This coming weekend Warwickshire County Darts Organisation will be playing hosts to Lancashire in this their fifth of a scheduled nine fixtures in the premier division of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships.
Warwickshire will be hoping to break their home voodoo as they have played two previous home ties and lost them and won their two away games, but it will be a tough task for the fourth placed team as they take on high riding Lancashire who are second in the table.
Lining up for the home side will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Richard Foster, Tom Aldridge, Mark Carter, Noel Grant, Ian McFarlane, Dave Harris, Rob Hawker, Jamie Hughes, Dean Stewart, Dave Sanders, Mark Westgarth, Men’s ‘B’:- Antony Allen, Dane Vickers, Luke Kennedy, Mark Strong, Will Naylor, Tom McGlone, Simon Power, Mark Archer, Carl Green, Jimmy Hill, Graham Hall, Ashley Hykin, Reserves:- Paul Deslandes, Peter Hughes, Steve Giddings, Steve Hine, Nigel Heydon, Matt Edgar, Kevin Dowling, Ladies ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Gulliver, Caroline Pike, Denise Keyte, Wendy Adams, Lisa Whitmore, Ladies ‘B’:- Melanie Hill, Natalie Gilbert, Donna Pinch, Kat Spanswick, Angela Jones, Edwina Holdsworth, Reserves:- Marian Conway, Louise Graham, Anne Rodgers.
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In division two of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships, West Midlands opened their account with three consecutive wins, but in their last outing the faltered and went down 21-15 to Berkshire. They will be looking to get back to winning ways this coming weekend when they play hosts to top of the table Derbyshire, which will be no easy task. It’s tight at the top of the table with Derbyshire, Somerset and Cleveland all on 91 points, then come West Midlands and Berkshire, who each have 83 points.
The two teams played each other in the final fixture last season and with home advantage Derbyshire won the tie 20-16, West Midlands are hoping that this year home advantage will produce a win for them.
West Midlands team selections are, Men’s ‘A’:- Ian Jones, Mick Baker, Gavin Baker, Mark Rollinson, Andrew Forrester, Glen Cullen, Neil Pointon, Gary Watts, Ian Stanton, Danny Coyle, Richard Platt, Mark Jones, Men’s ‘B’:- Karl Hughes, Avtar Singh, Dean Carroll, Jordan Singh, Paul Price, Mark Craddock, John Platt, Jamie Barrowman, Peter Wyse, Robert Thompson, Martin Angell, Joe Taylor, Reserves:- John Mycock, Mark Watkiss, Simon Meredith, Ladies ‘A’:- Lisa Astbury, Heather Wright, Jackie Crew, Kath Jenkins, Sarah Roberts, Diane Tolley, Ladies ‘B’:- Kim Fellows, Gemma Barrett, Jackie Maiden, Sam Maiden, Shellbie Simmons, Claire Hobbs, Reserves:- Doreen Kaye, Lisa Maiden.
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In division one of the Four Oaks and District League, the first game of the second half of the season has seen Sutton Sports put themselves back into contention for the title by beating The Nomads 6-3. Prior to the fixture both teams, together with leaders Red Lin Flights were on 10 points, Sutton’s win, plus the 5-4 defeat of Red Lion Flights by Old Oscott Arrows has seen Sport go top of the table on 12 points, two clear of Red Lion Flights and The Nomads and now joining the duo on 10 points is Old Oscott Arrows. Nomads do have a game in hand on the other three title chasers, but it is so close at the top of the table.
The top two teams in division two, The Beehive and Anvil Nomads punished their respective opponents Bromford Lions and Plough and Barrows by handing them 8-1 defeats. The Beehive still lead the field with 12 points, but are closely followed by Anvil Nomads and Boldmere Sports both having 10 points. Boldmere Sports won the very last game of the match away to Brookvale Social giving them a close 5-4 victory.
In division three Bishop Vesey won 6-3 at Boldmere Oak to stay two points behind leaders White Lion, who made it eight straight wins when they won their home tie with Pint Pot lights 5-4.
There were maximums for N.Clarke (The Beehive) and C.Packer (Boldmere Sports) this week.
