Alan Towe - A Look Back In Time - 1st January 2006
The Sheldon and District Winter League have been engaged in the first round of their Punch Bowl. Biggest win of the round went to Saltley Amateur Gardeners who handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their hosts Willclare Sports and Social. B.Rose was in fine form for Malt Shovel as he recorded a nine darts leg breaking with 101, scoring 100 and finishing with 100 as his team won 6-3 against Shard End Social. S.Glynn hit a maximum for the losers. Other players to register a 180 were J.Morrissey (Shard End RBL ’A’) and C.Willmot (Farringdon Social).
Joining Saltley and Malt Shovel in the hat for the draw for round two are, Fordbridge Social, Stechford Social, Mackadown Social, Sheldon Heath Social, Sheldon Dukes, Brook Meadow, Vaughans, Yardley Ex Service Colts, Banbury Club, Farringdon Social and Raven.
On the league front Shard End RBL ’A’ gained a memorable victory in the premier division. Newly promoted from division one, Shard End travelled to Fordbridge Social, the premier division’s reigning champions, and chalked up a surprising but nevertheless tremendous 5-4 victory.
Hillyfields kicked off the new campaign in the Harborne and District 301 League by handing out a 9-0 whitewash to Quinton Members Club and at the time of printing have stretched their winning run to three with further successes against New Inns and Bartley Green Football Club. Also with three opening wins under their belts are Raven, Highlander and the George. Smethwick Labour Club have played two and won them both.
The Open Cup Competition has been on the agenda for the Tamworth Cue Sports League. In group one the quarter finals saw the Globe and Queens ’A’ win through to the semi’s with respective wins over Red Lion ’B’ and Cue Sports Club, while in group two it was White Lion and Royal oak who made the last four at the expense of Mercian and Three Horse Shoes. The semi finals and final will be played off on the 2nd March at the Pip Club.
In the league just one leg of average separates the Globe and Queens ‘A’ at the top of division one, both teams having fifteen points from nine games, while Royal Oak have a two points advantage over their nearest rivals Three Horse Shoes in division two
The Four Oaks and District League have been busy with not only their league fixtures but also their Coronation and Norman Day Cup’s. The most recent league fixtures have seen early pacesetters Good Hope Flights first lose a top of the table clash with Old Oscott WMC by 6-3 and then go down by the same margin to Anvil Nomads and as a result drop down the table to third spot. Midland Red, who beat Kingstanding Ex Servicemen’s. Kingstanding and Rose and Crown have taken over pole position on 14 points with Old Oscott WMC second two points adrift.
In the second round of the Coronation Cup Anvil Nomads and Old Oscott Arrows both won 10-5 against respective opponents Old Oscott WMC and Barn Social. The first round of the Ken Rust Cup saw Good Hope Flights and Bromford Lions go into the hat for round two at the expense of Hill Social and Boldmere Sports.
In the G.U.L.P. Charity League Tigers had their home run of 23 consecutive wins ended when the Barmy Army beat them 4-3. Tigers fought back from 3-1 down to level the match only for the Barmy Army to take the
honours in the final game, extend their winning run to seven games and go two points clear at the top of the table.
Mark Birch has begun the latest Brook Meadow Individual League in a similar fashion as he left the previous, winning and top of the table. Reigning champion Birch has completed eight of the current season’s fixtures and lost just one, he has amassed a total of 34 points, a lead of three over Simon Winters, who in turn is a further three points ahead of both Jason Evans and Ian McFarlane.
League Delegates and Ladies Knockouts were the order of the day for the Small Heath League. The Delegates competition was split into three Groups. Winner of group one was Clive Austin (Mitre), while the winner of group two was Chris Stokes, representing the Victoria 301 Club. Making up the trio of winners was Gunmakers Arms man Neil Parsonage.
Jean Forde of the Red Devils is the new ladies knockout champion. Jean took the title with a final success against Samantha Evans from the Bromford Bridge Members Club ‘B’.
I hope all contributors to my column, readers of Darts World and all darts players everywhere had a wonderful Christmas and I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
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