A 7-2 win at Castle Vale Residents keeps Crown at Olton in pole position in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League but only on average from Saltley Amateur Gardeners who had a 5-4 win at East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association which takes the hosts to the foot of the table as Mackadown Social who were previously the bottom team moved up three places following their 5-4 win at Sheldon Dukes.
Solihull Moors had a bye in division one and as a result lost the number one spot dropping to second behind Iron Horse whose convincing 8-1 home win over Marston Green Tavern takes their unbeaten run to eight games and gives them a two points lead over Solihull Moors, Highwood KB’s and Holy Souls.
Maggies are top of division two their 7-2 win away over Meadway Sports and Social giving them 14 points from nine games but second in the table Crown Arrows have only played six games and won all six, so should they win their three games in hand they would go four points clear at the top of the table.
All team secretaries should note that division two team Emerald Flights have dropped out of the league.
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The three top teams in division one of the Four Oaks and District League all won in week seven, leaders Boldmere St Mikes won 8-1 at Boldmere Sports & Social, second placed The Beehive beat Old Oscott Arrows 6-3 and third placed Golden Hind had a narrow 5-4 win against Old Oscott WMC. Boldmere St Mikes with 14 points have a lead of four points but both The Beehive and Golden Hind have a game in hand.
Prior to this week’s games Golden Hind and Bishop Vesey were both undefeated in division two but something had to give as the two teams met on Bishop Vesey’s board. The result was a 6-3 win for Golden Hind to put them two points clear of both Bishop Vesey and Erdington Arrows at the top of the table.
The only maximum this week was provided by The Beehive’s J.Prince.
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The Untouchables, reigning champions in the Winmau Centre Monday Night League added an emphatic 36-12 win over Keep It In The Family to their tally to give them a total of 418 points six more than their nearest rivals What Are Thooose who won by the same 36-12 margin against Barney Army.
After the leading duo comes a gap of 20 points to third in the table What’s The Point who had an even more convincing 44-4 win over Where’s My Team.
Five maximums scored this week by A.Busby (The Untouchables) who hit two and there was one each for K.Wharton (What Are Thooose) and B.Lockley, P.Clarke (What’s The Point).
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The Camp Hill League played off the third round of their League and Consolation Cups and in the former Cotterills Lane Club beat Holy Gulp while in the Consolation Cup Wagon and Horses defeated Devil’s Club.
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Winner of the Aston League’s singles knockout was Jim Frost who won the final against Ade Stainford 3-0.
On the league front Kingstanding Ex Servicman’s Club took their undefeated run to seven games with a 7-2 win away to Old Oscott WMC to keep their four points lead intact at the top of the table. Second placed Sportsmans Rest were 5-4 winners at Mitre and third in the table Red Lion who are two further points behind on ten points won their home tie with Erdington Club 7-2.
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Played nineteen won nineteen that the record for Court Oak in the Kings Norton League their latest success being a 6-1 home win over West Heath to put them a massive ten points ahead of both Kings Norton RBL and Stirchley United, Kings Norton RBL also winning 6-1 in their game with Toby Jug Flights while Stirchley had a much closer 4-3 win at Rubery RBL.
Hillyfields were the only losers in the top five teams going down by 5-2 away to fourth placed Toby Jug ‘A’ to put both teams on 26 points.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League fixtures brought together the top two teams in week eight and the outcome was a 6-3 win for Brickmakers Arms over Miners (Wollescote). It was the first defeat in six games for Miners while Brickmakers take over the number one spot with a perfect ten points from five games.
At the other end of the table the two bottom teams played each other and a 6-3 win over Bulls Head (Netherton) has seen Dudley Sports move off the foot of the table and be replaced by their opponents who are still without a win in their opening four games.
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Having completed 21 fixtures and only one remaining the position at the top of the Shirley and District Monday Night League could not be any closer as the top two Highwood and Crown Jewels are both locked together on 40 points, however the title will be decided in the final game of the season which could not be more fitting finish as the two side face up to each other on the Crown Jewels board, the winner of that game will also be the league winner.
