Week eleven was not a good week for Crown at Shard End in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League as they not only lost their home tie with Mackadown Social 5-4 but also pole position in the division to Crown at Olton, who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts George V. As a result of the defeat Crown at Shard End drop to second in the table two points behind Crown at Olton and Mackadown move up one place to fourth.
In division one Castle Vale Stadium hold on to the top spot with a comfortable 7-2 win at Highwood KB’s, but second placed Banbury Club lost ground as they suffered a 6-3 defeat away to sixth in the table Marston Green Tavern to leave them two points behind the leaders.
Crown-Forget-Me-Not took their unbeaten run to ten games in division two when they were awardded a 9-0 walkover against Ridgemere Social, Maggies kept the pressure on the top side with a 7-2 win at Langley Hall Sports and Social Flights to remain four points adrift.
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Aston Social had the second round of their Nine-a-Side Cup on the agenda, the round bringing together the league’s top two teams Sportsmans Rest and Red Lion. The outcome was a close 5-4 win for Red Lion. Fourth placed Castle Vale also lost 5-4 to third in the table Kingstanding Ex Serviceman’s Club.
In the games between the lower teams in the table bottom team Aston Flights, without a win in eight games in the league recorded a 5-4 win over Mitre, who are two places off the bottom. Next to bottom team Aston Social went out by a massive 9-0 to the team just two places above them Cross Keys.
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In week eleven of the Four Oaks and District League six of the eight games played finished with a 6-3 result, all of division one’s three games were 6-3. Red Lion coming from 2-2 at home against Old Oscott Arrows to win 6-3 and move up into third place in the table. Sutton Sports had a comfortable win over bottom team Golden Hind Arrows and divisional leaders The Beehive won against next to bottom Brookvale Social.
Division two saw top team Golden Hind win 6-3 away to bottom placed Erdington Stars, while second in the table Boldmere Sports required the last two games for a closer 5-4 home win against Old Oscott WMC to keep within two points of the leaders. Plough and Arrows put a two point’s margin between them and their visitors Pint Pot Flights after beating them 5-4.
The top two teams in division three Anvil Nomads and The Fox both had 6-3 wins in turn against Erdington Arrows and Bishop Vesey.
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Blue Brick ‘C’ rounded off a superb season in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League with a 7-2 home win over fourth in the table Rose and Crown (Brierley Hill) to make it 43 wins from 45 games and seal the title with a clear 18 points more than runners up Dudley Sports ‘B’, who finished on a low as they lost 5-4 at Bulls Head (Netherton), the winners moving up one place to finish fifth.
The league will be holding their AGM to form the 2015 season at their headquarters Dudley Sports on Sunday 4th January at 11.30am, all teams both old and new are invited to attend the meeting and join the league for the new season.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League will also be holding their AGM at Dudley Sports on Sunday the 11th January, the meeting will get underway at 11.00am again all teams are welcome to join the league for the forthcoming campaign.
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Wigginton, after going top of the Pip Club League’s new Division One Round Robin League in week one have lost pole position in a big way as they slumped to an 8-0 home defeat at the hands of a Wilnecote Club side who have taken over the number one spot with four points from their opening two games. Bulls Head (Two Gates) are second after chalking up their first win another 8-0 at Two Gates Club.
In Division Two J W Belgrave made it eight wins from nine games with a convincing 12-4 win over Royal Oak to put them four points clear of second in the table Sports Bar ‘180’ who won 10-6 at Progressive Club.
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With only a handful of games remaining in the Stourbridge Wednesday Night League leaders Ten Arches ‘A’ and second placed Ashwood ‘A’ are still battling it out for the title, both teams had big wins this week, Ten Arches ‘A’ winning 6-1 at The Bell and Ashwood ‘A’ going one better with a 7-0 win at Rose and Crown to stay within four points of the top team.
Third placed Ashwood ‘B’ are another four points adrift of their ‘A’ team after losing their home tie with The Bridge 4-3, Bridge moving up one place to seventh.
At the other end of the table there was a rare win for bottom team The Leopard, a 4-3 win away to their nearest rivals The Swan making it two wins in 21 games to put them level on points with The Swan.
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With both of the top two teams winning 7-2 in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League, there is no change Olton Crown leading the way on a perfect sixteen points from their eight games and Highwood ‘A’ despite having the better average are two points behind. Olton’s latest win was away to bottom team Ivy Leaf, while Highwood won at home against next to bottom Greville Arrows.
In the second division top team Iron Horse kept their unbeaten run going in fine style as they handed their hosts New Inns a 9-0 whitewash keeping them two points ahead of both Highwood KB and Highwood ‘C’, KB winning 7-2 at Greville Arms, the ‘C’ game against Sheldon Flights a late result.
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In the Netherton Thursday Night League leaders Springfield Social Club pushed their visitors Brickmakers down two places in the table to fifth after beating them 6-3, which also increased their lead at the top to six points as second placed Netherton Sports and Social Club lost 5-4 at sixth in the table Fairfield.
Third and fourth placed Bulls Head and Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club both won 5-4 against respective opponents White Horse and Rose and Crown to put them both on 21 points, three behind Netherton Sports and Social Club.
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The South Birmingham League were involved in their Mixed Doubles Knockout and taking the title were Poachers Pocket duo Mark Osborne and Julie Green, who had a final win over Dave Clinton and Sue Kingdon from St John’s.
Just one league fixture was played, a rearranged game between the top two teams in division one, Crown-Forget-Me-Not and Olton Crown. The result was an emphatic 8-1 win for Forget-Me-Not to put them two points in front of their opponents with a game in hand, also at the same time preserving their 100% win record.
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The Small Heath League staged their inaugural Jim Haveron Memorial Competition at the Emerald Club, which will now become an annual event. A total of 44 players turned out for the competition. The semi finals saw George Haveron, from Cob’s Bar and Jim’s brother, beat Wagon and Horses player Mick Tilley, while from the other half of the draw Neil Parsonage (Emerald Club) won against Michael Looby, another Wagon and Horses representative.
The final result went in favour of Neil Parsonage, but the biggest winner of the night was charity as all the proceeds from entry fees and raffles was handed over to George Haveron to donate to his chosen charity.
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The Camp Hill League played off their Secretaries and Captains Knockouts and winning the Secretaries event was Dave Carter from Holy Souls, with a final success over Peter Shipley from Scruffy Murphy’s.
The Captain’s title went to Cotterills Lane Club member Matt Cooper with Mick O’Sullivan (Holy Souls) runner up.
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Played 32 won 32 that’s the record so far for Crown in the Rowley Monday Night League, their latest success being a 5-4 home win over Ivy Bush ‘Z’ who are fifth in the league on 52 points, the same number as Bell and ex Serviceman’s Club who are third and fourth in the table.
Springfield Social Club are second and their 6-3 home win against Victoria Inn keeps them within four points of the leaders, however they have played one game more than Crown.
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I would like to thank all contributors and readers for their continued support throughout the year and wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
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