A West Midlands Round Up By Alan Towe
Birmingham has seen a new darts league get underway the C’s Club Double Top Wednesday Night League which in its inaugural season has attracted an encouraging 30 players. After the opening week Luis Barberan tops the table by virtue of the fact that he has played and won three games compared to his rivals having only played two. With seven points Barberan is just one point to the good on five chasing players Mark Birch, James Buttle, Chris Millward, Neil Parsonage and Tom White who have all won their first two games 3-0. Full Results:Week 1:- Jamie Carter 0 Courtney Burns 3, Mark Birch 3 Steve Whatmore 0, Pete Kingdon 1 Jake Webster 2, Neil Parsonage 3 (180,13 darts game) Chris Cooke 0, Neil McCrave 0 Jack Nason 3, Dan White 1 Glen James 2, Duane Green 0 Richard Mills 3 (180), Gary Shergold 1 Wayne Cooper 2, James Buttle 3 Louise Beale 0, Steve Beale 0 Mel Beale 3, Ryan Beale 0 Tom White 3, Luke Beale 0 Luis Barberan 3, Keith Geary 0 Chris Millward 3, Steve Sidwell 2 Lee Walker 1, Jake Liggins 2 Ben Liggins 1, Courtney Burns 0 Mark Birch 3, Steve Whatmore 1 Pete Kingdon 2, Jake Webster 0 Neil Parsonage 3, Chris Cooke 3 Neil McCrave 0, Jack Nason 2 Dan White 1, Glen James 3 (160f) Duane Green 0, Richard Mills 2 (180) Gary Shergold 1, Wayne Cooper 0 James Buttle 3, Louise Beale 2 Steve Beale 1, Mel Beale 0 Ryan Beale 3, Tom White 3 Luke Beale 0, Luis Barberan 2 Keith Geary 1, Chris Millward 3 (180) Steve Sidwell 0, Lee Walker 1 Jake Liggins 2, Ben Liggins 3 Jamie Carter 0, Luis Barberan 2 (180) Chris Cooke 1.
Rubery RBL held on to their four points lead over Avenue Social in week 20 of the Kings Norton League when they won their home tie with Dingle 5-2, Avenue meanwhile were in top form as they handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Grant Arms with their Tony Hamilton in top form as he not only recorded a maximum 170 break but also had a winning seven darts leg. Third in the table West Heath fell further behind the leading duo as they surprisingly lost their game at Weoley Hill 5-2, Weoley being some eight places below them with eighteen points fewer.

With the tenth season of the Shirley Premier League completed presentation night not only saw Paul Higgins crowned as new champion but the league also staged a doubles knockout with partners being randomly selected. The winners of the event were Mark Gwalchmai and Ken Hopton who in the final won 3-2 against league champion Paul Higgins and runner up Phil Thomas. In the last four games Gwalchmai and Hopton won 3-1 against Andy Thomas and Chris Thomas snr while losing out 3-0 to Higgins and Thomas were Jordan Ottley and Mark Henderson. The league will begin their eleventh season on the Thursday 24th May. Full Results:Quarter Finals:- Karl Wilson & Lee Holtham 0 Paul Higgins & Phil Thomas (148f) 3, Sean Talbot & Mick Bown 2 Andy Thomas & Chris Thomas snr 3, Chris Devlin & Luke Symmons 1 Jordan Ottley & Mark Henderson 3, Mark Gwalchmai & Ken Hopton 3 Dave Heighway & Steve Devlin 2, Semi Finals:- Jordan Ottley & Mark Henderson 0 Paul Higgins & Phil Thomas 3, Andy Thomas & Chris Thomas snr 1 Mark Gwalchmai & Ken Hopton 3, Final:- Paul Higgins & Phil Thomas 2 Mark Gwalchmai (102f) & Ken Hopton 3.
The C’s Club, Chelmsley Wood staged another of their knockouts with entries steadily increasing with every event. The latest of the knockouts saw for a second consecutive time Neil Parsonage win the top prize. After hitting a 180 and winning 4-1 against Terry Webster in the semi-finals, Terry also notching a maximum, Neil booked his final place against Luis Barberan who defeated Alan Carter in his last four game. The final produced a 5-2 scoreline with Parsonage the winner. [caption id="attachment_32359" align="aligncenter" width="300"]


With Erdington Club having a bye in week five of the Sutton and District Summer League The Boat took full advantage to replace them in pole position in division one with an 8-1 win over bottom of the table Red Lion. Boat and Erdington are now both unbeaten in four games, Boat top with the slightly superior average. In the second division Pint Pot Flights consolidated their number one spot by handing their visitors Sutton Sports a 9-0 whitewash to keep intact their undefeated record in four games. Boldmere Tap and The Boot are on the same eight points as the leaders but have both played one game more. Full Results:Week 5:Division One:- Drakes Drum 3 Bishop Vesey 6, Erdington Arrows 5 Oscott Social 4, The Fox 4 Golden Hind 5, The Boat 8 Red Lion 1, Division Two:- Boldmere Tap 7 Lad in the Lane 2, Old Oscott WMC 7 St Thomas Arrows 2, Pint Pot Flights 9 Sutton Sports 0, The Boot 6 Rosey Mac’s 3.
