With only a couple of outstanding results remaining in the South West Birmingham Clubs League the main issues of the divisional winners has all been sorted. In division one for the first time in nine games leaders Longbridge United lost, going down 4-3 away to third in the table Greenlands, however Longbridge with 16 points still have a game to play and are two to the good on confirmed runners up CEM West Heath who have completed their programme with 14 points.
In division two Bartley Green FC ‘B’ lost out on the title in their very last game of the season as they finished on the wrong side of a 4-3 result at Brunswick Moseley and although they have the same 14 points as their victors they have one less point of average so it’s Brunswick that take the runners up spot two points behind Yardley Wood who finish as divisional champions after a 4-3 win over West Heath Warriors.
Selly Oak Flights rounded off their campaign in division three with a 5-2 home win over Stirchley Nomads to see them clear champions with 14 points six more than their opponents who are currently in second place but they could end the season anywhere from second to fourth as the two teams below them Longbridge Ladies and Bartley Green FC ‘A’ still have games to play.
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The Forest of Arden Summer League played the quarter finals of their Presidents Cup with all of the games basically going to plan. League leaders Journeys End Flights had a close 5-4 win away to third in the table Highwood KB while second placed Journeys End had a more comfortable 7-2 success against Highwood Arms. Kingshurst Knights beat Highwood Exiles 8-1 and Greville Arrows moved into the last four by courtesy of a bye.
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Lee Molyneux has lost pole position in the Sheldon Heath Social Dukes In House League after losing his latest fixture. Knocking Molyneux off the top perch was twelve years old Steve Groves who beat the former leader 2-1. Replacing Molyneux in the number one spot is Sean O’Donnell after a 3-0 win over Rob Hicks followed by a 2-1 win against Dave Field to put him on 26 points from 11 games and give him a slender one point, plus a game in hand on Molyneux who is now in second place.
Third and fourth placed Paul Curry and Paul Sunner both have 23 points, a 3-0 win in those games would see both of the overtake Molyneux.
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The Sutton and District Summer League have now played their last few outstanding fixtures and with the league programme now complete the Boat have won the division one title on average from Golden Hind, Erdington Club finished four points ahead of Red Lion to win the second division and in division three the Fox, who were the only team in the league to have completed the season undefeated won the division by a clear six points over Oscott Social and Old Oscott WMC who finished second and third in the table respectively.
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Round one of the Mrs F.Richman Cup was on the fixture card for the Sheldon and District Summer League and winning through to the quarter finals were Shirley RBL Misfits, Mackadown Social, Fox and Goose, The Harvester, Sheldon Marlborough Flights, Holy Souls, Crown Arrows and Ridgemere Social Ladies who in turn defeated Small Heath Amateur Gardeners, Yardley Ex Colts, Inn on the Green, Iron Horse, Highwood KB’s, The Pirates, Langley Hall Sports and Social Ladies and Langley Hall Sports and Social Flights.
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Only one result for groups one and two of the South Birmingham League which saw group one leaders Raven win 5-3 against Chelmsley Conservative Club to open up a five points lead over second placed Bell. The group two fixture brought together the top two teams and despite home advantage Iron Horse lost their top placing as they went down 5-3 to Pavilions who replace them at the top of the table with a two points lead.
No change at the top of group three as leaders Erdington Members Club won 9-0 away to bottom of the table C’s Arrows to put them on 18 points two more than second placed Mackadown Social who won 6-3 at home against third in the table Crown at Shard End, giving Mackadwon a seven points buffer over their visitors.
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The Winmau Centre in the Wolverhampton Indoor Community Sports Arena staged their fifth consecutive Thursday night knockout and making it two wins in a row was Matt Padgett who clinched the top prize with a 6-4 win over Mark Craddock whom he defeated in the previous final.
Losing out in the semi finals were Greg Parkes and Jordan Ward.
The centre’s Monday Night Four-A-Side League gets underway on the 4th September and the very popular and lucrative Thursday Night Champions League starts on the 7th September. Anyone wishing to enter either or both of the leagues should contact the centre on 01902-420827 or call in to the centre at Racecourse Road, Dunstall, Wolverhampton, WV6 0QU to sign up for some top prize money plus a twelve months Winmau sponsorship for the eventual winner of the Champions League.
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For various reasons nine of the thirty one players in the Shirley Red Lion Premier League failed to turn out in week six but that didn’t detract from the quality of play on the night. The week’s previous leader Steve Sidwell had something of an indifferent night as he was held to 2-2 draws by both Lee Harris and Lee Holtham to give him 36 points from his 12 games, but with Sidwell failing to win his games it gave Paul Higgins the chance to take over the number one spot. Higgins took full advantage of the situation chalking up 3-1 wins against Chris Thomas snr and Nick Walker to put him on 37 points, one more than Sidwell with a game in hand.
Third and fourth placed Tom Bent and Ken Hopton are both on 34 points but it’s former leader Mark Gwalchmai (who was unable to turn up on the night) who now has three games in hand on the six players above him and two on leader Higgins, two games which have a possible total of eight points and Gwalchami trails Higgins by six.
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Dudley Sports ‘B’ were the only losers in the top five teams in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League, their 7-2 defeat away to second in the table Bulls Head (Netherton) leaving them six points adrift of fourth placed Mount Pleasant who won their home tie with Lamp Tavern 7-2.
