As the Sheldon and District Winter League moves into the second half of its season all three divisional titles are still up for grabs, in the premier division Crown at Shard End lead the way with 18 points from ten games, reigning champions Saltley Amateur Gardeners are in second place on the same 18 points but from eleven games. Crown at Olton are third and although two points behind the leading duo they do have a game in hand on Saltley and have a far superior average.
In division one three teams are on 18 points Solihull Moors, Iron Horse and Holy Souls, Iron Horse having played one game fewer than the other two.
Crown Arrows are in a very strong position at the top of division two although they are level on 16 points with Maggies they have two games in hand on their rivals.
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As the Four Oaks and District League begin 2016 their first fixtures of the New Year produced no fewer than nine maximums. Division one leaders Boldmere St Mikes kept their title aspirations on course with a 7-2 win away to fourth placed Old Oscott WMC, R.Hawker hitting his third 180 of the season and M.Ashton his first for the victors. Second placed The Beehive with a maximum from K.Reynolds were the division’s biggest winners an 8-1 away win over Boldmere Sports and Social.
In a match that was levelled three times, Golden Hind scraped through 5-4 against Old Oscott Arrows, on form for Golden Hind was T.O’Kereke who hit two 180’s while M.Page recorded his first for Old Oscott Arrows..
Division two top side Golden Hind Arrows were 4-3 down against The Boot who are just two places off the bottom of the table but took the last two games to keep their unbeaten record intact despite D.Walton scoring a 180 for The Boot in the final game.
With both teams on 12 points the games between third placed Erdington Arrows and second in the table Bishop Vesey was a must win game for both sides. The home side Erdington Arrows opened up a 4-2 lead but their visitors rallied to take the remaining three games for a very close 5-4 win and a two points lead over both their hosts and fourth in the table Lions, A.France contributing a 180 for the victors and the final maximum of the week was provide by M.Horacek (The Fox) in their 7-2 win against The Park.
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Reigning champions of the Winmau Centre Monday Night League in the Wolverhampton Indoor Community Sports Stadium The Untouchables have stretched their lead at the top of the table to 29 points after chalking up a massive 46-2 win over bottom of the table Double Trouble, Dave Bentley hitting a 180 for the winners. Second placed What Are Thooose with two maximums from Owen Maiden won 30-18 against fourth placed Bulls Hitters and do have a game in hand on the leaders.
Sam Guest was another player to find the three treble twenties as his team Misfits had a narrow 25-23 win against What’s The Point.
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The Wednesbury and Darlaston Wednesday Night League are on the lookout for more teams to join them in their forthcoming campaign, there will be a reforming meeting on the 27th January at the Staffordshire Knot, Pinfold Street, Wednesbury, WS10 8TE at 7.45pm but would be teams are requested to contact Lizzy Arnold on either 0121-526-6684 (Work), mobile 07824-344002 or alternatively send her an e-mail to [email protected] before the 27th to enable the league to sort fixtures prior to the meeting.
The new season will get underway on the 3rd February.
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A reminder that Riley’s Snooker Bar, Solihull will be staging the latest of their Last Sunday in the Month Open’s on the 31st January which will carry a guaranteed payout of £110 for the winner, £70 for the runner up and £20 for each of the losing semi finalists, all for just a £5 entry fee. Entries will be accepted up to 1.30pm on the day.
On the 21st February the Solihull club will be staging their round of the 2016 UK Open Amateur Qualifiers in which a place in the PDC UK Open finals in Minehead is part of the top prize.
Entry to the open is just £6 and entry is by pre-registration only, on-line entries close 48 hours before the event, in club entries close 24 hours before the event. No entries will be taken on the day of the qualifier.
For further information contact the Solihull club on 0121-742-6068 or e-mail [email protected]
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Cup fixtures were on the agenda for the Small Heath League this week in the semi finals of the Main Cup league leaders East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association beat middle of the table Emerald Club while in the final of the Consolation Cup second in the table Mitre defeated fourth placed Wagon and Horses.
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After the latest round of fixtures in the South Birmingham League nothing separates the top two teams in division one. Erdington Members Club were formerly outright leaders but their 7-2 win at The Raven was not enough to consolidate that position as Mackadown Social won 9-0 at Coleshill Social to put them level on both points and average with Erdington, the two teams are now four points ahead of third placed Raven.
In the second division Banbury Club held on to their two points lead at the top with a close 5-4 win away to middle of the table Smithswood Social, second placed The Dog won 7-2 at Toby Jug. At the other end of the table The C’s chalked up their first win in eight games a 6-3 home win over The Kingfisher who are just two places and two points above them.
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With all teams having played six games in division one of the Forest of Arden Winter League Olton Crown lead the way with 12 points four more than their nearest rivals Journeys End whose latest fixture saw them win 5-4 at Crown Arrows
In division two leaders Highwood KB suffered their first defeat in five games when they lost 5-4 at Sheldon Marlborough Flights, the win putting the host team level on eight points with KB but they have played six games as opposed to KB having played five.
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Following the Christmas break the Aston League have got the second half of their season underway but it was not a good restart for league leaders Kingstanding Ex Serviceman’s Club as for the first time in eight games they lost. Playing away against third placed Red Lion Kingstanding lost by the odd game going down 5-4, nevertheless they hold on to pole position with 14 points two more than Sportsmans Rest who closed the gap when they handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visitors bottom of the table Aston Flights. Red Lion are a further two points adrift on 10 points.