Avenue Social Club, Weoley Avenue, Birmingham was the setting for a charity match between the Harborne League and Kings Norton League in a bid to raise funds for the Air Ambulance. With wins from Dave Hill, Kenny Bedder, James Hykin, Ashley Hykin, Tony Hamilton, Dave Hopkins, Graham Dews and Richard Mann the Harborne League won the game 8-3. Winning for the Kings Norton league were Simon Hodges, Chris Burke and Liam Fox. The biggest winner of the night was the charity as the evening raised a fabulous total of £367.50 made up of £212.50 from the night, £50 from each of the leagues and £55 raised by Tony Hamilton in sponsorship money. Full Results:Harborne names first:- Dave Hill (3x100,140) 2 Jack Higgins 0, Kenny Bedder (3x140,100) 2 Tom Jeffs 0, Phil Hughes (2x100) 0 Simon Hodges (100,140) 2, Scott Hykin (100) 1 Chris Burke (140,100) 2, James Hykin (2x100,180) 2 Kenny Vaughan (100,121) 0, Ashley Hykin (121) 2 Anthony Vaughan (100,121) 0, Tony Hamilton (5x100,121) 2 Nathan Harris (100) 0, Dave Hopkins (3x100,2x140,115) 2 Joe Fox (121,100,180) 1, Michael Harding 0 Liam Fox 2, Graham Dews (2x100 2 Laura Fox 0, Richard .Mann (2x100) 2 Dave Collins (2x100) 1.
After playing twenty games in the Small Heath League East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association are unbeaten their latest fixture seeing them win 6-3 against Cob’s Bar to open up a ten points lead over second in the table Heartlands Club who lost their game away to fourth in the table Wagon and Horses 5-4. In the local derby clash between Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Sheldon Marlborough Arrows it was third in the table Flights who got the close 5-4 verdict over their next to bottom of the table opponents. Full Results:Week 23:- East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association 6 (C.Wyatt 100,140, L.Robinson 101b, T.Constable 108b,100, N.Davis 120b,101,100b, T.White 140,120b,2x100,180, M.Cooper 140,100, P.Webster 120) Cob’s Bar 3 (D.Shakespeare 2x100, A.Lattimer 123, R.Pike 100, M.Turner 100), Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 4 (R.Turner 2x100, M.O’Sullivan 2x100,121,101b, D.Howlett 3x100, M.Cox 100) Sheldon Marlborough Flights 5 (P.Sunner 2x100, D.Humpries 116b, P.Evans 134), Wagon and Horses 5 (C.Murphy 100,140, A.Pearson 100, J.Phipps 100, D.Rivitt 100, M.Tilly 139,140) Heartlands Club 4 (D.Bond 120b,100, Jim Frost 100b, I.Jones 2x125, S.McCormack 100, John Frost 100, C.Austin 100, S.Cain 101).
The Netherton Thursday Night League played their singles knockout down to the quarter finals and winning through were C.Hadlington, A.Cowley, C.Wakeman (White Horse), M.Jones (Fairfield), A.Tonks, P.Tonks (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club), R.Lenton (Townsend Club), M.Bennett (Delph Bell). Full Results:Quarter Final Qualfiers:- C.Hadlington, A.Cowley, C.Wakeman (White Horse), M.Jones (Fairfield), A.Tonks, P.Tonks (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club), R.Lenton (Townsend Club), M.Bennett (Delph Bell).
