Greater Birmingham Leagues Continue to Thrive

We are endlessly impressed with the sheer volume of darts played across the region and that we are continuing to add new leagues or events to this column on a regular basis.

Game number seven in the Kings Norton League brought together the league’s top two teams, leaders Copper Fox playing away against second placed Thurlestone. The outcome was a close 4-3 result in favour of Copper Fox to see them hold on to pole position with an unbeaten fourteen points and a lead of two over Northfield who moved up one place in the table after they won their home tie with fifth placed Rubery Social Club 5-2. Thurlestone dropped to fourth in the league on the same ten points as third placed Bournebrook and fifth in the table Bourneville, Bournebrook winning 6-1 at Coppice and Bourneville winning by the same 6-1 margin at home against bottom of the table Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club, Rubery Social Club are a further two points behind on eight points and drop one place to sixth.

Top individual performances this week were supplied by E.Simpson and M.Hamilton (Copper Fox) who both recorded two maximums, C.Airey (Thurlestone), L.Allen (Northfield), V.Walton (Grant Arms) and Joe Fox (Cock Inn) all hit one maximum and Bourneville’s M.James recorded a fifteen darts leg and had top scores of 100,118 and 5×140).

Full Results: Game 7:-Thurlestone 3 (N.Watts 100,121, T.Garfield 4×100,134, R.Waldron 100,2×140, B.Andrews 100, J.Downer 140, A.Savage 4×100,115f, C.Airey 180) Copper Fox 4 (E.Simpson 100,125,2×180, A.Beagrie 127, G.Dews 3×100,123, K.Bedder 3×100,2×140, T.Hamilton 4×100,123,140, D.McConomy 2×100,140, M.Hamilton 100f,2×180), Northfield 5 (L.Allen 100,125, A.Busby 140, M.Lloyd 3×100,17 darts game, S.Busby 100, D.Hopkins 2×100,2×140, M.Hopkins 100,125, L.Allen 180) Rubery Social Club 2 (J.Grainger 134, J.Higgins 3×100, A.Faulkner 100,156f, R.Higgins 135, K.Manger 2×100,125,140, J.O’Neill 3×100,121,140,17 darts game), Longbridge 2 (J.Woodward 100,140, N.Mellors 100, J.Steward 125,135, K.Malone 135, D.Watts 2×100) Grant Arms 5 (A.Dewsbury 4×100, V.Walton 100,100f,180, P.Smith 2×100), Kings Norton Flights 2 (M.Hanley 100,120, K.Owen 2×100, G.Lee 100, D.Willis 100, A.Reynolds 100, C.Rigby 2×100, M.Norrington 100) Cock Inn 5 (P.Hughes 140, L.Fox 2×100, A.Vaughan 2×100,140, Joe Fox 100,180, K.Vaughan 100, S.Cartwright 100, D.Gibbs 100,140), Bourneville 6 (M.James 100,118,5×140,15 darts game, P.Smith 140, G.Carver 2×100, G.Bailes 100, J.Guy 2×100,120) Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 1 (M.Bandy 2×100,121, L.Pearce 100, D.Whitecombe 140), Coppice 1 (D.Hill 100, B.Heath 100, A.Ward 100, A.Chidley 4×100,3×140, A.Aindow 138,140, S.Jacques 100,121,123, R.Packer 100,121,140) Bournebrook 6 (M.Welsh 100,125, T.Cullen 100,121,140, T.Jeffs 100,135,140, K.Mason 125,140, D.Collins 2×100, M.Bathurst 2×100, C.Smith 100,125).

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With all of the division one fixture’s completed a couple of weeks ago in the Four Oaks and District League the second division have been playing off their last few games and the title decider came down to the very last game as Minworth Flights and Oscott Social Club both went into their last fixtures level on thirty-six points with Minworth having the better average. Both teams had final home ties, Minworth Social taking on Funky Bear from the bottom half of the table and winning 6-3 while Oscott Social Club played hosts to fifth in the division St Thomas Arrows and won 8-1 but despite the bigger win Oscott Social Club still finished the season on the same thirty-eight points as Minworth Social but trailing by some ten legs of average and finished as runners-up with Minworth crowned as champions.

Just one fixture remains outstanding between Plough and Arrows and Sutton Sports and Social and although the result will have no bearing on the second division league table it could have a big effect on the Shadow League as Plough and Arrows are level on ten points with current leaders Funky Bear and a win in their remaining fixture would see them finish top of the Shadow League.