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With only eight of the scheduled 30 games remaining in the Kings Norton League leaders Court Oak took their unbeaten run to 22 games when they won 7-0 against Weoley Hill to keep intact their massive ten points lead over second placed Kings Norton RBL who won by a close 4-3 at Cotteridge and have a game in hand on Court Oak. Rubery RBL were the only losers in the top eight teams going down 5-2 at home to Bulls Head who as a result have gone level on 22 points with them but above them on average.
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Court Oak also top the Harborne League and again they are undefeated in the nine games they have played so far in the league and in round two of the League Cup they continued that form by beating Bartley Green FC 7-2. Second in the league Hillyfields ‘A’ were also 7-2 winners as they accounted for Smethwick Labour Club, A.Harvey helping Hillyfields cause with a maximum.
In the first round of the Plate Cup Sportsman without a win in nine games in the league beat next to bottom of the table Avenue Social 7-2, C.Singleton registering a 104 checkout for the winners.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League staged the first leg of the first round of their League Cup in which there were no real surprises. Biggest win of the round went to Pensnett Welfare Club who beat Bulls Head (Netherton) 8-1. The other Pensnett club the Liberal Club won 6-3 against Dudley Sports, there were 5-4 wins for The Bell and Brickmakers Arms who in turn defeated The Cross (Oldswinford) and Netherton Cricket Club. Miners (Wollescote) and Roebuck had a bye.
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It was cup week in the Camp Hill League the Captains Cup title went to Craig Jones (Lady Westminster) who beat Mick O’Sullivan (Holy Gulp) in the final. Taking the Secretaries title was Peter Yardley (HMS Lions) with Richard Cooper (Cotterills Lane Club) runner up.
The Ladies Competition was an all Devil’s Club affair with Jean Forde taking the crown after beating her team mate Danielle Whitmore in the final.
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Rose and Crown with one remaining outstanding fixture have won the Netherton Thursday Night League title, their 7-2 win at Pensnett Liberal Club gave them a total of 45 points from 17 games, their nearest rivals White Swan lost 6-3 at home to fourth placed Bulls Head to complete their programme and giving them 42 points. Although currently in second place the defeat could eventually cost White Swan the runners up spot as third placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club are three points behind them but have one remaining fixture against champions Rose and Crown and fourth placed Bulls Head although six points adrift still have two games to play one against fifth in the table Fairfield and the other against next to bottom of the table Crown, should be quite a tense finish for the runners up position.
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The Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League have got their new season underway and it began with something of a shock as reigning champions Old Hop Pole lost their opener 4-3 at home to Merry-Go-Round who finished in the bottom half of the table last season. No such problem for last season’s runners up Dewdrop as they recorded a 6-1 win away to Horseley Tavern to set the early pace at the top of the table with The Vine who won by the same margin against Ivy Bush.
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Belgrave Club were the sole losers in the top five teams in division one of the Pip Club League going down by a convincing 8-1 to Prince of Wales who now share the number one spot with Sports Bar ‘180’ who had a 7-2 win away to Two Gates Club.
In division two, Old Liberal without a win in their opening two fixtures provided the shock of the week by beating formerly undefeated in three games Progressive Club by a massive 12-6.
Globe (Tamworth) had a bye this week but remain in pole position but are now joined on the same six points by Globe Trotters who won their home game with Bulls Head ‘B’ (Polesworth) 11-7. Progressive Club are also on six points but they have played four games.
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Gornal Conservative Club rounded off their season in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League by handing their hosts Queens a 7-0 whitewash. Gornal finished their first campaign in the league with 48 points from their 26 games to be crowned champions, but despite their impressive season they only won the title on average from Ashwood ‘A’ who had a closer 4-3 win over Ten Arches ‘B’ in their final game to give them the same 48 points but with an inferior average.
The Shadow League title went to Ten Arches ‘A’ with 14 points six more than the following two teams Fox (Lye) and High Acres.
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With only three fixtures remaining in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League the title for both of the two divisions is still to be decided. In division one top side Wednesfield FC maintained their push for honours with an impressive 6-1 home win over Wednesfield Legion ‘A’ who were the only losers in the top five teams. Second placed ECC are just two points behind the leaders after handing their Railway hosts a 7-0 whitewash.
In division two the situation is similar to division one in that Whitmore Reans WMC after their 7-0 win at Bird in Hand lead the way on 56 points and second placed Roebuck who won 5-2 at Wednesfield Legion ‘B’ are two points behind Whitmore both having played 33 games.
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After a 5-2 defeat in their previous game at Prince of Wales ‘B’ in the Tamworth league Fox and Dogs were quick to bounce back as in their very next fixture they won 6-1 against Mile Oak Rovers, however the win still leaves them in second place behind Prince of Wales ‘A’ whose latest 7-0 win over Dolphin Inn puts them on 76 points seven more than second placed Fox and Dogs. Third placed Prince of Wales ‘B’ followed their win over Fox and Dogs with a 6-1 win at Globe Inn to give them 54 points but from only seven games, the two teams above them have played nine.
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