper Fox ‘R’ over Northfield Conservative Club keeps them top of the table with forty-eight points from twenty-five games while their opponents, following their defeat, dropped one place to third on forty-six points from twenty-seven games. Northfield Darts Club have replaced Northfield Conservative Club in the number two spot after they won 8-1 at home against Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club, putting them on forty-six points from twenty-five games. Smethwick Cricket Club are fourth, they had a 7-2 win at Harborne Social to take their points tally also to forty-six but from forty-eight games.
There were six maximums recorded this week in the league, M.Lloyd (Northfield Darts Club) notching two of them, other players to hit the top score were W.Kennedy (Stag and Three Horseshoes), H.Hopton (Smethwick Cricket Club), P.Garvey (Bourneville) and C.Whitehouse (Copper Fox ‘R’).
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The Four Oaks – Sutton League played off the final of their Coronation Shield, and scooping the title with a 9-6 result was Erdington Arrows who defeated Pint Pot Flights in the final.
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Matthew Cain continues to reside at the top of the Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League, taking his number of points from fifty-seven games to 147 after winning 3-0 against Sue John and 2-1 against Matt Ryan, he has a lead of sixteen points over second placed Martin Cooper who after his 2-1 wins over Tony Pedley and Ryan Cain, he still has two games in hand on the leader. Fourth placed John Burdett has four games in hand on Matthew Cain and trails him by thirty-six points, his latest fixture seeing him lose ground as he lost 2-1 to Stuart Bloomer and then 3-0 to L.J.Austin.
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The South West Birmingham Clubs League had their Bob Price Trophy semi-finals on the fixture card and in the all-division one clash current leaders Stirchley United suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to second placed Northfield Darts Club. Joining Northfield Darts Club in the final will be Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club who also had a close 4-3 win in their tie with Quarry Lane Club.
There were two rearranged division two games played, both involving Kings Norton Arrows, who won them both 5-2 in turn against Longbridge Arrows and Cue Club to see them climb up to second place in the division, just two points behind leaders E57 with a game in hand. Cue Club’s J.Downer hit a maximum.
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The Rowley Monday Night Leagueplayed off the finals of their 3 A-Side Knockout and taking the honours in the division one fonal were C.Dabbs, A.Whitehouse and R.Kinsella (Bell) with the losing finalists being A.Wallace, L.Homer and J.Benningfield (Gate Hangs Well).
The division two champions were J.Moore, R.Boswell and C.Armstrong (Double Tops Micro Bar), and the runners-up J.Bland, S.Layton and J.Harris (Shelter).
One rearranged division two games was played in which Bostin Darts ‘C’ won 7-2 at Coombes Wood.
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Biggest news this week in the Netherton Thursday Night 501 League was the 6-3 defeat of Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’, a 6-3 loss at home to third placed Old Liberal Club seeing the Ex Servicceman’s Club’A’ lose for the first time in twenty-three fixtures. Despite the reversal, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ still hold on to pole position with sixty-six points and have a lead over second placed Ashwood of six points. Ashwood won 6-3 at Hawthorns and with three points for a win and two games in hand they could draw level on points with the leaders.
The league produced eight maximums this week with Bulls Head’s Bobby Ratcliffe getting two of them, there was one each for Liam Homer (Haden Cross), Joe Poole (Ashwood), Mark Rollinson (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’), Gavin Smith and Steve Hall (Old Liberal Club) and Chas Skelding (Netherton Sports and Social Club).
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Old Liberal Club’s record in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League this season so far is played twenty-two, won twenty-two. Their most recent game was an away fixture against ninth placed Swan which they won 5-2 to keep intact their two points lead over second placed Gornal British Legion who handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their visitors Mount Pleasant ‘A’. After the top two there is a gap of six points with Cross, Five Ways and Bird in Hand all on thirty-six points, Cross having played one game fewer than the rest of the top four teams. Cross Won 7-0 at Mount Pleasant ‘B’, Five Ways had a 6-1 home win over Queens Head and Bird in Hand, who also played at home, won 5-2 against Bull and Bladder.
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Results from game twelve in the Silver End Sunday Morning League saw no change in the league’s top five teams, High Acres ‘A’ remaining top of the table with thirty-four points after winning 6-2 in the local derby with their ‘B’ side. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ are second, they suffered their first defeat in eleven games when they lost 5-3 away to Kingswinford British Legion to leave them four points short of the leaders with a game in hand.Third placed Old Star ‘A’ are a further two points adrift after they won 6-2 at Spring Meadow.
