The Divisional Cup semi-finals were on the fixture card for the South Birmingham League and in the division one games leaders C’s Top Guns won 6-3 against third in the division Banbury Arrows while second in the division Coleshill Social had a closer 5-4 result over The Gate who are next to bottom of the table.
In the division two play-offs top team The Dog were 5-4 winners over C’s Flights while C’s Hot Shots, who are placed second in the division won 7-2 against local rivals C’s Arrows.
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As a warm up to their forthcoming thirteenth season, which kicks off next week, the Shirley Legion Double Top League have been playing a number of singles knockouts and in the latest Gary Cleverley began his quest for the title with a maximum and 3-1 win over Steve Harper. He then had a straight 3-0 success against Thomas Bent and booked his place in the final with a close 3-2 verdict over the winner for the past two weeks Mark Henderson.
From the other half of the draw Ken Hopton, a man who is steadily recapturing his top form moved into the quarter finals with a 3-0 win over Sean Talbot and following a much closer 3-2 success over Dave Heighway then made the final with a similar 3-2 win against Colin Geens.
The final result was 4-1 going to Ken Hopton with Gary Cleverley runner-up.
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Leaders of the Kings Norton League Avenue Social handed their visiting team Coppice a 9-0 whitewash to push them down one place in the table to fourth. E57 without throwing a dart replace Coppice in third place with a superior average plus a game in hand, both teams are on 36 points ten fewer than the leaders. Avenue with only four games to play have a slender two points advantage over their nearest rivals Rubery RBL whose 6-1 win over Thurlestone leaves them with just three more fixtures.
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The Small Heath League have been busy playing off four of their competitions, first the Jim Haveron 3 A-Side knockout which saw Heartlands Club provide two of the four teams but with mixed results. The ‘B’ team lost 6-3 to East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association ‘B’ while the ‘C’ side progressed to the final with a 7-2 win over Sheldon Marlborough Arrows.
The final result was a close 5-4 going in favour of East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association ‘B’ with Heartlands Club ‘B’ runners-up.
Both of the last four games in the Captains Cup finished 2-0 with wins for Colin Wyatt (East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association) and Alan Cheshire (Wagon and Horses) who in turn defeated C.Austin and S.McCarthy. The final went to the wire with Colin Wyatt just getting the 2-1 edge on Cheshire.
The third of the league’s finals was the Secretaries Knockout which saw Mick O’Sullivan (Sheldon Marlborough Arrows) win 2-1 against Alex Downes (Heartlands Club). In the semis O’Sullivan and Downes won 2-0 in turn against R.Pikey and P.Webster.
The last of the four competitions was the Ladies Knockout in which Launa Wyatt (East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association) beat Ann O’Sullivan (Sheldon Marlborough Arrows) 2-0 to take the title.
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The Camp Hill Winter League has reached the halfway stage of its season and it was at that midway point that Roost Rebels lost pole position. Playing away against White Swan Nomads the Rebels went down 5-2 and as a result dropped to third place in the table level on 14 points with the two teams above them but trailing on average. Sheldon Marlborough Flights now head the table following their 4-3 win at Tyseley WMC with White Swan Nomads in second place. The current leaders in addition to their superior average have a further advantage insomuch as they have played one game fewer than both White Swan Nomads and Roost Rebels.
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A 5-2 win away to Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ has seen The Swan take their tally to 27 wins from 29 games in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League and at the same time keep intact their two points lead over second and third in the table Ashwood ‘B’ and Ashwood ‘A’. Ashwood ‘B’ had a convincing 6-1 win at High Acres to keep just ahead of their ‘A’ side on average after they won their home tie with Netherton Cricket Club 5-2.
After the top three teams there is a huge gap of twelve points to fourth placed Glasscutters who won away to Ten Arches ‘A’ 5-2.
It was not a good week for the Holly Bush teams as the ‘A’ side lost 7-0 to Ten Arches ‘B’ and the ‘B’ team lost by the same 7-0 margin to Wombourne Cricket Club.
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Game number nine in the Cradley Tuesday Night League matched the two top teams leaders Brickmakers Arms ‘A’ and second placed Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’. Prior to the encounter the two teams were level on 21 points but a 6-3 win for Brickmakers has seen them open up a three points lead at the top of the table.
Third in the table Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ missed the opportunity to draw level on points with Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ as they lost 5-4 playing away to their nearest rivals fourth in the table Wheatsheaf, however Brickmakers Arms ‘B’ still have a game in hand on the two teams above them.
