Warwickshire’s super season in the premier division of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships continued when they played their final home game of the season at the Bishopsgate Club, Coventry. They consolidated their third position in the table and made it five consecutive wins with a 20-16 victory over their nearest rivals Essex, extending the gap between themselves and their opponents to eleven points with just one remaining fixture.
Saturday’s games saw the ladies win 4-2 with Lisa Whitmore (19.03) taking the match award. Not such good news for the men’s ‘B’ side as they finished on the wrong side of an 8-4 result, Luke Kennedy their top player with a 28.48 average.
The ladies ‘A’ side made a great recovery, trailing 3-1 they fought back to earn a very creditable 3-3 draw. Trina Gulliver began the comeback when she beat Wendy Reader 3-1 and clinch the match award with her 23.37 average, then with a final 3-2 win from Denise Keyte against Stacey Ellis the points were shared. The men’s ‘A’ side had a tremendous 9-3 win, Jamie Hughes taking the man of the match award with his straight 4-0 success over Wayne Gleed and a 29.91 average.
With just one remaining fixture away to Kent, third in the table Warwickshire look all set to record their highest position in the premier division since they were promoted as champions from division one in the 2008 / 2009 season.
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With just one fixture remaining in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League champions Saltley Amateur Gardeners made it 21 wins in as many games when they won 7-2 at home to Langley Hall Sports and Social and now look odds on to complete the season undefeated.
Crown at Shard End assured themselves of the runners up spot when they won 5-4 away to their nearest rivals, third placed Highwood ‘A’ giving them a four points cushion.
Its battle on for the runners up position in division one after second and third placed EBAHA and Willclare Sports and Social played each other, the latter winning 5-4 to put both teams on 28 points with two to play.
Everything seems pretty clear cut in division two, Crown Arrows taking the title with 38 points, Baldwin Bears, with 34 points should take the runners up place and third in the table Highwood ‘B’, despite having two games to play as opposed to the two teams above them only having one fixture remaining are four points behind Baldwin Bears and way behind them on average.
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Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ are just three places off the foot of the table in the Cradley Tuesday Night League however, they played well above their league position when they travelled to take on The Gate (Colley Gate), who are seventh in the table and have twice as many points as their visitors.
The game went to 4-4, M.Roberts with scores of 140 and 100 saving the blushes for the home side to give them a very close 5-4 win.
Crown ‘A’ took their unbeaten run to thirteen games with a massive 8-1 home win over fifth placed Roost ‘A’, who were the only losers in the top ten teams.
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With only three games left to play High Acres consolidated their two points lead at the top of the Stourbridge Monday Night League by handing out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Shrubbery Cottage. Second in the table
Brickmakers were close behind with an 8-1 win against Stourbridge RBL, R.Tipper in fine form for the Brickmakers as he chalked up a seven darts winning leg.
Third in the table Ten Arches beat fifth placed Corn Exchange 6-3 and opened a four points gap between them and fourth in the table Bird ‘A’ (Stourbridge), who lost their home tie with Quarry Bank Conservative Club 5-4.
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The division two cup finals were on the agenda for the South Birmingham League, both of the semi finals finishing with a 6-3 result. There were wins for Iron Horse and St John’s, who in turn took out The Dog and Coleshill Social.
Although the final was between the top two teams in the division the result was a convincing 5-0 win for leaders St John’s.
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Sportsmans Rest are second in the Aston League table and were surprisingly held to a close 5-4 win by Aston Flights, who are just three places off the foot of the table. No such problem for leaders Riley’s, who recorded a massive 9-0 win over their visiting team Cross Keys, M.Archer recording a 180 for Riley’s. Third placed Red Lion were also 9-0 winners as they accounted for their hosts Highcroft Sports.
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Emerald Club dropped one place to fifth in the table in the Small Heath League when they went down 5-4 at home against third placed Westminster Lions. Shannon’s had a 7-2 win at Victoria New Club, they and Westminster are now both on 12 points, two behind leaders Gulp Tribe, who also have a game in hand on the chasing pair as their game with Wagon and Horses was cancelled.
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Otter and Vixen have been ousted from the number one position in division one of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League after losing their home game with Ashmore Inn 4-3, Ashmore move up two places to fourth. Riley’s ‘C’ are the new leaders, their 5-2 win at Merry Boys putting them on 14 points, the same number as Otter and Vixen, but they have the better average.
Four teams are locked together on 14 points at the top of division two. Wednesfield Legion ‘A’ beat Boat ‘A’ 6-1 and go top on average with Wednesfield Conservative Club second, they also won their fixture with Dog and Partridge 6-1. Chillington Club, who had a close 4-3 win at Harrowby are third and Riley’s ‘B’, who were top drop to fourth after going down 6-1 at home to Wolverhampton Sports Arena.
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The Tamworth League staged the finals of their Charity Cup. The last four play off’s saw Fox and Dogs beat Sports Bar ‘180’ 4-1 and Dolphin ‘A’ win 4-0 against Logwood.
As expected in a final between the top two teams in the league it was going to be a closely fought encounter and the 4-3 scoreline was evidence of that. Taking the title was league leaders Fox and Dogs, who with 18 wins in as many games in the league, once again proved they are a force to be reckoned with.
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The Crown’s push for honours in the Rowley Monday Night League was enforced when they travelled to third in the table Ivy Bush ‘Z’ and returned with a 6-3 win to make it a maximum 28 points from their opening 14 games. Despite having such a fantastic season so far Crown are only two points ahead of Springfield Social, who won their away game against Victoria Inn with an impressive 8-1 scoreline.
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Whitmore Reans WMC made it six wins in six games in the Tettenhalll Wednesday Night League when they beat Riley’s 4-3. Whitmore now have a four points lead over Otter and Vixen ‘B’, who won 5-2 at Pear and Partridge, Riley’s, who drop from second to third and Moreton, who surprisingly lost their home game with Jones Road 5-2.
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Bulls Head ‘A’ held on to their six points lead at the top of the Pip Club League’s overall table with an 11-5 win at Old Liberal. Second in the table Birchmoor Club had a closer 9-7 win at home to Longwood, who are only two places off the bottom of the table.
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