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There is just two points difference between the leaders Raven and seventh placed Stourbridge FC Youth in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League. Raven had a vital 6-1 win over fifth placed Old Liberal Club ‘A’ to give them sixteen points from their ten games while second placed Ashwood’s 4-3 success at home over Tenth Lock puts them on the same sixteen points but from nine games. Chop House are third and on fourteen points, but from ten games, after a 5-2 win at Fox Inn (Lye). Then come Swan, Old Liberal Club ‘A’, Stourbridge FC ‘A’ and Stourbridge FC Youth all on fourteen points from nine games.
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It’s as-you-were in the Black Country Ladies Team Super League after completing week seven, Allen’s ‘Bar ‘B’ staying top of the table with twenty-seven points despite losing 3-2 to second placed Allen’s Bar ‘A’ who are now seven points behind the leaders and have played one game more than them.
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Game number six in the Black Country Men’s Super League and leaders Hot Shots made it six consecutive wins when they won 4-1 at home over second placed Cue and Brew to open up a four point’s gap between the two teams. Third placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club have only played five games and won them all, their 3-2 home win over Townsend ‘A’ taking them to twenty points and leaving them with a game in hand on both of the teams above them.
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Evonne Taylor, leader of the West Midlands Ladies Super League, had a 3-0 win over Jade Wellings in week four to make it four wins in as many games and give her a total of sixteen points. Second placed Jacqueline Maiden won 3-0 against Jacqui Simmons to put her on the same sixteen points but she has played five games. Third and fourth placed Jackie Trott and Gemma Barrett are both on twelve points from three games, Trott beating Hannah Davies 3-1 and Barrett winning 3-2 against reigning champion Kat McLean.
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Big wins for the top three teams in the West Midlands Men’s Super League, leaders Staffordshire Knot winning their home game with Junction ‘A’ 4-1, second placed Kings Head having a 5-0 home success over fifth placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and third in the league Dog and Partridge also having a 5-0 victory in their home fixture with Carrington Club. Staffordshire Knot are now on 157 points, with Kings Head on 144 and Dog and Partridge 128, Kings Head and Dog and Partridge have played one game fewer than Staffordshire Knot.
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After only the second week in the new season of the Blackheath Sunday Morning League, three teams, Wonder, Bostin Darts ‘A’ and Double Tops Micro Bar are all on four points with only average separating them. All of the other teams in the league, apart from Boston Darts ‘B’ have lost at least one game, Bostin Darts ‘B’ have only played one game so far.
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Jason Lowe has taken his number of points in the Amblecote RBL Premier League, to 353 from fifty-one games, his latest conquests being a 7-0 success over Jayden Harper followed by a 5-2 win against Sam Page. Lowe has a huge fifty-eight points lead on second placed Ian Townsend after he beat Tom Hanson 5-2 and Dave Edwards 6-1. Third placed Nick Fullwell didn’t play this week and is on 281 points from forty-seven games. Jake Shipley is fifth in the league and has 255 points and has played forty-six games while sixth in the table Paul Wells has amassed 254 points from only forty-one games.
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Division one leader in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League, Scott Baker didn’t play this week and second placed Simon Pritchard took full advantage to reduce the arrears and draw level on 179 points with Baker with his 7-1 win against Mark Daniel, however Pritchard has now played five games more than Baker.
In division two it’s Wayne Barratt who leads the way with 210 points after adding on his latest 8-0 win over Keogh Bate. Dean Showell is Barratt’s nearest rival, his 4-4 draw with fourth placed Neville Quinton putting him within twenty points of Barratt and with a game in hand.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League have got their new season underway, Golden Lion and Junction ‘B lead the way at the top of the singles league table both winning 7-0in turn against Navigation Inn and Junction ‘D’. Other opening night winners were Dog and Partridge, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’, New Gate Inn, Ashmore, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’, Triangle, Castle, Plough and Harrow and Red Lion ‘B’.
There are five teams topping the doubles league table, all of them winning 3-0 and they are Angel, County ‘B’, Dog and Partridge, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ and Junction ‘B’. Other teams to chalk up a win in their opening fixture were Ashmore, Castle, County ‘A’, Garden Bar, Golden Lion and Red Lion ‘B’.
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