This coming weekend Warwickshire kick off their programme in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships with an away fixture against reigning champions Yorkshire. This will be the sixth time Warwickshire’s opening fixture has been against Yorkshire and they will be hoping it will be sixth time lucky and end a run of five consecutive defeats.
Playing at the Glasshoughton WMC, 152 Leeds Road, Castleford, WF10 4PD, the line up for Warwickshire will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Richard Foster, Tom Aldridge, Mark Strong, Noel Grant, Ian McFarlane, Dave Harris, Nigel Heydon, Jamie Hughes, Dean Stewart, Rob Hawker, Mark Westgarth, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Archer, Simon Power, Tom McGlone, Antony Allen, Will Naylor, Prakash Jiwa, Paul Deslandes, Carl Green, Luke Kennedy, Dave Sanders, Dane Vickers, Matt Edgar, Reserves:- Steve Hine, Kevin Dowling, Ashley Hykin, Michael Spencer, Dan Green, Mark Carter, Ted Evetts, Women’s ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Gulliver, Kat Spanswick, Denise Keyte, Natalie Gilbert, Donna Pinch, Women’s ‘B’:- Lisa Whitmore, Edwina Holdsworth, Marian Conway, Wendy Adams, Nina Bolt, Caroline Pike, Reserves:- Ann Rodgers, Angela Jones, Melanie Hill, Sue Sandher.
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Barry Stephens, third in the table in the Riley’s Friday Individual League chalked up two vital results in the latest round of fixtures. His first game was against long time league leader John Burdett in which he held Burdett to a 4-4 draw. The second was against second in the table Luis Barberan, which Stephens won 5-1 to close the gap between the two players to just two points and Stephens having played one game fewer than Barberan. So the top three places now see Burdett on 37 points and played 21, Barberan on 34 points from 22 games and Stephens third with 32 points from 21 games.
In Burdett’s second game he suffered only his second defeat of the campaign, surprisingly going down 5-0 to fourth in the table Paul Cummings, giving Cummings a total of 30 points.
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Group one of the Sheldon and District Summer League produced a top of the table clash in week eight when leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners played away to second placed Riley’s Rags. The result was a 4-4 draw to keep Saltley two points ahead of their hosts.
There was a similar situation in group two where leaders Langley Hall Sports and Social travelled to take on their nearest rivals Marston Green Tavern and again the outcome was a 4-4 draw, leaving Marston with seven points, three adrift of Langley but with a game in hand.
The top two teams in group three, Raven and Banbury Club both won 5-3 against respective opponents Sheldon Social and Crown Arrows, Banbury are one point behind Raven with a game in hand.
Group four leaders Riley’s Misfits are the only team in the seven groups of the league with a 100% win record, they extended that to seven games with a 7-1 win at Maggies giving them a four point’s lead over Baldwin Bears, who won 5-3 at Shannon’s.
There were wins for group five, six and seven leaders Holy Souls, Highwood KB’s and Emerald Flights. It was a good week for Langley Hall Flights in group seven, their 6-2 win over local rivals Langley Hall Ladies was their first of the season and lifted them off the foot of the table, being replaced by their opponents.
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Played 27, won 27 that’s the record for Crown ‘A’ in the Cradley Tuesday Night League, their latest success being a close 5-4 away win at Jay’s Bar, who are in the bottom half of the table. Second placed Chainmakers ‘B’ won 7-2 against fifth in the table Gate (Darby End) to stay eight points behind the leaders. Third placed Members Club were also winners as they accounted for their visitors Roost ‘A’ with 6-3 result.
At the other end of the table Bulls Head (Netherton) moved off the foot of the table with only their second win in 26 games, they won 5-4 at Riddins Tavern. Taking over the bottom spot is Roost ‘B’, whose fixture against Brickmakers was a late result.
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In week nine The Bridge were the only losers in the top five teams in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League. Playing at home Bridge went down 4-3 to Dudley Sports, who as a result leap frog them in the table and push the home side down one place to sixth.
Leaders Ten Arches ‘A’ won 5-2 away to next to bottom The Swan, while second placed Ashwood ‘A’ had a 6-1 win at Gigmill to remain two points off the top. A further two points adrift is Ashwood ‘B’, who whitewashed their visitors Netherton Cricket Club 7-0.
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Due to the Bank Holiday the South Birmingham League had no fixtures on the card, so they staged a couple of pub players competitions.
Winning the senior event was Mike McFall, who had a final success against Jason Hough. Losing semi finalists were, Mark James and Dean Sanders.
The youth title went to Mitchell Kingdon, with Peter Kingdon the runner up.
The league’s winter season will get underway on the 6th October anyone wishing to enter a team in the forthcoming season should contact Sue Kingdon at [email protected]
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The Hasbury kicked off their season in the Black Country Premier League with what was described as the match of the night against Blackheath Beechers. Playing at home Hasbury were taken to the very last leg of the match before clinching a nail biting 9-8 victory.
Lyde Green Darters and Gate R&R made it two wins in as many games when in turn they beat Round Oak Rebels 12-1 and Hounds of Wynall 8-4 to put then currently top of the table on four points.
Wynall Lane Warriors and The Hasbury are the only other teams with a 100% win record however, they have only played one game so far.
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With leaders Netherton Cricket Club having a bye this week in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League, second placed Dudley Sports ‘B’ took full advantage to draw level on 30 points with them by beating fourth placed Bridge ‘A’ 5-4. However, Dudley Sports ‘B’ have now played one game more than the Cricket Club.
The title is obviously now only contested by the two top teams as third in the table Pensnett Welfare Club, after winning 6-3 at Roebuck are still eight points adrift of the leading duo.
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The Pip Club League staged their Division Two Singles Knockout and taking the honours was White Lion’s Duncan Campbell, who defeated Mark McCloughlin (Bulls Head ‘B’, Polesworth) in the final. Losing in the last four were Leighton Young (White Lion) and Martin Richards (Old Liberal).
On the league front division one champions Bulls Head ‘A’ finished their league fixtures on a high and winning the title by a clear five points by beating second in the table Dolphin 10-6.
The top two teams in division two both won, but it was Two Gates Club’s 9-7 win over Old Liberal that gave them a total of 26 points to claim the title as Travellers, despite beating Bulls Head ‘B’ 13-3 finished one point behind them.
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A total of twenty five pairs contested the title for the Forest of Arden Summer League’s men’s doubles knockout. Taking the crown were B.Nixon and T.Steele, who won 2-1 against P.Nunn and C.John.
The ladies title went to S.Kingdon and C.Kingdon with D.Derbyshire and N.Harris runners up, again the result was 2-1.
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Just one game played in the Small Heath League which saw Emerald Club secure the runners up spot with a 5-4 win over Victoria New Club. The win ousted Shannon’s from second place to finish two points adrift of Emerald Club in third place. Shannon’s had a one leg better average on Emerald.
The game between Clock Inn and Emerald Club Flights was claimed 9-0 by Emerald.
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Only one fixture played in the Camp Hill League, Cotterills Lane Club taking their winning run to five games with a 5-2 home win over Wagonners to stay top of the table.
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I finish this week on a sad note reporting the death of Graham Stamps, who passed away on Sunday 17th August.
Graham was a well known and popular player throughout the darts circuit having played in many leagues including six seasons for the Warwickshire County team.
I personally knew Graham well as he played for me in the Mitchells and Butler sponsored exhibition team I ran and also we both represented the Sports Argus charity team at the same time.
The funeral will take place at Yardley Crematorium, Thursday 4th September at 1.00pm.
Condolences go to all his family and friends.
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