This weekend Warwickshire will be playing their third of the scheduled nine fixtures in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships. The squad will be travelling north to take on Cheshire at the Rudheath Social Club, Middlewich Road, Rudheath, Near Northwich, CW9 7DN, where they will be hoping to follow up their win against Cornwall to consolidate their fourth place in the table or even move up to a more loftier position.
Team selection for the fixture is, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Richard Foster, Tom Aldridge, Mark Strong, Noel Grant, Steve Hine, Dave Harris, Mark Carter, Jamie Hughes, Dean Stewart, Rob Hawker, Mark Westgarth, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Archer, Simon Power, Tom McGlone, Antony Allen, Will Naylor, Prakash Jiwa, Michael Spencer, Carl Green, Luke Kennedy, Ashley Hykin, Dane Vickers, Matt Edgar, Reserves:- Ted Evetts, Dan Green, Ian McFarlane, Nigel Heydon, Kevin Dowling, Paul Deslandes, Jimmy Hill, Steve Ward, 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.
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In division two of the BDO Inter County Championships West Midlands play their first home game of the campaign at Gilberts Bar, Willenhall, where their opponents will be Sussex, who currently head the division with 52 points. Although some 29 points behind their visitors, West Midlands have only played one game so far and will not play their postponed fixture with Nottinghamshire until March 2015.
A win would be a real confidence booster for the home team and make it two wins in as many games. Selected to play are, Men’s ‘A’:- K.Allman, Gavin Baker, Mick Baker, Sean Carroll, Danny Coyle, Ian Jones, John Platt, Richard Platt, Neil Pointon, Andrew Roberts, Mark Rollinson, Men’s ‘B’:- Martin Angell, Lee Ashe, Jamie Barrowman, Rushpal Bhogal, Mark Craddock, Justin Evans, Adam Johnson, John Mycock, Paul Price, Robert Thomson, Mark Watkiss, Gary Watts, Reserves:- Jordan Singh, Lee Arnold, Avtar Singh, Women’s ‘A’:- Lisa Astbury, Gemma Barrett, Kim Fellows, Kath Jenkins, Sarah Roberts, Heather Wright, Women’s ‘B’:- Chris Banks, Jackie Crew, Claire Hobbs, Jacqueline Maiden, Samantha Maiden, Wendy Waine, Reserves:- Elizabeth Arnold, Sophie Singh.
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After the opening three games of the Four Oaks and District League reigning division one champions Sutton Sports once again lead the way, their latest 6-3 win at Golden Hind Arrows maintaining their 100% win record. The Beehive go level on points with Sutton after beating Brookvale Social 7-2, which leaves them trailing slightly on average behind the leaders.
Red Lion were also 7-2 winners in their game away to Old Oscott Arrows, putting them in third place in the table, two points behind the top two.
All the drama this week came in division two where leaders Boldmere Sports found themselves trailing 4-3 to Old Oscott WMC. Boldmere then won the following doubles game to put them level at 4-4, but were unable to seal a win as their visitors took the last of the doubles to clinch a 5-4 victory.
Pint Pot Flights had to win the last two games against Plough and Arrows to secure a close 5-4 win, while Golden Hind moved up to second in the table with a comfortable 7-2 win at Erdington Stars. Boldmere Sports, Golden Hind and Old Oscott WMC are all on four points.
In division three Anvil Nomads beat Erdington Arrows 7-2 to lead the division with a maximum six point’s, The Fox are in second place beating Bishop Vesey 6-3 to make it four points from two games.
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It’s as you were in the Cradley Tuesday Night League, the latest results not making any difference whatsoever to the league table. Leaders Crown ‘A’ won 5-4 away to third placed Brickmakers Arms and second in the table Chainmakers ‘B’ won their home tie with Roost ‘B’ 7-2. Crown ‘A’ are four points ahead of Chainmakers ‘A’ and are way ahead of them on average, so with just three fixtures remaining one more win would almost certainly guarantee Crown the league title..
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Springfield Social Club and Riddins Tavern are the only two teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League to have won all five of their opening games. Springfield had a 6-3 win at Fairfield, while Riddins had a 5-4 home win over White Horse.
Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club lost ground in the title race losing their home game with Bulls Head 5-4 and as a result drop from second to fourth in the table, their victors moving up one place to third.
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The top two teams in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League march on, leaders Crown at Shard End winning 7-2 at George V, while second placed Saltley Amateur Gardeners had a 6-3 success at Sheldon Dukes. Following Mackadown Social and Old Bill and Bull’s match they swap places in the table, Mackdown winning 5-4 and moving into fourth place, Old Bill and Bull dropping to fifth.
The Pirates move off the foot of the table, a 5-4 result against Willclare Sports and Social being their first win of the season.
Division one leaders, undefeated Banbury Club were the only winners in the top four of the table their 6-3 home win over Sheldon Heath Social seeing their visitors drop from fourth to seventh. Second placed Iron Horse Flights drop to fifth after a 7-2 defeat at Baldwin Bears, who go from third from bottom to third from top and Highwood KB’s go from third to sixth after going down 5-4 at Holy Souls. Yardley Ex Colts take over second place, their 5-4 win at Crown Arrows taking them three places up the table and putting them within two points of the leaders.
Meadway Sports and Social moved off the bottom of division two when they chalked up a 5-4 win at Langley Sports and Social Flights to see their hosts take over the bottom spot.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League title went right down to the wire being decided in the very last game of the season. Going into the final fixtures Netherton Cricket Club and Dudley Sports ‘B’ were level on 34 points, the Cricket Club leading the field with a superior average. But as the curtain came down Netherton Cricket Club lost their home game with third in the table Pensnett Welfare Club 6-3 and Dudley Sports ‘B’ won by the same margin at Miners (Wollescote) to clinch the title with 36 points to Netherton’s 34. Pensnett Welfare Club ended up third with 28 points.
