On the fixture card for the Four Oaks and District League was the first round of the Challenge Cup for their second and third division teams. Close second division rivals Brookvale Social and Anvil Nomads met on Anvil’s board and the outcome was a convincing 7-2 win for the hosts. Bromford Lions, who are three places and two points behind their second division rivals Boldmere Sports, won the tie 6-3. Crown Warriors, who have just one win in seven in division three lost their home game with Pint Pot Flights 5-4, but their division three partners Cross Keys Arrows recorded a similar 5-4 win away to division two hosts Plough and Barrows.
Division two leaders The Beehive travelled to take on division three’s top team White Lion and returned with a 6-3 win to take them into the next round.
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Riley’s took their winning run to nine games in the Aston League with a 6-3 success away to their nearest rivals Sportsmans Rest to give them a clear two points lead at the top of the table over their counterparts and also a game in hand.
Sportsmans Rest, on 16 points are two points ahead of Red Lion, Golden Hind and Heartlands Social, Red Lion losing ground as they were beaten 6-3 by Golden Hind, while Heartlands won 5-4 at Aston Social. Golden Hind have played one game fewer than both Sportsmans Rest and Red Lion, a big win in that game would see them move up from fourth to second in the table.
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To complete their season the Rowley Monday Night League played their Maximums and Achievements Knockout. Winner of the event was Joe Sharratt, who beat Kevin Bambrick in the final.
The night produced some top class darts including two seven darts legs plus a number of eight darts games.
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A 5-4 home win over Old Bill and Bull saw Saltley Amateur Gardeners take their points tally to a perfect 22 points from eleven games in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League giving them a four points lead over second in the table Crown at Olton, who were awarded a 9-0 walkover in their tie with Banbury Club.
At the other end of the table Kingshurst and District Labour Club moved up one place and are now third from bottom after beating Langley Hall Sports and Social 6-3, Langley are four places above the bottom team Banbury Club.
With Raven, leaders of division one, having a bye this week, second placed EBAHA drew level on the same 18 points following their 7-2 home win over Holy Souls. Willclare Sports and Social, who are on 16 points, were also 7-2 winners away to Maggies.
Langley Hall Sports and Social Flights chalked up their first win in eleven games in division two when they beat bottom team Meadway Sports and Social 5-4, while at the other end of the table leaders Crown Arrows had a 7-2 home win against Riley’s Wings to keep them four points ahead of the opposition.
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The Crown have lost pole position in division one of the South Birmingham League after going down 5-4 away to fourth in the table Punch Bowl. Crown are now in joint second on six points with Mackadown Social, both teams two points behind new leaders Riley’s Kings, who jump from third to top following their 5-4 win against Farthings. S.Hughes had a 160 break and N.Jackson recorded a 10 darts leg, both playing for Farthings.
Division two produced a top of the table clash between leaders St John’s and their visitors second placed The Dog. The result was a 6-3 win for St John’s to put them on 12 points, two more than Iron Horse, Coleshill Social and The Dog. Coleshill Social beat Shard End Ladies 6-3, while Iron Horse handed out an 8-1 thrashing to The Trident. The win puts Iron Horse second on average with Coleshill Social and The Dog joint third, level on points and average.
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The only losers in the top six teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League were Rose and Crown. Formerly leading the field Rose and Crown lost 5-4 at Springfield Social Club and drop into second place two points behind new leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club, who had a 5-4 win at Bulls Head. Also just two points off the top are Brickmakers Arms ‘A’, Springfield Social Club, Prince of Wales and Fairfield, quite a battle for second place. Rose and Crown have played one more game than their three rivals.
Biggest winners of the week were Brickmakers Arms ‘B’, who won their away game against Chainmakers 9-0.
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The top two teams in the Pip Club League, Bulls Head ‘A’ and Birchmoor Club squared up to each other this week and the outcome was a 12-4 win for Bulls Head ‘A’ who take their points tally to 18, while Birchmoor drop a place to third and are now for points behind the leaders.
Dolphin move into second place, a close 9-7 win over Bull, Two Gates giving them a total of 15 points. Belgrave Club have the same 14 points as Birchmoor after conceding a surprising 9-7 defeat away to Two Gates Club who are in the bottom half of the table.
Three players recorded maximums this week, Dave Jones (Travellers), Kev Lawrence (Dolphin) and Bob Copper (White Lion).
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Played eight, won eight, that’s the record for Fox and Dogs in the Tamworth League after beating bottom team Wigginton 5-2. The leaders now have a seven point’s advantage over Dolphin ‘A’, who also won 5-2 in their tie with Longwood to keep them in second place.
In the players league Martin Edwards (Fox and Dogs) leads the way on 21 points, his latest win being against Andrew Brennan from Wigginton. Paul Smallwood (Tam O’Shanter) had a bye this week and is just one win from drawing level with Edwards, his game in hand could quite well see him do that.
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The Small Heath League have been engaged in their Singles Competition and taking the honours was Emerald’s Neil Parsonage, who had a final victory over Dave Humphries form Sheldon Marlborough Flights.
Losing semi finalists were Clive Austin (Custard House) and Chris Stokes (Gulp Tribe).
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The Divisional Cup semi finals were the order of the day for the Forest of Arden Winter League and in division one there were no surprises as league leaders Highwood ‘A’ accounted for fifth placed The Crane with a convincing 8-1 scoreline and second in the table Olton Crown set up what will be an intriguing final when they beat bottom team Crown Arrows 7-2.
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