It turned out to be a weekend of mixed fortunes for our local teams in the BDO Inter Counties Championships. Warwickshire, playing away to Merseyside, were hoping to follow up their opening win against Co Durham in division one. Saturday’s games were most satisfactory. Top player for the ladies ‘B’ was anchor girl Carol Weston (17.79), but she was ably assisted by Linda Butler, Debbie McPherson, Pat Thornton, Sue Deery and Mo Redmond to record a 6-0 whitewash over their counterparts. The men’s ‘B’ chalked up a 7-5 win, Colin Laffar the man of the match with a 27.33 average.
The ladies ‘A’ trailed 2-0. However wins from Terri Bellamy, Julie Liddell and Trina Gulliver (20.04) soon put them in the driving seat. The final game went to Merseyside’s Julie Whelan to give the hosts a share of the points. Mark Hollyoake gave the men’s ‘A’ a storming start. With a 3-0 result he brushed aside the challenge of Gary Harris, finishing with a 31.31match award average. Further first half wins from Pat Koyce, Tony Brown, Steve Dwyer and Colin Fowler gave Warwickshire a commanding 5-1 lead at the halfway mark. Kevin Dowling won game number eight to put his team within an ace of victory. Nevertheless it took a win in the final encounter from Steve Hine to wrap up the issue. The 7-5 win gave an overall 26-13 victory, a promising start to the new campaign.
Not such a good start for the West Midlands. After a defeat at Cornwall they also went down in their first home tie of the season playing against Suffolk with three of the four teams losing. Saturday saw the ladies lose 2-4, Angie Perry and Jean Denton the two winners, th former taking the match award with an 18.33 average. The mens team also only produced two winners, man of the match Vic Lloyd (24.24) and last on Martin Tibbetts.
Dawn Holdcroft (16.67) was the ‘A’ teams sole success as they lost 5-1 before the only high spot of the weekend when the mens ‘A’ won 7-5, Dave Robbins (30.67) their top man, the final scoreline 27-12 to Suffolk.
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Shirley Legion are the Acocks Green Summer League champions. Playing at the Robin Hood in the final fixture of the season they recorded a 7-2 win to give them a two point’s advantage over runners up Tyseley WMC. Tyseley were awarded a 5-0 walk over in their last game as Plume of Feathers were unable to field a team. Similarly Britannia Arrows won by default, Langley Hall the culprits on this occasion.
In the final of the league’s cup Shirley made it a double celebration for the season by defeating Britannia Arrows 9-0.
The Acocks Green Winter league are on the lookout for another team to join them for the forthcoming season, which should start in mid November. Anyone interested in entering a team, or requiring further information, should contact Graham Washburn on 0121-430-4013.
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The Highwood Lions were only able to field six of the allotted nine players in their away game with Tascos Social in the Wythall League. Nevertheless thanks to wins from L.Wheeler, T.Hilton, M.Gorste, G.Bruce and N.Amphlett the Lions came out on top by 5-4.
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All this week’s fixtures in the Forest of Arden Winter League finished with a 5-4 scoreline. Reigning champions Red Arrows had their win at the Cocks and Hens thanks to a last game win from A.Price over M.Hussey. Other winners were Stechford Social, Silver Wings and Hobs Meadow against respective opponents Hobs Meadow Mixes, Harvester and Mackadown Social.
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The match between EBAHA and Smiths Wood Snooker Clun in the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League produced two maximums, one for each team. M.Vale hit on for the home side but it was not enough to avoid a 5-4 defeat by the Snooker Club whose A.McCrave was the other man to score 180. Division two produced the best individual performances. J.Hadden (Glebe Community Centre) had a nine darts leg in his teams 7-2 home win over the Spitfire, while V.Bourne (Malt Shovel) notched a 180 as his side also won 7-2 against Hobs Meadow. Lyndon Arms and Gables Tavern were also 7-2 winners in turn against Shard End Social Flights and Dovecote. D.Fardon had a 160 break for Lyndon and D.Evans a 180 for Shard End.
The league’s Cup preliminaries to be played 18th November are, Premier: Shard End Social v Smiths Wood Snooker Club, EBAHA v Fordbridge Social, Sheldon Heath Dukes v Sheldon Heath Social, Three Horse Shoes v Saltley Amateur Gardeners, St Annes v Stechford Social, Shard End Social v EBAHA, Smiths Wood Snooker Club v Sheldon Heath Dukes, Sheldon Heath Social v Three Horse Shoes, Division One: Lea Hall RBL v Chelmsley Con Club, Iron Horse v Great Western, Kingshurst Labour Club v Silver Wings, Chelmsley RBL v Mackadown Social, Chelmsley Con Club v British Telecom, Division Two: Malt Shovel v Shard End Social Flights, Lyndon Arms v Hobs Meadow, Glebe Community Centre v Shard End RBL, Dovecote Flyers v Sheldon Shoes, Gables Tavern v Small Heath Gardeners, Malt Shovel v Lyndon Arms, Shard End Social Flights v Glebe Community Centre (at the Glebe), Shard End RBL v Dovecote, Division Three: Yardley Ex Colts v Lea Hall RBL Mixed, Old Bill and Bull v Lyndon Arrows, Hay Mills Social v The Hideout, Tipsy Gent v BCS Club, Banbury Club v Millhouse, Yardley Ex Colts v Old Bill and Bull, Lea Hall Mixed v Hay Mills Social, Hideout v Tipsy Gent.
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