With only one win from their opening three fixtures in the premier division of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships Warwickshire have an opportunity to add to that tally this coming weekend when they take on Gwent at the Hafodyrynys RFC. Warwickshire with 58 points are sixth in a table of ten, while their hosts are a dozen points behind them and next to bottom of the table.
Lining up for Warwickshire will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Richard Foster, Tom Aldridge, Dave Sanders, Noel Grant, Ian McFarlane, Dave Harris, Rob Hawker, Jamie Hughes, Dean Stewart, Mark Carter, Mark Westgarth, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Archer, Simon Power, Tom McGlone, Antony Allen, Mark Strong, Luke Kennedy, Paul Deslandes, Carl Green, Jimmy Hill, Peter Hughes, Steve Giddings, Graham Hall, Reserves:- Mark Birch, Nigel Heydon, Matt Edgar, Kevin Dowling, Steve Hine, Ashley Hykin, Dane Vickers, Will Naylor, Ladies ‘A’:- Lisa Whitmore, Sue Gulliver, Caroline Pike, Denise Keyte, Angela Jones, Trina Gulliver, Ladies ‘B’: Melanie Hill, Marian Conway, Donna Pinch, Natalie Gilbert, Wendy Adams, Edwina Holdsworth, Reserves:- Louise Graham, Kat Spanswick, Terri Bellamy.
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With three wins in as many games, West Midlands are flying high in division two of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships. They have amassed 68 points, are third in the table, level on points with second placed Derbyshire and just one point off the leaders Somerset, who they beat in the last outing.
Their second successive away fixture sees them travel to Britwell Ex Serviceman’s Club, Slough, where they will take on Berkshire, who are fifth in the table and nine points behind them.
Representing the West Midlands will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Ian Jones, Mark Rollinson, Nick Fullwell, Glen Cullen, Ian Stanton, Mick Baker, Gavin Baker, Gary Watts, Neil Pointon, Richard Platt, Matthew Dicken, Andy Forrester, Men’s ‘B’:- Karl Hughes, Rob Thompson, Jamie Barrowman, Jordan Singh, Avtar Singh, Peter Wyse, Shaun Carroll, Mark Craddock, Paul Price, Simon Meredith, John Platt, Mark Watkiss Allen, Reserves:- Joe Taylor, Martin Angell, John Mycock, Ladies ‘A’:- Lisa Astbury, Gemma Barrett, Jackie Crew, Kath Jenkins, Sarah Roberts, Diane Tolley, Ladies ‘B’:- Kim Fellows, Claire Hobbs, Jackie Maiden, Sam Maiden, Shellbie Simmons, Heather Wright, Reserves:- Doreen Kaye, Lisa Maiden.
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The premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League staged a top of the table clash between leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners and second placed Crown at Shard End. The result was a 5-4 win for Saltley which saw them extend their lead at the top of the table to four points over both Crown at Olton and Crown at Shard End, the latter dropping one place to third.
Highwood ‘A’ lost ground, slipping into fifth place from fourth, when they were surprisingly beaten 5-4 away to bottom of the table Banbury Club, this being Banbury’s first win in eight games.
In division one EBAHA had a bye and as a result lost pole position to Raven, who had a 5-4 home win over Custard House. Both teams are now on 14 points, EBAHA having played one game fewer than Raven.
Willclare Sports and Social held on to third place with a 6-3 win against Sheldon Social to leave them two points behind the leading duo, however, they also have a game in hand on Raven.
Division two also produced a top of the table clash, when leaders Crown Arrows travelled to their nearest rivals Baldwin Bears. A 6-3 verdict in favour of Arrows gives them a total of 16 points, four more than Baldwin Bears and Shirley RBL Misfits, who won 6-3 at Riley’s Wings to push their hosts down one place in the table to fifth.
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It was cup week in the Four Oaks and District League, in the first round of the Coronation Shield The Nomads amassed 30 tons in their 10-5 win over Brookvale Social including a 180 from K.Shepherd. However, the man of the match was Brookvale’s W.Naylor who recorded a tremendous ten scores of a hundred, 150, 100 and 110 breaks, 3×140,2×100,134 and 121.
In another high scoring encounter Boldmere Sports opened up a 4-2 lead over league leaders Red Lion Flights, but couldn’t hold on to their advantage and eventually lost 9-6.
In the only other game Deer’s Leap Stags beat The Greyhound 10-5.
The first round of the Norman Day Cup Boldmere Oak lost 10-5 to Bishop Vesey, while third division outfit Cross Keys Arrows fought a hard match with Old Oscott WMC taking one of the last three games to clinch ab 8-7 win over their first division rivals, J.Cox hitting a maximum for Cross Keys.
