We hear a lot nowadays of pubs and clubs closing down, the obvious knock on effect of that is there are then fewer venues to play darts. More and more leagues have also folded, so it’s always encouraging to hear of new leagues getting underway and that is what has happened last week as the newly formed “Black Country Premier Darts League” begun its inaugural season.
With eleven teams kicking off the new season, the league are still on the lookout for another team to join them, anyone interested should contact Scott Roberts on 07886-208090.
On the league front the early pacesetters are Gate R&R, Wynall Lane Warriors and Lyde Green Darters, who in turn had wins over Park Lane Taverners (12-3), Hounds of Wynall (11-4) and Britannia Bulldogs (9-4).
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Round two of the Mrs F.Richman Cup was on the agenda for the Sheldon and District Summer League, group four teams Riley’s Misfits and Baldwin Bears provided the biggest shocks of the round, the former winning their home tie with group one side Iron Horse Flights 4-3, while Baldwin beat their group two opponents George V ‘A’ 5-2.
Other winners from the round were, Riley’s Rags, Sheldon Dukes, Marston Green Tavern, Saltley Amateur Gardeners, Langley Hall Sports and Social and The Pirates.
The quarter final draw is Baldwin Bears v Marston Green Tavern, Sheldon Dukes v Langley Hall Sports and Social, The Pirates v Riley’s Rags and Saltley Amateur Gardeners v Riley’s Misfits.
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Just two rearranged fixtures were played in the Small Heath League, leaders Gulp Tribe extended their lead at the top to ten points with a 5-4 win away to Victoria New Club, while second placed Shannon’s lost their home game with Emerald Club 5-4 to bring Emerald level on the same 24 points as their hosts and with a game in hand.
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It was a good week for The Swan in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as with a convincing 6-1 win at The Leopard they registered their first win of the season, which has gone eight games. Their hosts remain rooted to the foot of the table without a point so far. At the other end of the table leaders Ten Arches ‘A’ were also 6-1 winners, beating The Bell to stay two points ahead of Ashwood ‘A’, who won 5-2 at home to Rose and Crown. Ashwood ‘B’, in third place were also winners, a 5-2 success at The Bridge to keep them within two points of their ‘A’ side.
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The South Birmingham League staged their Doubles and Mixed Doubles Knockouts. Winning the former were W.Naylor and M.Naylor, who had a final win over N.Parsonage and M.McFall.
The Mixed Doubles title went to R.Earl and N.Dunn, with J.Whitehouse and J.Neal runners up.
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Week three in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League saw an upset for both The Plough and Bird ‘B’ (Stourbridge), The Plough losing their home tie with second placed Britannia 6-3, while Bird ‘B’ went down 8-1 away to Church Tavern, it was the first defeat for both teams in the three games played so far.
In addition to Britannia having a 100% win record Ashwood’s 8-1 win at Quarry Bank Conservative Club keeps them in pole position, Britannia, Ten Arches and The Cat (Wordsley) are all on maximum six points
In the bottom half of the table it was good news for New Inns, who chalked up their first win, a 5-4 verdict away to Bird ‘A’ (Stourbridge).
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Third in the table Ex Serviceman’s Club lost a vital game in the Rowley Monday Night League when they finished on the wrong side of a 5-4 result at Allens Sports Bar. A crucial win for Allens as it gives them 38 points, to leave just two behind their visitors.
League leaders Crown had another big win, an 8-1 home success against Ivy Bush ‘A’ to maintain their four points lead at the top.
Bottom of the table Victoria Inn recorded only their third win in 24 games when they defeated Fairfield 5-4, Fairfield being six places and 12 points above them.
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A 7-2 home win over Old Star ‘A’ has made it 28 wins in 30 games for Blue Brick ‘C’ in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League. Blue Brick ‘C’ have a massive ten points lead over second in the table Dudley Sports ‘B’ who went one better with an 8-1 win at Old Star ‘B’.
Bulls Head (Netherton), with 44 points have dropped two points behind Dudley Sports ‘A’ following their surprising 5-4 defeat away to The Swan, who are seventeenth in the table. Bridge ‘B’ have lost their fourth spot as they were also surprise losers, they went down by a similar 5-4 scoreline away to Tenth Lock, who are fifteenth in the table.
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The quarter finals of their Knockout Cup was on the fixture card for the Forest of Arden Summer League, the only surprise result from the round was the 4-3 home defeat of division one’s Riley’s Red Arrows by Iron Horse from division two. Other division one teams, Olton Crown and Greville Arrows had respective 7-0 and 4-3 wins over Peachy Keens and Sheldon Flights.
Making up the last four is Highwood ‘C’, who had a 4-3 win against Centurion.
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With only a handful of games to go in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League the title could go to either of the top two teams. Netherton Cricket Club, with 30 points from 17 games are current leaders, with Dudley Sports ‘B’ their closest rivals on 28 points from the same number of games. There is then an eight point’s gap to third placed Pensnett Welfare, who have played one game fewer than the two teams above them.
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An 8-8 draw against Two Gates Club in the penultimate fixture of the season was enough for Bulls Head ‘A’ to secure the division one title in the Pip Club League. Second placed Dolphin had a 9-7 home win over Pip Club but are three points behind the champions, one points from their final game which is against Bulls Head ‘A’ will guarantee them the runners up spot.
The division two title could not be more hotly contested as any one of the top three teams could take the title in the final game of the season. Current leaders Two Gates Club, with 23 points will play hosts to third placed Old Liberal Club, who are just one point behind them. Second in the table Travellers, also on 23 points have, what is on paper the easier task as they play at home against bottom of the table Bulls Head ‘B’, but it will all go down to the wire.
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The Cradley Tuesday Night League have been engaged in round one of their Harry Siviter and Wally Fellows Cups. Chainmakers ‘B’ were the biggest winners in the Harry Siviter Cup beating Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ 6-0. Joining them in the next round will be Brickmakers, Gate (Colley Gate) and Yeltz Bar.
Crown ‘A’ were the 7-2 winners over Hasbury Inn in the Wally Fellows Cup and also winning through were Jay’s Bar, Riddins Tavern and Hawne Lane Tavern.
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A big surprise in the Camp Hill League as Gulp Tribe lost pole position after a shock 4-3 home defeat by next to bottom of the table Bordesley Labour Club. This was Gulp Tribe’s first defeat in four and Bordesley’s first win in five. Taking over the number one spot is Cotterills Lane Club, who beat third in the table Scruffy Ringers 5-2, this was also Ringers first defeat.
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The top two teams in division one of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League played each other and the result was a 4-3 win for the home side Riley’s ‘C’, who replace their opponents Otter and Vixen at the top of the table on average as they both have 30 points.
Division two remains as you were, the top three teams all winning to leave Wednesfield Legion ‘A’ top on average from Wednesfield Conservative Club and Chillington Club as all three teams have 34 points.
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A 5-2 win at Riley’s confirms Whitmore Reans WMC as champions of the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League. Whitmore have three remaining fixture but with 17 wins from as many games they are eight points clear of second placed Moreton, who in turn are just two points ahead of Otter and Vixen ‘B’, who have played one game less than Whitmore and Moreton.
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With John Burdett, leader of the Riley’s Friday Individual League not playing this week, second placed Luis Barberan took full advantage to reduce the arrears to four points as with two maximums and a 5-1 result he accounted for D.Bond.
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