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Article: Birmingham Mail - A Midland Round-up by Alan Towe - 2023-03-29

Birmingham Mail - A Midland Round-up by Alan Towe - 2023-03-29

It was League Cup semi-finals week in the Sheldon and District Winter League and in the premier division games the top two teams in the division Sheldon Marlborough Arrows and Langley Arrows squared up to each other. The result was a 6-3 win for divisional leaders Sheldon Marlborough Arrows. Sheldon Marlborough Arrows will now take on Highwood Gerry’s Boys in the final after they beat Sheldon Dukes 7-2.

The last four games in division one produced a shock result for second in the division The Dingle who lost 6-3 to third in the division Yardley Ex Colts who are just two points behind their opponents but have played one game more than Yardley. Hornet reached the final after their 7-2 win against Maggies in the other semi-final game.

Current division two leaders The Trident Spears suffered a 5-4 defeat in their game against Iron Horse Rebels who are third in the divisional table two points behind Trident Spears but with two games in hand. Former division two leaders Brian’s Flights booked their final place with a 6-3 win against Sheldon Marlborough Ridge.

Full Results:League Cup:Semi-Finals:Premier Division:- Langley Arrows 3 Sheldon Marlborough Arrows 6, Highwood Gerry’s Boys 7 (Nathan Wykes 100f) Sheldon Dukes 2, Division One:- Yardley Ex Colts 6 (Pete Hill 101f) The Dingle 3, Maggies 2 Hornet 7, Division Two:- Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 3 Brian’s Flights 6 (Jamie Masefield 100f), Iron Horse Rebels 5 The Trident Spears 4.

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In division one of the Four Oaks and District League Highcroft Social and The Old Horns Lions swapped places in the table after Highcroft suffered a huge 8-1 defeat playing away against Old Horns Lions and as a result Old Horns Lions move up one place in the table to third on twenty points, two more than their opponents who drop down one place to fourth. Divisional leaders Nomad Flights had a 6-3 home win over Walmley CSC Flights to give them twenty-two points and a lead of two over Old Oscott Arrows and Old Horns Lions, Old Oscott Arrows having a 5-4 win playing away against fifth in the table Bishop Vesey.

A 7-2 away win over bottom of the division Sutton Sports and Social sees Oscott Social Club hold on to their lead at the top of division two, second placed Minworth Flights keeping that lead down to just two points with a 6-3 win at The Scott Armers. Third and fourth placed Erdington Arrows and The Scott Armers are both on eighteen points, eight points short of the leaders, Erdington having a close 5-4 win at Plough and Arrows.

