Just one rearranged premier division fixture was played in the Sheldon and District Winter League and what a shock it produced. Unbeaten premier leaders Olton RBL played hosts to sixth in the table Red Lion. The match included a maximum and a seven darts leg from Olton’s Andy Hutchings plus a 160 break for team mate P.Higgins. There were also maximums from Red Lion’s M.Bown and T.Carter, but the most vital statistic, the close 5-4 result went in favour of the away side and has put them on the same ten points as Kingshurst Labour Club, Saltley Amateur Gardeners and the Crown. Olton hold on to pole position with 16 points, Old Bill and Bull are second with 12, all teams have now played nine games.
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The first week of the new year brought together the two Custard House teams in the Small Heath League, leaders Custard House taking on their local rivals Custard House Flights. Finishing doubles were the difference between the two teams, Custard House getting the 7-2 verdict to maintain their 100% winning start and keep them on top of the table with a slightly superior average than Emerald Club, who also won 7-2 in their away tie with Wagon and Horses.
The Mitre hosted Hay Mills in a repeat of the recent cup fixture, once again Mitre the victors, this time 6-3.
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The Tamworth Sports Bar League have been playing in their Brian Spencer Memorial Cup. In the second round there were wins for Market Vaults, Globe ‘B’, Three Horse Shoes and Sports Bar 180. The semi finals saw Globe ‘B’ beat Market Vaults 4-3 and with a similar scoreline Three Horse Shoes accounted for Sports Bar 180.
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Roost held on to their four points lead in the Camp Hill League with a 6-1 home win over Clements Arms, while second place Lady Westminster handed out a massive 7-0 whitewash to their opponents, bottom team Devils Club.
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Doubles and singles knockouts were staged by Warwickshire Darts Organisation at the Bishopsgate Club, Coventry over the Christmas period and retaining their title in the doubles were Prakash Jiwa and Matt Edgar. The winning duo had a final success against Nigel Heydon and Steve Hine, the match going the full distance with both sides notching the big scores, but it was the sharper finishing of Jiwa and Edgar that won them the top prize of £180.
Jiwa made it a very profitable weekend when he then went on to win the £300 top prize in the singles competition. Once again Nigel Heydon had to comfort himself with the runners up award of £140.
Thanks go to Paul Bodsworth and Les Ball who both worked tirelessly to keep the games flowing and also Maria for running the “Footy” cards.
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Division two of the Pip Club League provided the shock in the latest round of fixtures when top team Two Gates Club visited fourth in the table Travellers and lost 9-7. As a result Travellers have moved up one place in the table to third.
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No change at the top of the Forest of Arden Winter League as all top four teams won Leaders Riley’s Red Arrows were in top form beating Kenny’s Boys 9-0 to give them 16 points. Close behind on 14 points, with a game in hand are Riley’s Flights who had a comfortable 7-2 win at Harvester. Old Bill and Bull and Olton RBL in turn beat Sheldon Arrows 6-3 and Greville Arms 8-1, both of them have 12 points.
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On Saturday 29th January Riley’s, Wolverhampton will be the setting for the grand finals of the Riley’s Midlands Masters competition, but for just £5 players who entered the event and went out in the earlier rounds are being given a second bite of the cherry, a “Wild Card” knockout will be staged before the main event allowing all previous losers to enter again and play for a place in the grand finals which carries a £1,000 payout.
Doors will open at 09.30am, with the “Wild Card” qualifying event registration closing at 11.00am. All enquires should be made to TD Events at [email protected] or alternatively telephone on 07967-777396.
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