Bottom team Dudley Sports ‘A’ finished on a high recording only their fourth win of the 21 games season when they beat Bridge ‘B’ 6-3.
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Dudley Sports were the only losers in the top five teams in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League, losing 6-1 at Ashwood ‘A’, who hang on to second place behind Ten Arches ‘A’, who had a 5-2 home win over The Fox (Lye) to maintain their six points lead at the top.
Third in the table Ashwood ‘B’ won 5-2 at The Leopard to keep them level on the same 24 points as their ‘A’ team, while Wombourne Cricket Club, in fourth place had a close 4-3 home win over Gigmill.
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Crown at Shard End have lost their joint top position in the South Birmingham League after losing 5-4 at Mackadown Social, who are second to Punch Bowl, who took their winning run to three games when they won 5-4 at home to Toby Jug and go two points clear at the top although Mackadown do have a game in hand.
A 5-4 home win by Coleshill Social against The Trident has seen the away side lose pole position in division two and drop to third place, Smithswood Social go level on six points with Coleshill after a 6-3 win at The Gate.
Kingfisher had a 5-4 home win over Banbury Flights, this being Kingsfisher’s first win, taking them off the bottom of the table and up three places.
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Highwood ‘A’, despite a 5-4 home defeat by Olton Crown hang on to the number one spot in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League, however they are now joined by Harvester, Olton Crown and Chelmsley Town, all on four points, Olton having played one game fewer than the other three.
Highwood ‘C’ made it three wins in as many games in division two when they won 7-2 at home to third in the table and local rivals Highwood KB.
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Seven of the top eight teams in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League won this week, the only exception being Bulls Head (Netherton), who had a bye and drop one place to third. Dudley Sports ‘B’ take over the second spot after their 6-3 win at Bridge ‘A’. Leaders Blue Brick ‘C’ won 7-2 at home to The Griffin and now with a 14 points lead and seven more games to play have won the title as second placed Dudley Sports ‘B’ have just six games remaining games and third placed Bulls Head despite being 14 points adrift with seven to play have a massive deficit in average.
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After ten games two teams are still able to boast a 100% record in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League. Britannia lead the way with a slightly better average than Ashwood, Ten Arches lost for the first time this week as they went down 5-4 at The Plough, who are ninth in the table, Ten Arches are third.
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After the majority of teams have completed seven fixtures Brandon lead the way in the Warwickshire Men’s Super league. With a total of 51 points they are four ahead of second placed Coventry Bishopsgate, who in turn are five to the good on third in the table Birmingham Court Oak.
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Surprisingly Bulls Head ‘A’ (Polesworth), leaders of division one of the Pip Club League were held to a 4-4 draw at home by Bulls Head (Two Gates), who are placed fifth and are four points behind them. Third placed Birchmoor lost 6-2 at Wilnecote Club, the winners moving up from fourth to second in the table.
In division two Sports Bar ‘180’ took their winning run to three games when they beat Pip Club 9-7 and are now the only team in the division not to have dropped any points and are two points ahead of the rest of the field.
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Wagon and Horses kept up their 100% record in the Small Heath League with a hard fought 5-4 win at The Mitre, better finishing proving to be the difference between the two teams. Newcomers Warwick Arms took on reigning champions Gulp Tribe and despite their best efforts it was Gulp who ran out the 7-2 winners to stay within two points of the leaders with a game in hand.
Sheldon Marlborough Flights took their chances in a tight game at Cobs Bar to finish the 5-4 winners and get third place in the table.
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With Black Country Belters having a bye this week in the Black Country Premier League, Hasbury Monks took full advantage beating Hounds of Wynall 12-0 to take over the number one spot with 16 points. Blackheath Beechers are second on 15 points after their 11-3 win over Lyde Green Flights, but have played one more game than the Monks. Belters are also on 15 points and have played one game fewer than Beechers.
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No changes in the division one table of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League, but in division two Chillington Club lost the top spot after a shock 5-2 defeat away to seventh in the table Dog and Partridge. Taking over at the top is Wednesfield Legion ‘A, who had a 5-2 win over third placed Wednesfield Conservative Club to give them a total of 48 points, Chillington have the same number of points but trail on average.
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Back in June I wrote about a charity night at Riley’s, Castle Vale in aid of Vinnie Whitehead, who requires sensory lighting as he suffers from Menkes Disease. Vinnie has no funding whatsoever and the cash raised from that evening all went towards his cause.
On Friday 7th November another evening is planned to raise further money for Vinnie’s cause at St John’s Club, Smiths Wood at around 7.00 to 8.00pm. This is a no ticket event however there will be a donation box with a minimum £2 donation for entry. There will also be loom bands on sale, various raffles including a signed Wayne Rooney boot.
Steve Whatmore will be looking for donations as he will be having his blue hair cut off by Sue Kingdon, plus in addition to this the winners from the June competition will be taking on the professionals.
Why not turn up and support a very worthy cause.
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All too often recently this column has ended on a sad note and this week is no exception as I report the sad loss of two of the regions players Kevin Maloney and Jean Bailey. Kevin was a former Custard House player in the Small Heath League and Jean together with her husband George started the Camp Hill League.
Both Kevin and Jean will be sadly missed by all their fellow players and friends. Thoughts and condolences go out from both leagues to each of their families at this sad time.
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