A Look Back In Time - Alan Towe 13.03.2002
After two consecutive defeats, a home draw against Cambridgeshire stopped the rot for Warwickshire in the premier division of the BDO Inter Counties Championships. However, the weekends fixture at the Belgrave Sports ans Social Club, Tamworth did not get off to a good start as the ladies ‘B’ suffered their worst defeat of the campaign, a 5-1 reversal, with Vicki Byrne (16.34) their only winner. The men’s ‘B’ chalked up their best win so far, a 9-3 success with Dave Clarke (30.53) their top man.
The ‘A’ team games saw the ladies come back from 3-0 down to earn a well-deserved 3-3 draw. Lesley Newcombe began the fight back and following up was the ever reliable Trina Gulliver (25.47) who once again took the match award, then sealing the point was Claire Bywaters with her 3-0 win over Amanda Kelland. The men went down 7-5, their third defeat in a row, Mark Hollyoake claimed the man of the match trophy with his 30.18 average.
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In division three, West Midlands, with only one win in six previous outings, recorded a much needed victory at home to Bedfordshire.The ladies ‘A’ had the second successive draw with Angie Perry (18.56), for the sixth consecutive game the lady of the match. The ‘B’ however, lost 4-2 with Teresa Johnson (19.03) the award winner.
In the men’s games the ‘B’ won 9-3, Joe Biggs helping them on their way with his 28.81 average, while the ‘A’ side finished all square, Ian Jones (28.29) the best of the day.
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In the premier division of the Harborne and District Winter League, Punchbowl returned to winning ways with a convincing 7-2 success at home against Ladywood Social. S.Pasetti (W.C.WMC) broke with 160, but it was not enough for his team to avoid a 5-4 defeat at Harborne Stores.
Bartley Green Social Club Flights and Bartley Green F.C. were involved in a local derby in division one with the latter getting the better of the 6-3 verdict. Stonehouse flights were also 6-3 winners against Highlander Ladies.
The league have also been involved in their singles knockout. Taking the title with a final 2-1 win over K.McKeown was the George representative E.Simpson. In the earlier rounds six darts legs were recorded by P.Hewitt and M.Powell.
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Mark Hollyoake has won the Minworth Social Individual League title and has done it in style. Playing against Gary Mills he hit two maximums in his 2-1 win. He then beat Rob South and repeated the double maximum and although he did not hit a 180 against Mick Bagley he did notch a 140 and 7x100 to win 3-0. With 121 points Mark is now six points ahead of his nearest rival Tony Randell and still has a game in hand.
Steve Cain was another player to hit two 180’s as he defeated Paul Chick 3-0. Trevor Frost, Andy Sheen, Carl Betteridge, Gary Mills, Pat Koyce, Steve Brindley, Peter Allen and Mick Smith aslo hit one each.
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St Annes, leaders of the premier division of the Sheldon and District Winter League, found themselves in an unusual position when they trailed 3-0 to the Highwood in the quarter finals of the Punchbowl. They never recovered and Highwood booked their last four place with a 6-3 result. Three Horse Shoes came back from 4-1 down to Fordbridge Social to snatch a 5-4 victory the same margin by which Brook Meadow beat Iron Horse. Not such a close affair for Yardley Ex Service as they accounted for Plume of Feathers with an 8-1 scoreline.
In round one of the Sheldon Shield Co-op Arrows produced the biggest shock of the round. Bottom of the table Arrows beat promotion candidates Hobs Meadow 5-4. Other teams progressing to the next round are Dovecote, Glebe Community Centre, Stechford Social, Sheldon Heath Dukes, Punchbowl and Millhouse, who in turn defeated Shard End Social Flights, Shard End RBL, British Telecom Club, Saltley Amateur Gardeners, BCS Club and Sheldon and Marlboro.
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