In the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League, Crown at Shard End had their fixture with EBAHA postponed and as a result, leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners, with a 7-2 home win over Holy Souls at week nine have opened up a four points lead at the top of the table. Three teams are chasing Saltley, all on ten points, four adrift of the top team and they are Crown at Shard End, Crown at Olton and Riley’s Arrows. Crown at Shard End and Riley’s Arrows both have a game in hand.
A 7-2 win against Custard House keeps Banbury Club in pole position in division one on 14 points from nine games. Shirley RBL Flights, who had a bye this week are also on 14 points and have now played one game fewer than Banbury.
Willclare Sports and Social lost ground in the division two title race going down surprisingly 5-4 at home to eighth in the table Crown Arrows. Leaders George V won their home tie with Small Heath Amateur Gardeners 6-3 to put them two points ahead of the rest of the field. Riley’s Wings moved off the foot of the table after beating Greville Arms 5-4, Ivy Leaf have taken over the bottom place after losing 5-4 away to Maggies.
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Round one of the Sports Bar Knockout was on the fixture card for the Pip Club League and winning through to round two were, Birchmoor Club and J.W.Belgrave, who in turn defeated Dolphin and Dosthill Club. Bulls Head (Polesworth) and Sports Bar ‘180’ both had byes.
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Week four in the Forest of Arden Winter League and no fewer than four teams are locked together on six points at the top of division one. However, the two top teams on average, Riley’s Flights and Olton Crown have a 100% record after three games, while Highwood ‘A’ and Greville Arrows have both played four and lost one. The latest round of games saw Riley’s Flights have a bye and Olton Crown hand out 1 6-3 defeat to Greville Arrows for their first loss and see them drop from second to third with their victors taking over the second place. Highwood ‘A’ chalked up a 9-0 whitewash in their home game with The Grange.
Harvester recorded their first win of the season, a 7-2 win at home over Highwood KB and move three places up the table, KB drop to bottom place.
In division two, The Crane stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a 5-4 home victory against Riley’s Wings, Highwood ‘C’ and Crown Arrows are also unbeaten, but they have only played three games.
Chelmsley Town’s 7-2 win as hosts to Ivy Leaf Bulls was their first and they have moved four places up the league, Greville Arms, who lost 7-2 at Ivy Leaf take over the bottom spot.
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It was cup week for the Four Oaks and District League, first the first round of the Coronation Shield in which both Anvil Nomads and Erdington Arrows each won the last game against Bishop Vesey and Drakes Drum respectively to win 5-4. Sutton Sports, after losing 7-2 at home to The Nomads in the league last week reversed the result and beat their opponents 7-2.
Brookvale fought back from 4-2 down at home to Old Oscott WMC to win 5-4, and although Red Lion stormed into a 5-1 lead against Deer’s Leap Stags the result was a much closer 5-4.
In the first round of the Norman Day Cup Old Oscott Arrows had a very comfortable 8-1 home win over Boldmere Sports and Boldmere Oak came so close to a win against Plough and Barrows, the latter clinching a 5-4 win in the very last game.
Just one maximum score this week and that was provided by Sutton Sports man M.Ashton.
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The Aston League staged the quarter finals of their Nine-a-Side Cup and Sportsmans Rest, with a 7-2 scoreline over Red Lion, were the rounds biggest winners. Safe Harbour had a 6-3 win against Aston Hotel, while Heartlands Social and Riley’s in turn each won 5-4 against Oscott Social and Old Oscott WMC.
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The Tamworth League staged the first two rounds of their Andrew Evans Memorial Cup at the Mile Oak. League leaders Three Horse Shoes had 4-0 wins in both rounds taking out Tam O’Shanter and Mile Oak Rovers. Boot Inn won their first round game against Globe Inn 4-1 and Three Tuns beat Wigginton 4-2. The two teams met in round two and Boot Inn won the tie 4-1.
In the Other round two games Anchor Inn (formerly Boot Inn ‘A’) beat Sports Bar 4-1 and Sports Bar ‘180’ won 4-2 against Dolphin Inn.
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The Crown, Shard End, Riley’s Kings and Punchbowl are all on six points at the top of division one in the South Birmingham League, but Riley’s are the only team unbeaten in the division and they have two games in hand on their rivals. The most recent fixtures saw Crown, with a maximum from R.Cheshire beat Raven Flights 6-3, Kings win 7-2 against Mackadown Social and Punchbowl surprisingly lose 6-3 at the Digby Hotel.
Banbury Flights are the early leaders in division two. They have a two points advantage over Pavilions and The Centurion. Banbury had an amazingly close 5-4 win at home to bottom team Smithswood Social. There were 6-3 wins for Pavilions and Centurion against their respective opponents Coleshill Social and Yardley and District Rugby Club.
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