Fuill Results:Match 14:Division One:- Nomad Flights 6 (C.Winters 152b,108f,9 darts game, K.Smith 121,100, C.Martin 108b, T.Colley 111f) Walmley CSC Flights 3 (Ben Liggins 100, Richard Smith 102f, Jamie Meredith 115b), Highcroft Social 4 (Tom Pallett 140,100,114, Lee Shorthouse 2x100, Kevin Shorthouse 100, Steve Paling 140) Red Lion 5 (Lee Vickers 123,127, Dane Vickers 109b,111b,100, Jimmy Collins 108b,137, Tim Vickers 121, Ryan Lowe 125), The Old Horns Lions 8 (Mark Ashton 150b, Fred Naylor 2x100, J.Greaves 140, Dave Pickering 121, Andy Kimberley 115b, Barry Stephens 121,104f) Heartlands 1 (John Frost 116, Jordan Rogers 2x100, George Drennan 2x100, Jim Frost 100), Bishop Vesey 4 (Nigel Smallwood 125,103b, Chris Sammons 121,100, Dave Walton 100,135, Nick Sammons 140, Mark Wild 100, Stuart Abbott 100) Old Oscott Arrows 5 (M.Page 125, D.Page 112b, D.Parsons 125, Phil Locke 162,121), Charley’s Flights 3 (Jackson Jones 140, Paul Nicholls 2x100b, Kevin Hewings 100, Dean G.Bond 137) Golden Hind Lions 6 (Darren Haynes 131, Marc Pearce 100,180, Craig Turner 138, Alan Lilley 100, Neil Goldie 100b), Division Two:- Sutton Sports and Social 2 (John Paul Roddy 112b, Gary Hinett 121, Courtney Marston 123) Oscott Social Club 7 (Tom Whyley 2x100, Alan Whitehouse 133,100, Gary Bushell 100b), The Funky Bear 6 (Lee Williams 100, George Robotham 100,112b, Ervine Stambollin 140, Mike Lucas 137, Simon Robotham 100) Rosey Mac’s 3 (Neil Bradley 100,116, Peter Ellis 116b, Steven Wintle 2x100, Matthew Clarke 121, John Cox snr 100), St Thomas Arrows 5 (Dean Wakelam 114, Chris Connelly 100, Gill Lynch 100) Pint Pot Flights 4 (Pete Smith 100, Nigel Robbins 135), Deer’s Leap 7 (Darryl Rodgers 100, Anthony Kimberley 2x100, Tom Ross 121, Luke Sinclair 100b, Phillip Billings 140, Adam Dunn 2x100) Sutton Sharks 2 (Chris Gardener 100,105f, Jon Bodden 100, Frank Davis 100), The Scott Armers 3 (Mark Felkin 100b, Luke Parry 100,177, Shane Kelly 140, John Parry 100b,111, Tom Kelly 100b) Minworth Flights 6 (Neil Clarke 135, Jason Prince 109b,135, Keith Deeley 100,117, Zac Prince 136, Martin Partridge 100), Plough and Arrows 4 (Reece Davies 100, Danny Hughes 100b,115f, Kieran Gow 100,140) Erdington Arrows 5 (L.Dells 140).

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Dunky’s Boys extended their unbeaten run in division one of the Shirley and District Monday Night League to eleven games when they added a 7-2 away win over Lions at the same time keeping intact their four points advantage over second in the division Sharmans Swords who had a narrow 5-4 home win over Magpies who are next to bottom of the table. A further two points adrift is third placed Tippetts Bar after they won 7-2 at Shirley Legion Royals.

Saracens Misfits have extended their lead at the top of division two to four points after their 6-3 win at Yardley Wood Social Club, second placed Wharf had a bye and third in the division Highwood suffered a 9-0 walkover by HSCC. Saracens Slingers also had a 9-0 walkover in what should have been their fixture with Sharmans Cross.

Full Results:Game 11:Division One:- Lions 2 Dunky’s Boys 7, Sharmans Swords 5 Magpies 4, Cider House 4 Vikings 5, Shirley Legion Royals 2 Tippetts Bar 7, Solihull Municipal had a bye. Division Two:- HSCC 9 Highwood 0, Yardley Wood Social Club 3 Saracens Misfits , Saracens Slingers 9 Sharmans Cross 0, Wharf and Saracens Head had a bye.

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With games now fast running out in the South West Birmingham Clubs League a 7-2 win at Perfection has guaranteed West Heath CEM the league title. The win takes West Heath’s points tally to thirty-five, seven more than second and third placed Avenue Social and Longbridge United, Both teams have a game in hand on the leaders but the most they could achieve is thirty-four points, one fewer than the champions. In their latest fixtures Avenue Social won 5-3 at bottom of the table Stirchley Flights and Longbridge United won by the same margin at Quarry Lane who are fourth in the table on eighteen points. Quarry Lane however could finish top of the Shadow League as they have eleven points from nine games with one to play and their nearest rivals Bartley Green are on eight points with two to play.

In the Pre Match Doubles division its West Heath CEM who top the table once again, their 244 points a massive sixty-two more than second placed Avenue Social.

Full Results:Game 20:- Perfection 1 West Heath CEM 7, Stirchley Flights 3 Avenue Social 5, Northfield Conservative 5 Bournbrook 3, Bartley Green 4 Stirchley Tascos 4, Quarry Lane 3 Longbridge United 5, Moseley A.S.C. had a bye.

