Thomas Bent is the new Shirley Premier League champion, a 4-0 win over Chris Thomas jnr followed by a 2-2 draw with Mark Gwalchmai saw Bent take his final total points to 90 eight more than second and third placed John Smyth and Phil Thomas. Smyth who was playing his first season in the league had already completed his fixtures before the final night’s play, Thomas clinched third place with a 4-0 win over Tony Daly in his last game of the season.
Phil Thomas recorded the most 180’s for the season which was eight while the best leg of darts was thirteen going to Mark Henderson and Phil Thomas while Mark Gwalchmai achieved the feat twice.
Phil Thomas completed a very successful season not only finishing third in the league, hitting the most 180’s and sharing the best leg of the campaign but also having the highest finish of 160.
The league staged a knockout after all the league games had been played and taking the top prize of £33 was league champion Thomas Bent who had a final 3-2 win over league runner up John Smyth who collected £11.
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The South Birmingham League staged a couple of knockouts first the doubles in which Luis Barberan and Dan Stone from a starting line-up of 26 pairs took the honours with a final 2-0 win over Simon Edwards and Jason Jennings.
DOubles Knockout Dan Stone (Winner), Dave Kingdon (Chairman), Sue Kingdon (Organiser) and Luis Barberan (Winner).
Barberan and Stone had a close 2-1 win in the semis when they took out Darren Wilson and Wayne Yates while Edwards and Jennings had a 2-0 success over Nicky Harris and Steve Sweetman.
Doubles Knockout Dave Kingdon (Chairman), Jason Jennings and Simon Edwards (Runners Up) and Sue Kingdon (Organiser).
The second of the league’s knockouts was a Ladies Singles event with the title going to league secretary Sue Kingdon after a 2-1 win over Emily Jones in the final.
Ladies Singles Knockout Dave Kingdon (Chairman) and Sue Kingdon (Winner).
In the last four games Emily Jones with a similar 2-1 scoreline took out Sue’s daughter Charlie Kingdon while Sue beat Louise Beale 2-0.
Ladies Singles Knockout Dave Kingdon (Chairman), Emily Jones (Runner Up) and Sue Kingdon (Winner).
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The C’s Club Double Top Wednesday Night League went down to the wire with the league’s top two players squaring up to each other in the final game of the season in a title decider. Going into the last game Bob Nixon was leading the field with 84 points from 31 games with second placed Simon Edwards on 82 points from 30 games. Edwards won his opening game against Richard Mills 3-0 to put him top of the table by one point but in the final game he played Bob Nixon and with a straight 3-0 result Nixon wrapped up the title with 87 points to the 85 of Edwards.
Edwards had won all of is opening 31 games, his defeat by Nixon was his only loss of the season, Nixon had lost two of his 32 fixtures.
Special mention and respect for three of the Beale family Louise, Melissa and Luke who made up the bottom three places in the table but nevertheless completed all of their 32 games, Steve Beale finished some six places higher. Leagues can only continue to exist with people like the Beale’s playing in them
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The Four Oaks and District Winter League were involved in the semi-finals of their Brian Goodman and Ken Rust Cups. In the Brian Goodman Cup Boldmere St Mikes opened up a 4-2 lead over The Boat but The Boat held their nerve and took the final three games to win 5-4. Boat will be joined in the final by Pint Pot Flights who defeated Boldmere Tap 6-3 despite S.Alexander recording Boldmere Tap’s first 180.
At 4-0 down Rosey Mac’s had a brief respite from Golden Hind’s onslaught in the Ken Rust Cup as they won the fifth game but it proved to be their only win as the third division leaders found their first division opponent too strong and finished on the wrong side of an 8-1 result. Golden Hind will play St Thomas Social Club in the final, who at 4-3 up against Drakes Drum took the last two games for a 6-3 win. N.Clarke hit a maximum for The Boat.
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It was top versus bottom in the Camp Hill League but the result was a somewhat surprisingly narrow 4-3 victory for leaders Roost Rebels over their lowly placed opponents Emerald Club. Nevertheless the win keeps the Rebels two points ahead of second placed Tyseley WMC who had a convincing 6-1 win away to North Star.
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East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association took their undefeated run in the Small Heath League to 18 games when they won 7-2 at Emerald Club. E.B.A.H.A’s win keeps intact their two points advantage over second in the table Heartlands Club together with their two games in hand. Heartlands were in top form as they chalked up a 9-0 home win over Wagon and Horses.
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A 6-3 win at The Swan has seen High Oak, leaders of the Brierley Hill Monday Night League, take their winning run to eight games and give them a two point’s lead over second and third placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ and Roebuck who are both on 14 points, Swan drop from second to fourth on 12 points. The Ex Serviceman’s ‘A’ and Roebuck were also 6-3 winners in turn against Limes Club and Rose and Crown. Dudley Sports ‘A’ dropped one place to fifth after losing 6-3 away to Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club consolidated their number one spot in the Silver End Sunday Morning League by handing out an 8-0 whitewash to their hosts High Acres. The win keeps the Ex Serviceman’s Club just ahead of Woodside in second place on average after they won 5-3 at Railway.
Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ dropped their first points of the season as they were held to a 4-4 draw at home by Glasscutters ‘A’.
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Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ and ‘A’ are the top two teams in the Cradley Tuesday Night League, the ‘B’ side’s 6-3 win at Malt Shovel making it five wins in as many games while the ‘A’ team, who have lost just one fixture had a close 5-4 home win over Wheatsheaf to keep them just ahead of third in the table Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ on average after their 7-2 win over bottom placed Plough.
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Studley Cricket Club continue to lead the Henley and District Winter League by two points after they won 8-1 away to bottom team Beausale. Second in the league Studley Conservative Club kept the pressure on the leaders with a close 5-4 success over Wootton Bears who are fourth and a massive ten points off the top.
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There were 9-0 wins for the top two teams in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League as leaders Brickmakers Arms won at home against Bird (Stourbridge) and second in the table Ten Arches ‘A’ won away to The Swan to leave them six points behind Brickmakers. Ten Arches ‘B’ are third on the same 64 points as their ‘A’ side after a 7-2 win over Old Cat (Wordsley). The two ten Arches teams have a huge twelve points lead over fourth in the table Britannia after their close 5-4 defeat at Ashwood.
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After the first four fixtures in the Netherton Thursday Night League just one leg of average is the difference between the top two teams with Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club in pole position after adding a 6-3 win at Riddins Tavern to their account and second placed Bulls Head won 8-1 against Netherton Conservative Club.
Saracens Head moved off the bottom of the table with their first win in four, a 5-4 success away to White Horse, Netherton Conservative Club replace them at the foot of the table and are the only team without a win so far.
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It was a battle of the giants in week eight of the Rowley Monday Night League as leaders Bell played away to second in the table George. The outcome was a 6-3 win for Bell to open up a two points lead over the rest of the field. George’s first defeat saw them hold on to the number two spot but now only on average from Ivy Bush who joined them on 14 points with a 5-4 win at Hare and Hounds, Bell are the only team remaining with a 100% win record.
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A close 4-3 win away to middle of the table Sportsman has seen Tipton Sports lose their top position in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League and drop to second on average behind The Vine who had a 6-1 win over Horseley Tavern, both teams are on 14 points but Tipton Sports have played one game less than Vine. Third placed Miners Arms are another team with 14 points, their latest fixture seeing them win 5-2 against Wonder.
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Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ hold on to their number one spot in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League after a 5-2 home win over Dudley Sports. High Oak and Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ are joint second, level on points and average after High Oak won 5-2 at Netherton Cricket Club ‘B’ and the Cricket Club ‘A’ side won 4-3 at Miners (Wollescote).
Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ moved off the foot of the table with their first win in three, a 4-3 victory away to Ashwood and taking over in the bottom position is Netherton Cricket Club ‘B’.
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Bombay Bob’s Boys made it fifteen wins in as many games in the Pip Club League when they won 9-0 at Belgrave Club, their Adam Wood and Mark Martin both notching a maximum while Sam Whittaker hit two and had a 12 darts game. The win keeps Bombay two points ahead of Belgrave Sports and Social Club who had a 6-3 win at Birchmoor Club.
Other players to find the three treble twenties were Alan Carter (Old Liberal house) and Mark Hollyoake (Pip Club).
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The West Midlands County home venue of Gilberts Bar, Willenhall was the setting for the Gold Cup Singles Qualifier with four players going through to the grand finals at the Magna Centre, Rotherham on the 29th June.
Qualifiers on the night were Sam Guest and Shaun Carroll (Landywood) plus Mick Baker and Owen Maiden (Allen’s Sports Bar ‘D’).
Tonight (20th March) Gilberts Bar will host the Gold Cup Doubles Qualifier with the two winning pairs going through to the finals.
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With no result in for the Meadowlark versus Gornal Labour Club in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League, leaders Old Bulls Head were able to double their points advantage to four over the second placed Labour Club with an 8-1 win over Chainyard, albeit that their lead may be reduced when the outstanding result is added to the league table.
Third placed Five Ways lost ground in the title race as they went down 6-3 away to Netherton Cricket Club who are some three places below them and are six points worse off.
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The Railway Tavern, Holly Hall, Dudley, DY2 0ST will be staging a Darts Knockout this coming Saturday at 2.30pm. Cost of entry is £5 with monies in being paid plus there will be an extra £100 added from the bar.
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Biggest winners in week five of the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League were Whitmore Reans WMC and ECC ‘A’, both handing out 7-0 whitewashes. Leaders Whitmore won at home against Pilot while ECC ‘A’, who also had a home tie, defeated Royal, Albrighton to move up one place in the table to fourth.
It was a good week for ECC as their ‘B’ side moved off the foot of the table with a 5-2 win at McGhees.
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Just two of the seventeen starters in the Singles Division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League are able to boast wins in their opening four games. Riley’s ‘C’ top the table, their fourth win coming against Mount Tavern who they beat 6-1, second placed Gilberts Bar won 5-2 at home against The Boat to leave them trailing Riley’s on average only.
Fifth in the table Railway are the only other undefeated team in the singles table but they have only played three games as they had a bye this week.
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