Pint Pot Flights player Mick Bagnall ended the season with a 160 break.

Full Results: Game 22: Division Two: Minworth Flights 6 (Keith Deeley 3×100, Karl Reynolds 140,109f, Jason Prince 100,140) The Funky Bear 3 (Samuel Murcott 100, George Robotham 112b), Oscott Social Club 8 (Tom Whyley 107, Ian Lloyd 100, Gary Bushell 109b) St Thomas Arrows 1 (Martin J Andrews 133,102b, Jim Lynch 105b), Pint Pot Flights 5 (Martin Phillips 140, Nigel Robbins 118b, Mick Bagnall 100,160b, Louie Lemathy 100) Deer’s Leap 4 (Adam Dunn 100, Darren Stenson 100, Luke Sinclair 125,140, Tom Ross 101b,105f), Erdington Arrows 4 (K.Tooze 133, A.Lineham 100, L.Cooksey 120b,100, M.Phillips 112b, L.Dells 122, M.Edwards 120b) The Scott Armers 5 (Mark Felkin 100b,116,117, Ollie Day 2×100,112f, Jamie Sabin 120b, Lee Gumbley 100), Sutton Sharks 8 (Michael Taylor 100, Frank Davis 100, Jon Boden 3×100) Sutton Sports and Social 1 (Bernadette Smith 100, Paul Coleing 138,123, Rod Snelson 100, John Paul Roddy 100), Rosey Mac’s 4 (John Cox snr 110b,100,125, Neil Bradley 105b,123, Steve Wright 140, Steven Wintle 100) Plough and Arrows 5 (Adam Humphriss 140, Anthony Dews 120b,125, Danny Hughes 135,107, Steve Johnson 100).

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After completing game five in the South West Birmingham Clubs League the positions remains the same for the top three teams with Longbridge United holding on to pole position and taking their undefeated run to five games with a 5-2 result playing away against third in the league Bournbrook. Second in the league West Heath CEM, like Longbridge are also unbeaten in their opening five games the latest of which saw them win their home fixture against Stirchley United 4-3 leaving them just two legs of average short of Longbridge while Bournbrook are now four points behind the leading duo as are fourth and fifth placed Avenue Social and Quarry Club, Avenue winning 6-1 at Perfection and Quarry losing 4-3 at home to Northfield Town who are just three places off the foot of the table.

The same two teams Longbridge United and West Heath CEM lead the Pre Match Doubles League leaders Longbridge have seventy-three points and have a lead of nine on West Heath who in turn are fifteen to the good on third placed Quarry Club.

Full Results: Game 5:- Bournbrook 2 Longbridge United 5, King Norton Ex Service 6 Moseley All Services 1, Perfection 1 Avenue Social 6, Quarry Club 3 Northfield Town 4, Stirchley Flights 4 Northfield Coservative 3, West Heath CEM 4 Stirchley United 3.

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Being as there were no scheduled league fixtures the Rowley Monday Night League staged a Bank Holiday Monday Knockout at Rowley labour Club and collecting the winners £50 prize was Richie Lenton who in the final defeated Tommy Johnson 3-1, Johnson received £25 as runner-up. Losing semi-finalists were Jason Bland and Lee Eaves.

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The Netherton Thursday Night League had a couple of postponed fixtures this week those of Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ v Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B and Spring Meadow v Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’. League leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visiting team Townsend Social Club to take their points tally to forty and although second placed Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ didn’t play their fixture they have now played the same twenty-four games as Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ and trail them by four points with only four more games to play. Third placed Bulls Head after winning 7-2 at home against fourth in the league Hill and Cakemore are also four points off the top but they have played twenty-five games, their G.Jackson hit a maximum.

Full Results: Game 25:- Bulls Head 7 (G.Jackson 180) Hill and Cakemore 2 (T.Johnson 180, D.Shilvock 123f), Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 9 Townsend Social Club 0, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ v Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘B and Spring Meadow v Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ were postponed.

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From a starting line-up of sixteen teams in the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League only three remain undefeated after the opening five games. Bird in Hand ‘E’ and Old Liberal Club ‘A’ share the number one spot, level on points and average after Bird in Hand added their 5-2 win at Dudley Sports and Old Liberal won 7-0 at Wheatsheaf. Third in the table Shovel also won 7-0 playing at home against Black Horse, they trail the top two by just three legs of average. Three teams are still seeking their first points of the season Netherton Conservative Club, Black Horse and Fox Inn (Lye).

