In division one of the BDO Inter County Championships, Warwickshire, in the penultimate encounter, a home tie against local rivals Staffordshire, suffered their first defeat of the campaign. Warwickshire’s 17-22 reversal could not have been against worse opposition as Staffordshire are leading the field in the fight for promotion.
The men’s ‘A’ maintained their 100% record with an 8-4 success, Colin Fowler (29.82), for the second successive fixture taking the match award. The ‘B’ side went down 7-5 after holding their counterparts to an all square position at the halfway stage. Gary Podmore (27.44) took the man of the match trophy in the final game.
The ladies ‘A’ remain unbeaten, but had to come back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to earn a share of the points. Trina Gulliver, at number three started the first fight back, Trina making it an amazing eight consecutive match awards, twelve in thirteen outings, with her fantastic 27.83 average, Tammy Montgomery the last person, other than Trina to win the ‘A’ teams award and that was exactly one year ago away to Middlesex.
Linda Butler (14.37) was not only the ‘B’ side’s lady of the match but also the teams only winner as they lost 5-1.
In division two West Midlands fight against relegation took a downward turn as they lost a lower table clash at home to Humberside. Saturday’s games all went in Staffordshire’s favour, the ladies handing out a 6-0 whitewash and the men winning 7-5 after opening up a 6-2 lead. Veteran Ron Johnson took the man of the match award with his 25.24 average.
Sunday’s results were more pleasing, the ladies after losing the opening game to Maxine Joyce stormed into a 3-1 lead with wins from Diane Tolley (19.17 lady of the match), Dawn Holdcroft and Gill Cook. The away team won the last two games to finish all square at three each. The men came from behind three times before claiming their 7-5 win, David Robbins in the penultimate game giving a match award 32.55 performance and David Platt wrapping up the win in the final encounter. The final score 15-24 to Humberside.
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The Birmingham Ladies Double Top League provided a couple of shocks this week as newcomer Chris Brooks, previously unbeaten in her opening four games, lost 3-0 to Kay Chambers, who had only played one other game and lost that 3-0. The other shock was provided by Marion Walker. Marion had lost three of her four games but bounced back with a 2-1 win over Vicky Edwards who scored 2×100,105 and checked out on 105 in her winning leg. In addition to her high scoring Vicky had also won all of her first three games by 3-0.
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The Harborne and District Winter League have been involved in the quarter finals of their Wadsworth Cup and Consolation Cup. Highlander had a close 5-4 win in the Wadsworth Cup over Stonehouse. In the Consolation Cup Bugle Horn won 6-3 at the Coronation Club, while Golden Cup and Harborne Stores won 5-4 against respective opponents Stonehouse Flights and Quinborne. Raven failed to field a team and as a result Ladywood Social go into the semi finals.
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In the Harborne 401 Summer League the George recorded an important 6-3 win over Midland Red in division one while Hillyfields, Stonehouse Nomads and Ladywood Social all won 5-4. P.White (Harborne Stores) chalked up a 144 finish and a twelve darts leg as his side romped to an 8-1 victory over Highlander Ladies in division three.
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Hobs Meadow got division ‘A’ of the Forest of Arden Summer League off to a good start with 8-2 wins over Red Arrows and Silver Wings in the first two fixtures, M.Gorste hitting a 180 in the second of those games. T.Hodge (Heart of England) also hit a maximum as his team beat Warwick Aero 6-4 in division ‘B’.
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