Warwickshire got their new season in the premier division of the BDO Inter County Championships underway with an away fixture against Yorkshire and for the eighth such curtain raiser again it was Yorkshire who got the result.
Warwickshire’s last win on opening day was back in September 2008 when they won 20-16 away to Hertfordshire, this latest fixture against the reigning champions saw them go down 23-13 with three of the four teams losing, both ladies teams lost 4-2 and the men’s ‘B’ went down 9-3 but the men’s ‘A’ staged a terrific fight back as at the halfway stage of their game they trailed 5-1 and then bounced back to share the 6-6 result.
Match awards went to Nigel Heydon (32.32 men’s ‘A’), Ian McFarlane (27.25 men’s ‘B’), Sue Gulliiver (24.55 women’s ‘A’) and Denise Keyte 18.44 women’s ‘B’).
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West Midlands after winning promotion from division one of the BDO Inter County Championships last season began life in division one but it was not a good start as they saw three of their four teams lose in an overall 20-16 defeat away to Hampshire who were newly relegated from the premier division.
Shaun Carroll (26.56) was the men’s ‘A’ man of the match in their 8-4 win while Scott Baker (30.06) took the ‘B’ team’s award as they finished on the wrong side of a 7-5 scoreline.
With seven out of a possible nine match awards last season Sarah Roberts carried that form into the new campaign as she took the women’s ‘A’ lady of the match award with a superb 24.24 average, she was the sole winner in a 5-1 result. The women’s ‘B’ went one better than the ‘A’ with two winners as they went down 4-2 with Heather Wright (15.2) their top player.
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The Forest of Arden Summer League introduced a new competition into their itinerary a Rose Bowl Cup and their latest fixtures saw them play off the semi finals. The all division one tie saw divisional champions Journeys End beat league runners up Greville Arrows 5-2 while the second semi brought together the top two teams from division two, winners Journeys End Flights and runners up Riley’s Resurrected in which the 6-1 result went to the former to set up an all Journeys End final.
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The C’s moved off the foot of the group one table in the South Birmingham League when they came up with an unexpected 5-3 home win over second in the table Banbury Flights, replacing C’s in the bottom spot is The Bell who lost their home game with Smithswood Social 6-2.
A 7-1 win away to The Trident has confirmed Erdington Members Club as group two champions as they opened up a four points lead over second placed Crown at Shard End with only one game to play.
Mackadown Social wrapped up the group three title with a 5-3 win at The Gate which gave them 12 points from six games and a lead of five points over both Banbury Arrows and The Gate with two to play.
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Week two in the Shirley Red Lion Premier League and taking over in the number one spot is Chris Thomas who after playing four games is the only unbeaten player in the nineteen man league. Thomas with a 141 checkout added a 2-1 win over Stuart Dixon plus a 3-1 success against Mark Gwalchmai to his tally to give him twelve points two more than second placed Ken Hopton who has played five games the latest being 2-2 draws with Mark Gwalchmai, Steve Sidwell and Stuart Dixon.
After Hopton in second place comes a string of four players Steve Sidwell, Mick Bown, Paul Higgins and Adam Stuart all on nine points.
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The Winmau Centre Thursday Night Champions League is up to week seventeen and leader Louis Burley with respective 5-2 and 6-1 wins over Paul Boddison and Rhys Langford has taken his points tally to 167 to open up a ten points lead at the top of the table over second placed Kevin Harris who after beating Jay Hough 5-2 then won 7-0 against Paul Walters.
Reigning champion Mick Baker is currently in third place on 140 points from 26 games a deficit on Burley of 27 points and although there is a possible 28 points in his games in hand it is a big ask for him to win all four 7-0 to go top of the table by one point.
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Although Dave Howlet beat Pete Jones 2-0 in the premiership division of the Sheldon Marlborough Cricket Club Singles League and then lost 2-1 to Ken Salsbury he still heads the division with twelve points from his seven games, Dave Humphries is just two points behind Howlett with a game in hand after losing the one fixture he played 2-1 to Liam O’Donnell.