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The Sheldon and District Winter League will be staging round one of their Punch Bowl tomorrow night and the draw is as follows, Maggies v Holy Souls, Crown Arrows v Baldwin Bears, Shard End Social v Emerald Club, Crown at Olton v George V, Shirley RBL Misfits v Highwood ‘B’, Old Bill and Bull v Banbury Club, EBAHA v Sheldon Dukes, Yardley Ex Colts v Willclare Sports and Social, Custard House v Raven, Small Heath Amateur Gardeners v Riley’s Wings, Langley Hall Flights v Greville Arms, Crown Shard End v Riley’s Rags, Kingshurst and District Labour Club v Sheldon Social, Highwood ‘A’ v Ridgemere Social, Iron Horse v Mackadown Social, Saltley Amateur Gardeners v Langley Hall Sports and Social.
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The top two teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Rose and Crown were due to play each other in the latest round of fixtures but had their game postpones. Third in the table Springfield Social Club were unable to take advantage and reduce the arrears as they slipped to a 6-3 defeat away to Brickmakers ‘A’ and as a result drop two places to fifth. Brickmakers ‘A’ move up to fourth on 24 points, the same as Rose and Crown and Springfield.
Prince of Wales take over second place with a 6-3 home win over The Bell, putting them on the same 27 as leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club, but the Serviceman’s Club have played one game fewer than the rest of the league.
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Bulls Head ‘A’ dropped their first points in ten games in the Pip Club League this week as they were surprisingly held to an 8-8 draw at home to Sports Bar ‘180’. They do however stay in pole position on 19 points, two more than second placed Dolphin, who won 13-3 at White Lion, in fact Bulls Head ‘A’ were the only team in the top five not to produce a win, as in addition to Dolphin’s victory, Birchmoor Club beat Royal Oak 11-5, Belgrave Club won their home game with Old Liberal 14-2 and Wilnecote Club had a 12-4 success at Travellers.
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Scruffy Ringers began their defence of the Camp Hill League title with a close 4-3 win at Devil’s Club, while last season’s runners up, Cotterills Lane Club had a convincing 6-1 win at Bordesley Labour Club. Shaftmoor Lions were 5-2 home winners against Station Hotel and Wagonners finished on the right side of a 4-3 result at Gulp Tribe.
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With Riley’s Kings not playing this week in division one of the South Birmingham League, The Crown have taken over their number one spot with a huge 8-1 win at Pavilions. Mackadown Social are second after a 5-4 win against Punch Bowl and Riley’s Kings drop to third place. All of the top three teams are on 8 point’s, Riley’s having a game in hand on their two rivals.
St John’s opened up a four points lead at the top of division two with a 6-3 win over third placed Coleshill Social. Second placed Iron Horse didn’t play this week, they and Coleshill Social plus The Dog and Banbury Flights are all on 10 points, Iron Horse having played one game fewer than the other three teams.
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Highwood ‘A’ maintained their two points lead at the top of division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League with a 7-2 win at Harvester, but Olton Crown kept the pressure on the leaders with a similar 7-2 success at Crown Arrows to remain just two points adrift.
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No change at the top of the Aston League as the top four teams all recorded wins in week eleven. Riley’s, who lead the field on 20 points had a comfortable 8-1 win against Safe Harbour, while their nearest rivals Sportsmans Rest won 6-3 at Heartlands to stay within two points of the leaders. Red Lion and Golden Hind are both a further two points behind on 16, the former winning 8-1 at Aston Flights and the latter 6-3 at home to Oscott Social.
It was a good week for Highcroft Sports as they moved off the foot of the table recording their first win in eleven games, a 6-3 victory over Cross Keys, Aston Flights take over the bottom position.
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Old Liberal House were the only losers in the top three of the Tamworth League, going down 4-3 at Sports Bar ‘180’. Leaders Fox and Dogs won their home game with Three Tuns, Fazeley 6-1 and second placed Dolphin ‘A’ had a 5-2 win at Globe Inn. Fox and Dogs, who are unbeaten in nine game’s hold an eight points lead over Dolphin ‘A’.
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