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Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club made it ten wins in as many games in the Netherton Thursday Night League when they won 5-4 playing away to Fairfield keeping their six points lead at the top of the table over second placed Riddins Tavern who also had a close 5-4 verdict against next to bottom of the table Netherton Conservative Club.
Third placed Bulls Head are six points adrift of Riddins but have got two games in hand which could see them leapfrog them and take over the number two spot.
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Despite winning their home fixture with fourth in the table Miners Arms 4-3, The Vine have lost pole position in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as a 6-1 home win for Tipton Tavern with a maximum from L.Fletcher, has seen Sports take over at the top of the table leading Vine on average as both teams are on the same 22 points with Tipton Sports having a game in hand.
There was a first win in twelve for Wonder, their 4-3 win at Horseley Tavern seeing them move off the foot of the table to be replaced by Court House who are still seeking their first win of the campaign, they lost their most recent game at new Talbot 6-1.
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Due to the Bank holiday there was just one rearranged fixture played in the Brierley Hill Friday Night League which saw Miners (Wollescote) win 5-2 at home against Gornal British Legion. The win sees Miners move up three places in the table to sixth but leaves the British Legion still rooted to the foot of the table.
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With just one more fixture to play in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League a 7-2 home win over Hilly House has secured the title for Old Bulls Head. The win takes Old Bulls Head points to 46 and although second in the table and confirmed runners-up Gornal Labour Club’s 6-3 win against Five Ways still leaves them in a position to finish level on points with Old Bulls Head should they lose their final game, they trail massively on average and so the title will go to Old Bulls Head.
There was a rare win for bottom of the table Meadow Lark in the penultimate fixture as they won their home game against Chainyard who are three places above them 6-3. Despite their win Meadow Lark will still take the wooden spoon.
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No change at the top of the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League as all of the top four teams won in game number nine. Cleveland Arms with a 4-3 win at Moreton top the table on average from Hurst Hill who had a 5-2 result away to Brewood British Legion to leave them level on 16 points with Cleveland with a game in hand. Third in the table Whitmore Reans WMC also had a 5-2 win playing at home against Dog and Partridge to keep within two points of Cleveland again with a game in hand.
It was a good week for ECC as their fourth placed ‘A’ team won 5-2 against Swan, Compton and the ‘B’ side went one better with a 6-1 success at The Royal, Albrighton.
There was a first win in nine for McGhees, their 7-0 victory at Pilot lifting them off the foot of the table and moving up two places while their opponents take over in the bottom place.
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The Sutton and District Summer League have got their new season underway and with an extra two teams this season they have divided the league into three divisions as opposed to last season’s two.
In division one Golden Hind are the early pacesetters, the only team so far to have played two and won two games the latest of which was a 5-4 home win over Boldmere St Mikes who are at present second in the table. The only other unbeaten team in the division besides Golden Hind is The Boat who after a bye in week one won their first game 7-2 at Erdington Arrows.
Newcomers Walmley Darts Club head division two following up their 8-1 win over Oscott Sports with a 6-3 success at Drakes Drum to lead Bishop Vesey on average after they added their most recent 5-4 win at Oscott Sports. Joint third placed Old Oscott Arrows and The Boot are unbeaten but have only played one fixture so far.
Digby Chuckers have a slender one leg of average lead over Castle Vale Residents at the top of division three, Chuckers winning game two against Rosey Mac’s 6-3 while the Residents won their home game with St Thomas Arrows 8-1.
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Allen’s Sports Bar ‘A’ continued their impressive season in the West Midlands Men’s Super League taking their number of wins to 31 from 32 games with a 4-1 home victory over The Victoria. With just two more fixtures to play and Allen’s ‘A’ already acclaimed champions the battle is on for the runners-up spot. Woodside Inn lost ground in that fight and also the number two position after they lost their most recent game 3-2 away to fourth in the league Landywood and are now three points behind Yeltz Bar who have taken over the second place following their 5-0 whitewash of Gilberts Bar.
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Just two teams remain unbeaten in the singles division of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League leaders Riley’s ‘C’ who made it eight successive wins with a 6-1 win at Penn Bowling and third in the table Railway who have only played seven games leaving them level on 14 points with second in the table Bull who have played nine.
It’s Riley’s ‘C’ again at the top of the doubles division, this time with 14 points from their eight games after adding a 2-1 win at Penn Bowling. Bull and Railway once more are second and third and again level on the same 12 points with Railway having two games in hand.
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