With Queens Head having a bye in the Main Section of the Pip Club League The Office with a 7-2 win over Globe (Wilnecote) had replaced them at the top of the table. Both teams are on 38 points and have lost just one of their twenty fixtures, Office having the better average top the table. Third in the table Birchmoor are only two points behind the leading pair after a 6-3 win at Sports Bar ‘180’ however they have played two games more than the top two teams. Full Results:Week 22:- Sports Bar ‘180’ 3 Birchmoor Club 6 (Mark Young 180), Kettlebrook Club 2 Belgrave Club 7, Wigginton Arms 3 (Ron Hunt 171, Rosie O’Connor 100) Pip Club 6 (Ash Luckman 140f, Les Reece 114f, Mark Hollyoake 162), Dolphin 2 Old Liberal House 7, Progressive Club 5 Red Lion 4 (Mark McCloughlin 180, Mark Faulkner 132), Dolphin Wanderers 9 (Harry Crowley 177) Mercian 0, The Office 7 Globe 2 (Wilnecote, John Higgins 100), Queens Head had a bye.
Tipton Sports with a 6-1 win away to Ivy Bush consolidated their top position in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as they took their points tally to 30 from 16 games. The battle is on for second place as no fewer than three teams Island Inn, Dewdrop ‘A’ and Wagon and Horses are on 26 points. In turn the three teams won against Sportsman (4-3), Merry-Go-Round ‘B’ (6-1) and Horseley Tavern (6-1). Full Results:Match 16:- Dewdrop ‘B’ 2 Merry-Go-Round ‘A’ 5, Ivy Bush 1 Tipton Sports 6, Merry-Go-Round ‘B’ 1 Dewdrop ‘A’ 6, Horseley Tavern 1 Waggon and Horses 6, The Vine 4 Hayes Social 3, Island Inn 4 Sportsman 3, Wonder 3 New Talbot 4.
With Wheatsheaf, second in the Cradley Tuesday Night League table having a bye leaders Brickmakers Arms extended their lead to four points with a 7-2 home win over Bulls Head who drop from third to fourth in the table. Brickmakers have 18 points and the three teams chasing them Wheatsheaf, Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ and Bulls Head are all on 14 points, Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ winning 6-3 at Roost. All of the top four teams have played ten games. Full Results:Match 11:- Brickmakers Arms 7 Bulls Head 2, Netherton Cricket Club ‘B’ 2 Hawne Lane Tavern 7, Riddins Tavern 2 Gate Hangs Well 7, Roost 3 Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ 6.
After playing seven games in the division one singles section of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League the Railway finally got their first win of the season when they won their home tie with Wednesfield Conservative Club 4-3, the Conservative Club replacing them at the foot of the table still seeking their first win. At the top of the division Riley’s ‘C’ who have won all seven of their games had a bye and their nearest rivals Bull reduced the arrears to just two points with a 6-1 win against Dog and Partridge ‘A’. A 4-3 win at Dog and Partridge ‘B’ took Wednesfield Legion’s unbeaten run at the top of the division two singles to eight games and gives them a lead of four points over both Royal, Albrighton and Dog and Partridge ‘B’, Royal had a 5-2 win at Penn Bowling. In the division one doubles section three teams, Gilberts Bar, Victoria and Wednesfield Conservative Club are on 10 points at the top of the table while in division two Village Inn and Penn Bowling lead the field both having 12 points. Full Results:Week 8: Singles League:Division One:- Bull 6 Dog and Partridge ‘A’ 1, Railway 4 Wednesfield Conservative Club 3, Sunbeam 4 Riley’s ‘A’ 3, Victoria 3 Gilberts Bar 4, Division Two:- Dog and Partridge ‘B’ 3 Wednesfield Legion 4, Duke of York 2 Woodfield Social 5, Pendulum 4 County 3, Penn Bowling 2 Royal, Albrighton 5, Village Inn 5 Yale Club 2, Doubles League:- Division One:- Bull 2 Dog and Partridge ‘A’ 1, Railway 1 Wednesfield Conservative Club 2, Sunbeam 3 Riley’s ‘A’ 0, Victoria 1 Gilberts Bar 2, Division Two:- Dog and Partridge ‘B’ 0 Wednesfield Legion 3, Duke of York 1 Woodfield Social 2, Pendulum 1 County 2, Penn Bowling 0 Royal, Albrighton 3, Village Inn 1 Yale Club 2.
Week nine in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League produced a clash of the Titans as the top two teams squared up to each other. Leaders Whitmore Reans WMC were the hosts to second placed and former leaders ECC ‘A’ and it was ECC ‘A’ who got the 4-3 result to put them level on 14 points with Whitmore who remain in pole position on average. Full Results:Week 9:- ECC ‘B’ 3 Bull 4, Emerald 2 Clveland Arms 5, McGhees 5 Pilot 2, Moreton 3 Royal, Albrighton 4, Swan Compton 4 Brewood British Legion 3, Whitmore Reans WMC 3 ECC ‘A’ 4.
By Alan Towe Website: www.alantowedarts.co.uk