In the championship division Ray Turner has lost pole position after he went down 2-0 to Matt Murrin and then won 2-1 against Alan Eden snr giving him a total of ten points the same number as the two players above him but with an inferior average. Matt Murrin leads the division having won all five of his games without dropping a single leg and Alan Wale is in second place having dropped just two legs.
Kevin Salsbury won his tie with John Young in division one 2-1 after Young came from one down to level the score, the win giving Salsbury top spot in the division with ten points and leaving Young in second place on eight points.
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Court Oak took their unbeaten run in the Kings Norton League to eleven games when they won 5-2 at home against E57 who drop one place in the table to third behind Hillyfields who after their 5-2 win against Reds have the same 12 points as E57 but are one single leg of average to the good on them.
In division two Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club moved another step closer to winning the title when they beat bottom team Toby Jug Flights 6-1 to put them four points ahead of both Rubery RBL and Grant Arms, however Rubery do have two games in hand on the leaders but it would take two 7-0 wins to see them take over the number one position and even then it would be by just one leg of average.
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The Sheldon and District Summer League have played off the quarter finals of their Mrs F.Richman Cup the results all going to form as Holy Souls, Castle Vale Residents, Maggies and Langley Hall Sports and Social Arrows all winning through to the last four.
On the league front leaders of division one Iron Horse Flights were awarded an 8-0 walkover against Marston Green Tavern to remain two points ahead of second placed Langley Hall Sports and Social Arrows who won 6-2 at Pavillions.
In division two leaders The Harvester with a 6-2 win at George ‘V’ opened up a five point’s gap between themselves and second placed The Pirates who didn’t have a fixture in week ten.
Highwood KB’s and Crown Arrows are both on twelve points at the top of division three the former having played two games fewer than their rivals and in division four Small Heath Amateur Gardeners top the table with 14 points from eight games with second placed Ridgemere Flights one point adrift having played nine.
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It was a good week for Dudley Sports teams in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League as both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams won 8-1 against respective opponents Griffin and Pensnett Liberal Club, the ‘C’ team, who top the table, were 7-2 winners at New Talbot, their win and the 5-4 win by third placed High Acres over second in the table The Bridge gives them a lead of ten points and reduces the gap between Bridge and High Acres to six points.
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The top two teams in the Cradley Tuesday Night League White Horse and Crown (Station Road) in turn had 5-4 wins over Rose and Crown and Wheatsheaf to give White Horse 48 points and Crown (Station Road) 44, third placed Brickmakers Arms lost ground as they were beaten 5-4 by Crown ‘A’ (Netherton) who are just three places above bottom team Roost ‘B’, Brickmakers now trail White Horse by twelve points.
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The Brierley Hill Friday Night League are up to week two and five of the fourteen teams top the table with a maximum four points, Pensnett Welfare Club ‘A’ lead the quintet on average after their 6-1 win at Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’, the following four teams in order are Brickmakers Arms, Pensnett Welfare Club ‘B’, Samson and Lion and Britannia.
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Wins for the top four teams in the Netherton Thursday Night League so no change at the top as leaders Dudley Sports and Social held on to their three points advantage over White Swan with a close 4-3 home win against Delph Bell ‘B’ while White Swan had a more convincing 6-1 success away to White Horse to put them on the same 27 points as Bulls Head in third place who were 5-2 winners against The Widders. Fourth in the table Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club are some nine points off the top, they won 4-3 against Delph Bell ‘A’.
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A 6-3 home defeat for top team Ashwood by Bird ‘A’ (Stourbridge) in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League has thrown the title race wide open as second placed Brickmakers Arms won 8-1 away to Garibaldi to leave them two points behind Ashwood with a game in hand and a better average. Third in the table Ten Arches ‘B’ are also only two points adrift of the leaders following their 7-2 win over The Swan and fourth in the table Bird ‘A’ *Stourbridge) are on the same 58 points as the two teams above them and again only two behind Ashwood and have two games in hand.