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The Small Heath League staged their end of season Cricket Knockout Cup at the Clock Inn and taking the honours were Eddie Groves (Clock Inn), Nigel Ricketts (Custard House), Mark Turner and Tony Blake (Redhill Wanderers). Runners up were, Anthony Fisher (Emerald Club), Bryan Griffiths (Clock Inn), John O’Connor (Wagon and Horses) and Rob McConnell (Gulp Tribe).
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The first round of the Knockout Cup was on the agenda for the South Birmingham League and the biggest winners of the round were Riley’s Kings, who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to Shard End Ladies. Not far behind Riley’s were, Banbury Flights, The Crown, St John’s and The Farthings, who in turn won 7-2 against Smithswood Social, Iron Horse, The Trident and The Kingfisher. Also winning through to the next round were, Coleshill Social, The Toby Jug and Mackadown Social.
Best individual performances came from R.Farthers (The Dog), L.Reece (Banbury Flights) and M.Heaven (Mackadown Social), who all scored a 180. The Crown’s M.Cooper followed up 152 and 112 breaks and a 133 with a seven darts leg and Mackadown’s A.Caddick recorded a 160 break.
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A 7-2 defeat by Springfield Social Club has seen Cottage Spring lose the number one spot in the Netherton Thursday Night League and drop to third place behind Rose and Crown and Brickmakers ‘A’, all three teams are on 15 points. Rose and Crown take over as the new leaders after a 6-3 win at Bulls Head, while third placed Brickmakers ‘A’ won by the same scoreline against local rivals Brickmakers ‘B’. Springfield Social Club jump up from eighth to fourth.
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After completing their league programme the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League have been engaged in cup finals and taking the singles crown was Stephen Pike from Riley’s ‘B’, with a final success against Terry Harris (Roebuck).
The division one Riley’s Cup was won by Otter and Vixen ‘B’, with Penn Bowling runners up, while Corpus Christi took the division two title with Village ‘B’ the losing finalists.
Victoria won the division one Knockout after a final win over Otter and Vixen ‘B’, Roebuck won the division two final Wednesfield Legion ‘B’ the beaten finalists.
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An impressive 8-1 win at Greville Arrows has taken Highwood ‘A’s’ unbeaten run to five games in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League and gives them a four points advantage over Harvester, who have played only four games.
In division two it was not good news for leaders Sheldon Flights as they lost their game at Highwood KB 6-3. At the moment they do hang on to pole position, but second placed Chelmsley Town have the same 8 points and two games in hand, plus third in the table Highwood KB also have 8 points and they have one game in hand on the leaders.
This coming Sunday the league together with Riley’s will be staging their Forest of Arden / Riley’s Solihull Open. The event will be held at the Solihull club and for a £5 entry fee there is a guaranteed £100 for the winner. There will be a preliminary and first round losers competition and depending on the number of entries a ladies competition.
Registrations will accepted at 2.00pm with a 3.00pm start. For further details or advance entry contact, Brian Twist at [email protected] or [email protected]
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With their fixture card completed Allens Sports and Social have won the Shadow League in the Rowley Monday Night League, the wooden spoon going to Fairfield. With respect Fairfield finished bottom of the table and actually won four of their games, a feat which usually would have seen them finish some way off the foot of the table. Just shows how fierce the competition was throughout the season.
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Rounding off their season the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League have been busy with cup finals and taking the silverware in the Knockout Cup was Whitmore Reans WMC, with Riley’s ‘B’ runners up. The Consolation Cup title went to Fordhouses Cricket Club, who defeated Riley’s ‘A’ in the final. The Riley’s Four a Side was once again Whitmore Reans WMC, on this occasion beating Wednesfield FC in the final.
Rob Morris (Wednesfield FC) was the Averages Knockout winner, Sam Guest (Whitmore Reans WMC) runner up and the Captain and Secretaries winners were Greg Parkes and Rob Morris (Wednesfield FC) with Simon Pritchard and Michele Pritchard the losing finalists.
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Congratulations to White Lion, who after completing seven games in the Pip Club League chalked up their first win, a 9-7 success away to Bulls Head ‘B’, who are at the foot of the table. While White Lion were celebrating their first win, Wilnecote Club were suffering their first defeat, going down 9-7 at home to overall league leaders Bulls Head ‘A’. Wilnecote drop from third to fifth in the table.
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The semi finals and final of their Three Tuns Trophy was on the fixture card for the Tamworth League. The first semi saw Globe Inn beat Old Liberal House 4-2 and the second a close 4-3 win for league leaders Fox and Dogs over fourth placed Three Tuns (Fazeley).
The final was another close and somewhat surprising 4-3 result for Globe Inn who are sixth in the league against Fox and Dogs, who after six games are undefeated in the league.
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No change at the top of the Camp Hill League as leaders Scruffy Ringers beat bottom team Devil’s Club 5-2 and second placed Cotterills Lane Club had a 4-3 win against Shaftmoor Lions. The two teams are both on 18 points with just a couple of legs of average separating them.
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