Top of the table Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club won 6-3 away to the Swan to put them on the same 38 points as Bulls Head but with a narrow two points of average advantage. Third placed Delph Bell are on the same 34 points as Mount Pleasant after a 7-2 win at Pensnett Liberal Club, however they have played one game less than Mount Pleasant.
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Ten Arches ‘A’ and Ten Arches ‘B’ are the top two teams in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League and week 25 saw both of them chalk up convincing 8-1 wins. The ‘A’ side who lead the field with 44 points won away at Crestwood, while the ‘B’ team who are second on 40 points also played away against Gate ‘A’. Third in the table Gate ‘B’ are on the same number of points as Ten Arches ‘B’, they won their game at Kingswinford Conservative Club 6-3 to keep them four points to the good on both Brickmakers Arms and the Bridge (Kingswinford).
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Woodside, leaders of the Silver End Sunday Morning League continued their fine season with a 6-2 win away to Dudley Sports ‘B’ while would be champions Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ were held to a 4-4 draw by Railway who are I the bottom half of the table.
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Week 23 in league one of the Yeltz Bar Tuesday Night 501 Singles League saw a number of catch up games played alongside the normal league programme. Neil Steventon won his two catch up games against father and son Tony and Richard Duncan 5-0 and 4-1 respectively. Tommy Johnson regained top spot in the league after playing two of his three catch up games beating Loz Slater 4-1 and Vince Bayliss 5-0.
In the scheduled league games there was a glut of 5-0 wins with Tommy Johnson, Mark Adams, Tony Duncan and Loz Slater in turn defeating Richard Swinden, Vince Bayliss, Richard Barrett and Alister Duncan.
Steve Carey rounded off the night’s action with a surprise 4-1 win over Neil Steventon which included a maximum finish of 170.
League two saw Jason Tromans win his catch up game with John Griffiths 4-1 while in the week seven games Ash Portman came from 2-0 down against Stuart Stanton to win 3-2, Jack Hill beat Pete Harrold by the same scoreline and finally Mark Bayliss continued his domination of the league with another impressive display against Jason Tromans winning 5-0.
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Dewdrop and Waggon and Horse, the top two teams in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League had respective 5-2 wins over Merry-Go-Round and Island Inn, to give Dewdrop 44 points eight more than Waggon and Horses. As a result of Island Inn’s defeat and a 5-2 win from The Vine over The Wonder, Vine have taken over third place from Island Inn, both have 32 points but Vine have a far superior average.
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Brickmakers Arms, leaders of the Brierley Hill Friday Night League took on bottom of the table Fox Inn ‘A’ (Lye) in the latest round of fixtures and won 7-0 to keep them two points ahead of both second in the table Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ who beat Britannia 6-1 and third placed Delph Bell who surprisingly had a close 4-3 win at home against next to bottom of the table Brickmakers Arms ‘B’.
Pensnett Welfare Club ‘A’ dropped from third to sixth in the table after a 4-3 defeat away to eighth placed Dudley Sports.
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After the opening first four games in the Black Country Premier League the top four teams are all on seven points. Woodside Poachers had an 11-4 win over Britannia Bulldogs to hold on to a slight average advantage over Blackheath Beechers who won 12-3 against Mighty Mitre. Third in the table Black Country Belters accounted for Shovellers with an 11-4 result and making up the top four is Halesowen Hunters who won 10-3 against Cott A Lot That.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League is up to week 22 of its season and two points is the difference between the top two teams in both divisions. In division one leaders Riley’s ‘C’ had a bye and their nearest rivals Sunbeam reduced the arrears with a resounding 7-0 win over Penn Bowling.
In division two Dog and Partridge lead the way, a 7-0 win over Bird in Hand taking their points to 40 with second placed Wednesfield Legion on 38 after having a 4-3 success at Royal.
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There was a shock for ECC ‘A’ leaders of the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League when in week 24 they lost 4-3 away to middle of the table Bull, however they remain in pole position and maintain their four points lead as second placed Whitmore Reans WMC lost by the same margin at Riley’s.
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There were 7-2 wins for the top two teams in the Wednesbury and Darlaston Wednesday Night League, leaders The Nutan beating Churchills ‘A’ and Black Hors winning at Churchills ‘B’, not a very good week for Churchills.
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Sadly former Warwickshire County player Dawn Barnes recently passed away, a celebration of Dawn’s life has been arranged by husband Steve and sister Denise Webster and will be held at the Grimstock Country House Hotel, Gilson Road, Gilson, Coleshill, West Midlands, B46 1LJ on Saturday 2nd September 2017 from 2.00pm to 6.00pm. Everyone is welcome.
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It is with sadness and regret I report the passing away of a friend and huge contributor to this very column John Young.
For many years John has supplied weekly results, tables and information for the Camp Hill, Small Heath, Pip Club and Tamworth leagues plus all of the darts events for the Sheldon Marlborough Cricket Club. In addition to supplying all of this information John also set up his own web site covering all of the leagues he was involved in.
John Young a true gentleman who loved the sport of darts, he will be greatly missed by myself and all who knew him plus all of the players for whom he worked so hard in keeping their weekly statistics up to date. Rest in Peace John.
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