In addition to any of the top four in with a chance of winning the league fifth placed Ten Arches ‘A’ are only four points adrift, they have played 33 compared to Ashwood’s 34 and cannot be ruled out.
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Only week two in the Bilston and District League and already in their 301 league there are only four of the sixteen teams to remain unbeaten. Newcomers Travellers Rest top the table their latest 6-1 win at Orange Tree putting them two legs of average to the good on both 44 Club who were 4-3 winners at Lanesfield RBL and reigning champions The Nutan who beat their visitors Tilted Barrel 4-3. Allens Sports Bar ‘B’ are the only other team not to have lost but have only played one fixture so far.
In the 501 league The Nutan added their second consecutive 3-0 win this time against Tilted Barrel to head the table, Allens Sports Bar ‘A’, Travellers Rest and Triangle Snooker Club are on the same four points but trail by two legs of average.
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Pensnett and Bromley Tuesday Night League played off their Samson and Lion Charity Doubles knockout and taking the title with a final 5-3 win over Kevin Breeze and Dean Moreton were John Wills and Robert Powers, the winners then handed over their £50 prize money and donated it to the Marie Curie Cancer Unit.
The league will be holding their AGM on Sunday 25th September at the Pensnett Welfare Club, Commonside commencing at 11.15am, anyone interested in entering a team, old or new should attend this meeting or if any further information is required contact Shaun Breeze on 07827-461845. It should be noted that the Welfare Club are adding a further £200 into the league for the new season.
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With only a handful of fixtures remaining in the Rowley Monday Night League any one of the top three teams could take the title. Springfield Social Club currently lead the field their 6-3 win at Whiteheath Tavern giving them 42 points from 23 games, second in the table Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ have the same number of points and games but trail massively on average after suffering a crushing 9-0 defeat at the hands of third place The Bell who are two points behind the leading duo with a game in hand.
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The West Midlands Men’s Super League have got their new season started and the early lead goes to Crown ‘B’ and Landywood ‘A’ who in turn had 5-0 wins over Rowley Bar and Grill and Hasbury Inn. Chillington, ECC and Ten Arches are not far behind as they all chalked up 4-1 wins against Allens Sports Bar ‘A’, Staffordshire Knot and Allens Sports Bar ‘B’.
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There was a surprising 6-3 defeat for leaders of the Wednesbury and Darlaston Wednesday Night League Staffordshire Knot in week 24 as they were beaten by Black Horse who are in the bottom half of the table. Second placed Horse and Jockey managed to reduce the arrears on the leaders with their 6-3 win over Civil Defence.
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There was a surprising setback for Island Inn who are second in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League table when they lost 5-2 at Ivy Bush who are six places and fourteen points behind them, the defeat leaves them eight points adrift of leaders Dewdrop who won 6-1 against Sportsman, however they are still level on points with third placed Old Hop Pole as they finished on the wrong side of a 5-2 result away to Hayes Social
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For a £5 entry fee there will be a top prize of £100 on offer for the winner of the knockout to be held at the High Oak, Pensnett on Saturday 1st October. All entry fees will be paid out as prize money for players making the last four..
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Riley’s ‘C’ had their lead reduced to eight points in division one of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League after losing 4-3 away to third in the table Wednesfield Conservative Club. Second placed Victoria won their home tie with Wednesfield FC 5-2.
In division two both of the top two teams lost leaders Sunbeam went down 4-3 at home to next to bottom of the table Pendulum and second placed Pavilion lost by the same margin at home to The Boat. Dog and Partridge are third in the division and drew level on the same 26 points as the two teams above them when they won 4-3 at Wednesfield Legion ‘B’.
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Cleveland Arms extended their lead at the top of the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League to two points when they won 7-0 against Jacks Bar and their nearest rivals Whitmore Reans WMC lost 4-3 at home to Riley’s ‘A’ who take over third place from their ‘B’ team who lost 5-2 at home against ECC ‘A’.
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