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On the fixture card for the Netherton Thursday Night League was the first leg of the semi-finals of their Andy Bastable Trophy which saw current league leaders Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ take on Hill and Cakemore. Despite a 160 checkout for Hill and Cakemore’s J.Bland the 6-3 result went to Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ whose P.Tonks chalked up a maximum. The second semi also finished with a 6-3 scoreline as second in the league Netherton Sports and Social Club ‘A’ won against Townsend Social Club who are placed fifth in the league.

Full Results:Andy Bastable Trophy:Semi-Finals First Leg:- Hill and Cakemore 3 (J.Bland 160f) Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 6 (P.Tonks 180), Townsend Social 3 Netherton Sports and Social ‘A’ 6.

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It was a week of shock results in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League with league leaders Allens ‘A’ losing 4-3 at home against fifth in the table Vine ‘A’ and Horseley Tavern, who were second in the league going down 4-3 at Ivy Bush, Horseley dropping two places to fourth while Ivy Bush, whose Dev Samra recorded a maximum, move up one place to sixth. Despite their defeat Allens ‘A’ hold on to pole position with ten points but now their ‘B’ side who won 7-0 at Vine ‘B’ join them on the same ten points and in addition third and fourth placed Cottage Spring and Horseley Tavern are also both on ten points. Cottage Spring having a 5-2 win at Sow and Pigs who are next to bottom of the table. There was a rare win for Tamebridge, only their second in six games when they won their home tie with seventh placed Waggon and Horses 5-2 to lift them up one place to three off the foot of the table.

Full Results:Game 7:- Vine ‘B’ 0 Allens ‘B’ 7, Sow and Pigs 2 Cottage Spring 5, Tamebridge 5 Waggon and Horses 2, Allens ‘A’’ 3 Vine ‘A’ 4, Ivy Bush 4 (Dev Samra 180) Horseley Tavern 3, Albion had a bye.

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Cross (Oldswinford) have taken their undefeated record to game number twenty-one in the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League with a 5-2 win away against Raven, however despite their fine run in the league Cross only have a slender two points lead over second placed Old Liberal Club who made it twenty wins in twenty-one games when they, with a 160 break from Kevin Bambrick, won 6-1 at Netherton Conservative Club who as a result drop from third in the table to fifth with 32 points but with a game in hand on the leaders who are some ten points to the good on them. The Princess have taken over the number three spot following their 5-2 home success over Seven Stars to leave them eight points off the top but two ahead of fourth placed Ten Arches and Netherton Conservative Club, Ten Arches winning 5-2 at Bird in Hand.

At the foot of the table Glasscutters, after twenty-one games are still seeking their first points of the campaign their latest home fixture seeing them go down 4-3 against Crestwood.

Full Results:Game 22:- Mount Pleasant 5 Fox Inn (Lye) 2, Glasscutters 3 (J.Prescott 160b) Crestwood 4, Britannia 0 Gate Hangs Well 7, Old Cat Inn 2 Church Tavern 5, Netherton Conservative Club 1 Old Liberal Club 6 (K.Bambrick 160b), Bell 3 Rose and Crown ‘A’ 4, The Princess 5 Seven Stars 2 (S.Kendrick 156b), Bird in Hand 2 Ten Arches 5, The Raven 2 Cross (Oldswinford) 5, Rose and Crown ‘B’ had a bye.

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After completing the opening nine games in the Rowley Monday Night League just one leg of average separates the top two teams and there is only a four legs difference between the top three. Gate Hangs Well handed out a 9-0 whitewash to their visiting team Romsley Cricket Club to put them top of the pile while second placed Hill and Cakemore won their home tie with Spring Meadow 6-3 and third in the table White Swan, who also had a home game won by the same 6-3 margin against Waterfall. Fourth in the league Bell were 6-3 winners at Rowley Labour Club and with fourteen points are two behind the leading trio.

Full Results:Game 9:- Huntingtree 3 Wonder 6, Tividale FC 2 (J.Tart 160b) Whiteheath Tavern 7, Gate Hangs Well 9 Romsley Cricket Club 0, White Swan 6 Waterfall 3, Plough and Harrow 2 (K.Chambers 152b) Windmills End 7, Rowley Labour Club 3 Bell 6, Hill and Cakemore 6 Spring Meadow 3 (T.Whitehouse 180), Loyal Lodge 6 Rowley Bar and Grill 3.