In the latest round of fixtures Highwood who currently head the table by three legs of average handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Shirley Legionnaires while Crown Jewels did exactly the same to their hosts bottom of the table Shirley Spartac.
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A 4-3 defeat by Mick Baker has seen Kevin Harris lose the top spot in the Winmau Centre Thursday Night Champions League, although Harris quickly bounced back with a 5-2 win over Mick O’Neill he now trails reigning champion Kevin Lane by two points as Lane chalked up 7-0 and 6-1 wins in turn over Tam Singh and Ken West.
Mick Baker is the only other player apart from Kevin Lane to have won all of his games but Baker so far has only played two compared to Lane who has played six.
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The South Birmingham League had round one of their divisional cups on the agenda and in the division one games the top two teams in the division played each other and despite both teams being level on six points in the league, leaders Erdington Members Club had a clear cur 7-2 win over Mackadown Social. Raven went one better by beating Family Tree 8-1.
In the division two fixtures there was a shock for divisional leaders Banbury Flights who despite having won all six of their league fixture lost 5-4 at home to Smithswood Social who are third in the table and have lost three of their six league games.
In the other division two games The C’s who are without a win so far in the league won 6-3 against The Bell, The Gate beat Toby Jug 5-4 and The Dog won 6-3 against The Kingfisher.
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Journeys End, second in the division one table in the Forest of Arden Winter League suffered a shock 5-4 defeat this week when they played away to Riley’s Red Arrows who are next to bottom of the table and have won just two of their five games. Journeys hold on to second place but are now four points adrift of leaders Olton Crown who won 5-4 at Crown Arrows. It turned out to be a good week for the bottom two teams as bottom of the table Greville Arrows also won, they had a 6-3 win away over third placed Sheldon Marlborough Arrows..
In division two there were just two results which saw top team Highwood KB win 5-4 away to Ivy Leaf to keep them two points ahead of second placed Sheldon Marlborough Flights who won 6-3 at Greville Arms, KB also have a game in hand on Marlborough Flights.
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With most of the teams in the Small Heath League having just two remaining fixtures leaders East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association have assured themselves of the title with a 9-0 win over Emerald Club, the win putting them four points ahead of second placed Mitre and although they beat Clock Inn by the same 9-0 scoreline they are far too short on average and will finish as runners up.
Making it a trio of 9-0 wins were third placed Gulp Tribe as they accounted for Moseley All Service.
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Court Oak took their unbeaten run in the Harborne League to seven games when they won 8-1 away to the Sportsman, however Hillyfields ‘A’ lead the table with the same 14 points as Court Oak but their 7-2 win at Bartley Green FC took their games played to eight and gives them a better average than their rivals.
Avenue Flights move up two places to third after their 8-1 win over local rivals Avenue Social, they and Crazy Horses who had a bye this week are both on 10 points while fourth placed Abbey in fifth place lost 5-4 away to Hillyfields ‘B’ and are a further two points adrift on 8.
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The top five teams in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League all played away in week 10 and they all won. Former leaders Bird ‘A’ (Stourbridge) drop one place to second despite beating Plough 6-3, taking over at the top is Britannia who had a huge 8-1 win at Kingswinford Conservative Club, both teams are on 20 points. Ashwood, Brickmakers Arms and Ten Arches ‘A’ in turn won 8-1 against Garibaldi, 6-3 at Quarry Bank Conservative Club and 7-2 away to Bird ‘B’ (Stourbrdige) all three teams are on 18 points.
Sixth in the table Ten Arches ‘B’ played at home against The Fox (Lye) and won 9-0 to give them 16 points, Bird (Wordsley) who are seventh were the only losers in the top seven going down 6-3 at High Acres.
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Wombourne Cricket Club were the sole losers in the top six of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League as they finished on the wrong side of a 7-2 result at home to league leaders Gornal Conservative Club. Gornal are two points ahead of second placed Ashwood ‘A’ who had a close 4-3 win at Ten Arches ‘A’, while Ashwood’s ‘B;’ side had a more comfortable 5-2 win against Netherton Cricket Club to keep them in third place with 38 points..
