Following their win over Devon in their previous premier division game in the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships, Warwickshire will be hoping to make it back to back wins when they travel to The Round House, Brownlow Precinct, Tennyson Street, Bolton this coming weekend where they will take on Lancashire. Warwickshire will also be looking to avenge the 22-14 reversal inflicted by their hosts last season when they played them on their home board.
Lining up for Warwickshire will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Mark Strong, Tom Aldridge, Mark Westgarth, Nigel Heydon, Ian McFarlane, Peter Hughes, Noel Grant, Tom McGlone, Richard Foster, Steve Hine, Kevin Dowling, Men’s ‘B’:- Antony Allen, Jimmy Hill, Mark Birch, Steve Giddings, Luke Kennedy, Mark Archer, Dave Atkins, Rob Hawker, Paul Deslandes, Carl Green, Matt Edgar, Dave Harris, Reserves:- Jamie Atkins, Ian Shaw, Mike McFall, Martin Bowley, Simon Power, Martin Tonks, Martin Brown, Tom Ryan, Dave Sanders, Ladies ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Gulliver, Caroline Pike, Denise Burke, Angela Jones, Louise Graham, Ladies ‘B’:- Kat Spanswick, Donna Pinch, Marian Conway, Lisa Whitmore, Wendy Adams, Edwina Holdsworth, Reserves:- Natalie Gilbert, Terri Bellamy, Tracey Edgecombe, Melanie Hill.
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It was cup week in the Four Oaks and District League. The first round of the Brian Goodman Cup saw both Anvil Nomads and The Fox Flights unable to field a full team and when the game went to 4-4 the outcome was decided by a sudden death play off which saw Anvil Nomads beat the league leaders 5-4.
Sutton Sports had a comfortable 8-1 against Red Lion Flights, who struggled on their finishing doubles. The Nomads were also 8-1 winners in their tie with Old Oscott WMC, while Drakes Drum won by the narrowest of margins, 5-4 at Boldmere Oak and Pint Pot Arrows had a 7-2 success away to Plough and Barrows. Deer’s Leap Stags, Erdington Arrows and Bromford Club all had a bye.
In the first round of the Ken Rust Cup Sutton park Hotel opened up a 3-0 lead at the Brookvale, but the hosts won the next six games to clinch a 6-3 win. Old Oscott Arrows won 7-2 at Boldmere Sports, while Bishop Vesey had a walkover against The Leopard. White Lion, Pint Pot Flights, The Heartlands, The Beehive and Highcroft Dragons all progressed into the next round by means of a bye.
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The Crown at Olton lost their home tie with Old Bill and Bull 5-4 and as a result swapped places in the premier division table of the Sheldon and District Winter League, Old Bill and Bull moving up to third and Crown dropping to fourth.
At the bottom end of the table Holy Souls chalked up only their second win in 13 games when they won 6-3 away to Riley’s Arrows. As a result of the win Holy Souls move off the foot of the table and up two places, Raven replace them in the bottom position.
Shirley RBL Flights march on in division one, holding on to their six points lead with a 7-2 home win over Shard End Social. Second place Banbury Club had a 6-3 win against Castle Vale Residents Association.
Ivy Leaf moved two places off the bottom of the second division table with a 5-4 home win over mid table Meadway Sports and Social. Greville Arms go bottom after losing 7-2 at Small Heath Amateur Gardeners.
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The Open Cup was on the agenda for the Pip Club League, Belgrave Club winning the title after beating Dolphin in the semi’s and Two Gates Club in the final. Bulls Head (Polesworth) were the other losing semi finalists.
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South Birmingham League leaders Riley’s Kings lost out by 5-4 in their division one fixture in the Divisional Cup against second in the league table Crown Shard End. Mackadown Social and Punchbowl were 6-3 winners against respective opponents Digby Hotel and Raven. Raven Flights had a bye through to the next round.
Biggest winners of the round in division two were Centurion who defeated Kingfisher by 8-1. Also through to the next round are Smithswood Social and Toby Jug, both winning 5-4 against respective opponents Coleshill Social and Yardley and District Rugby Club. Trident had a bye.
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Riley’s Flights made it eight wins in as many games in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League when they won 5-4 at Harvester and remain four points ahead of their nearest rivals Highwood ‘A’, who have a game in hand.
There were big wins for the top three teams in the second division, leaders Crown Arrows winning their home game with Greville Arms 8-1, the same margin by which third placed Sheldon Flights beat Chelmsley Town. Second in the table The Crane handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts, bottom team Ivy Leaf Bulls.
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There was a 5-4 defeat for Cobs Bar in the Small Heath League with Scanlons their victors. Five teams now have four points, Cobs Bar, Redhill Wanderers, Emerald Club, Custard House and Scanlons, with Scanlons having played two fixtures compared with the others having played three. Midland Darts Centre are the only other unbeaten team, they have played one won one.
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Three Horse Shoes superiority was shown once again in the Tamworth League handing out a 7-0 whitewash to the home side Dolphin Inn. “Shoes” now lead the table with 90 points, seven more than second placed Boot Inn, who won 5-2 away to Mile Oak Rovers.
In the players league Ash Bowyer (Wigginton) leads the field with 27 points, Kev Lawrence (Three Horse Shoes) second on 24 points and Paul Smallwood (Tam O’Shanter) and Trevor Barrs (Sports Bar ‘180’) a further three points behind.
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