Full Results: Game 5:- Fox Inn (Lye) 3 Bell 4, Wheatsheaf 0 Old Liberal Club ‘A’ 7, Garibaldi 3 Stourbridge FC 4, Dudley Sports 2 Bird in Hand ‘E’ 5, Shovel 7 Black Horse 0, Old Liberal Club ‘B’ 4 Kings Head 3, Netherton Conservative Club 3 Ashwood 4, Brickmakers Arms 1 Hollybush 6.

It was presentation and finals night in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League and in the doubles knockout Carl Sparrow and Tom Bissell beat Daz Sears and Stu Hillman to claim the title, then Carl Sparrow made it a fabulous double when he beat Luke Cross to win the singles title.

The league are now looking for entries into the league for next season, any teams both old or new interested in joining the league for the forthcoming season or requiring any further details should e-mail Robin Carey at rob.carey@btinternet.com

Format of the league is six single games of 301 double start and finish plus three doubles games of 701 start and finish on a double.

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A 4-1 win against Soccer Zone was not enough for Railway Tavern to hold on to pole position in the Black Country Men’s Super League as Allen’s Bar ‘C’ won their home tie with White Swan 5-0 to put them on fourteen points one more than Railway who slip into second place. Coseley Tavern lost their third place suffering a 3-2 defeat away to Allen’s Bar ‘B’ who previously had lost their first two games, this being their first win of the campaign. Taking over in third place is Whiteheath Tavern who won 5-0 at home against The Vine, Blackheath to put them on twelve points just two off the top and only one short of Railway Tavern but at the same time two to the good on both fourth and fifth Townsend Social ‘A’ and Quarry Bank Liberal Club, Townsend ‘A’ winning 4-1 against Allen’s Bar ‘A’ and the Liberal Club having the same result over Ashwood.

Full Results: Game 3:- Townsend Social 4 Horse and Jockey 1, Old Bulls Head 3 Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 2, Whiteheath Tavern 5 The Vine, Blackheath 0, Allen’s Bar ‘C’ 5 White Swan 0, Allen’s Bar ‘B’ 3 Coseley Tavern 2, Townsend ‘A’ 4 Allen’s Bar ‘A’ 1, Quarry Bank Liberal Club 4 The Ashwood 1, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 4 Halesowen Cricket Club 1, Railway Tavern 4 Soccer Zone 1.

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Nick Fullwell has taken over the top spot in the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League when in his latest fixtures he kicked off with a 7-1 win over Danny Bridgwood and then followed that with two 8-0 wins beating Sarah Jane Parker and then James Davies to give him a total points of 223 from twenty-seven games. Former leader Rich Bowen also began the night with a 7-1 win when he accounted for Alex Howells, he then, again like Fullwell won 8-0 when he took on Nick Whitehouse and rounded off his evening with another 7-1 success in his game with Grace Angell to put him on the same 223 points as leader Fullwell but from one game extra. Third in the league Shane Price didn’t play this week and now has two games in hand on Bowen and one on Fullwell but he is twenty-seven points behind Fullwell.

Full Results: Game 14: Rich Bowen 7 Alex Howells 1, Alex Howells 8 Grace Angell 0, Nick Fullwell 7 Danny Bridgwood 1, Neil Murphy 7 Nick Whitehouse 1, Gareth Johnston 8 James Davies 0, Nick Fullwell 8 Sarah Jane Parker 0, Rich Bowen 8 Nick Whitehouse 0, Alex Howells 4 Gareth Johnston 4, Rich Bowen 7 Grace Angell 1, Neil Murphy 8 Sarah Jane Parker 0, Nick Fullwell 8 James Davies 0, Neil Murphy 6 Danny Bridgwood 2, Gareth Johnston 8 Sarah Jane Parker 0, Danny Bridgwood 5 Nick Whitehouse 3.

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Biggest winners of the week in the West Midlands Men’s Super League were the two Kings Head teams, the ‘A’ side won 5-0 against Gilbert’s Bar ‘D’ and the ‘B’ side accounted for Three Crowns by the same margin. Not far behind the Kings Head teams was Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ who with a 4-1 scoreline beat Corpus Christi.

Full Results:Week 16: Kings Head ‘B’ 5 Three Crowns 0, Dog and Partridge 3 ECC 2, Kings Head ‘A’ 5 Gilbert’s Bar ‘D’ 0, Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ 3 Staffordshire Knot 2, Gilbert’s Bar ‘A’ 4 Corpus Christi 1.

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Alan Towe writes with the support of Red Dragon Darts

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