Fourth and fifth placed Ten Arches ‘B’ and The Bell in turn had 6-1 wins over High Acres and The Leopard.
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The Royal staged the second of their knockouts and with entries up by 30% on the previous event it was very encouraging for the Albrighton venue and organizer Simon Pritchard who after losing in the semi’s in the previous event put his hand to organizing this one rather than playing.
The final turned out to be an all Shifnal encounter in which Scotland international Steve Ritchie claimed the top prize of £120 with a final somewhat one side 6-1 result against Steve Groucutt who collected £60.
In the semi finals Ritchie had beaten Andy Roberts in a close 5-4 result while Groucutt had an easier 5-1 win over Mark Lloyd. Both of the losing semi finalists received £25.
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The Halesowen Monday Night Ladies League have been playing off their various finals and winning the singles title in an all White Horse final was J.Smith with A.Roberts runner up. The doubles crown went to A.Robert and D.Doonan (White Horse) after beating A.Fradgley and L.Cheslin (Haden Cross) in the final.
The Three a Side knockout went to A.Fradgley, L.Cheslin and E.Cornfield (Hadens Cross) with a final win over team mates M.Powell, J.Habernathy and J.Windmill with J.Russell reserve.
Black Horse duo L.Hall and S.Russell won the Gangster with V.Meese and R.Lenton from White Horse runners up.
The Dean Corbett Cup went to the White Horse with Haden Cross runners up, while the League Cup went to Black Horse with a final win over White Horse, and again it was Black Horse who won the Delegates Cup L.Cartwright beating W.Wilde (Hare and Hounds) in the final.
The league are already looking forward to their 2016 campaign and anyone interested in entering a team should contact April Fradgley on 07808-962814 Monday – Fridays after 5.00pm and after 3.00pm at the weekend.
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A 15-3 win over Royal Oak has seen Globe (Tamworth) replace Globe Trotters at the top of division one of the Pip Club League, Trotters dropping to third after winning 10-8 at Old Liberal while Progressive Club are third following their 12-6 win away to Globe (Wilnecote).
In division two Sports Bar ’180‘ move up from fourth to top with an 8-1 win against Wigginton Arms. Birchmoor Club were the previous leaders, they lost 6-3 at Bulls Head ‘A’ (Polesworth), by the same margin. Prince of Wales beat Pip Club to hold on to their number two position trailing Sports Bar ‘180’ on average only as both teams are on four points.
Winner Steve Ritchie
Steve Goucutt (runner up) and Steve Ritchie (winner)
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Dudley Sports and Social Club, Hillcrest Avenue, Brierley Hill, DY5 3QJ will be staging a knockout on Saturday 16th January with a guaranteed £100 prize money plus all monies in will be paid out.
Cost of entry is £5 with entries to be submitted by 1.30pm on the day with match play beginning at 2.00pm.
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The top two teams in the Tamworth League Fox and Dogs and Prince of Wales ‘A’ both won 6-1 this week the former beating Sports Bar ‘180’ while the latter accounting for Globe Inn to leave Fox and Dogs two points ahead of Prince of Wales ‘A’.
After the top two there is a gap of sixteen points to third in the table Prince of Wales ‘B’ who have played two games fewer than the top two.
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The position at the top of division one of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League remains the same as leaders Wednesfield FC won their home tie with fourth placed Victoria 5-2, second placed ECC won 6-1 against Dog and Partridge and third placed Riley’s ‘C’ also won 6-1 in their tie with Ashmore Inn.
Whitmore Reans WMC continue to lead the field in division two a 7-0 win over next to bottom of the table Red Lion giving them a total of 52 points four more than their nearest rivals Roebuck who had a much closer 4-3 win at home against Emerald.
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Due to the Christmas break there will be no column until Wednesday 6th January 2016 but please continue to send in your information and results as they will all be printed in that next column.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all contributors and readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year, thank you all for supporting the column throughout the year.
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