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The Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League are up to game number fourteen of a scheduled twenty-two fixtures and this week’s results had no effect on the league positions whatsoever, however the week did bring together the league’s top two teams leaders Gornal Labour Club and reigning champions and currently lying second in the table Old Bulls Head. Although they had home advantage Old Bulls Head finished on the wrong side of the 5-4 result, they remain in the number two spot but are now four points behind Gornal Labour Club who have won thirteen of their fourteen games so far. Now on twenty-two points Old Bulls Head are joined by third and fourth placed New Inn and White Horse who in turn had a 7-2 home win over Meadow Lark and an 8-1 success over Chainyard, White Horse also having a home game.

Full Results:Game 14:- Old Bulls Head 4 Gornal Labour Club 5, Pensnett Liberal Club 4 Jolly Crispin 5, New Inn 7 Meadow Lark 2, White Horse 8 Chainyard 1, The Cabin 3 Five Ways 6, Red Cow 5 Griffin 4.

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The latest fixtures in the West Midlands Men’s Super League brought together the league’s top two teams leaders Kings Head ‘A’ and second placed Dog and Partridge. With both teams having won all of their games at this point something just had to give and it was the home side Kings Head ‘A’ that finished the 3-2 losers. Despite the defeat Kings Head ‘A’ remain in pole position with thirty-nine points from seven games with Dog and Partridge, now the only undefeated team in the league, second but only one point behind the leaders with a game in hand. Third placed Gilbert’s ‘B’ are on the same 38 points as Dog and Partridge after their 3-2 home win over ECC, however like the league’s current leaders they have played seven games, again one more than Dog and Partridge.

Full Results:Game 8:- Bridgtown Social 5 Gilbert’s ‘C’ 0 (Glen McGrandle 4 Tom Hollowood 2, Kevin Bambrick 4 Keith Hollowood 0, Ian Jones 4 Adam Teasdale 0, Mick Baker 4 Alex Simmons 0, Mark Craddock 4 Doug Cotton 1), Gilbert’s ‘D’ 4 Three Crowns 1 (Luke Shaw 4 Jon Williams 0, Rushpal Bhogal 1 Roger Ward 4, Chris Hill 4 Emmet Leonard 2, Rob Pitt 4 Riley Ward 1, Chris Evans 4 Paul Penfold 0), Kings Head ‘A’ 2 Dog and Partridge 3 (Chris Stanley 3 Gavin Baker 4, Richard Platt 4 Darren Williams 0, Owen Maiden 3 Ash Khayat 4, Mark Maiden 3 Sam Guest 4, Matthew Dennant 4 Wayne Jones 2), Chase Social 1 Staffordshire Knot 4 (Jarryd Lawley 0 Scott Hall 4, Sean Craig 0 Paul Price 4, Kieron O’Mahoney 4 Luke Wildman 2, Adam Johnson 1 Mark Rollinson 4, Jordan Craig 2 Ian Stanton 4), Gilbert’s ‘B’ 3 ECC 2 (Ryan O’Connor 4 Luke Griffiths 3, Rob Thompson 4 Mark Curly 1, Ben Johnson 1 Karl Hughes 4, Dan Nicholls 2 Jack Aldridge 4, Martin Price 4 Ryan Locker 2), Corpus Christi 2 Kings Head ‘B’ 3 (Andrew Javis 4 Stewart Pryce 2, Craig Jones 3 Kevin Taylor 4, Kieron O’Driscoll 0 Martin East 4, Pat Garner 2 Clarke Cook 4, Mark Watkiss 4 Craig Capewell 2), Gilbert’s ‘A’ had a bye.

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Leader of the Black Country Thursday Night Singles League Rich Bowen had a rather quiet start to week five when he was held to a 4-4 draw by third in the league Benjamin Hollowood but he then got better and better as he followed up with a 5-3 win against Shane Price and ended the evening by handing Ashley Ralph an 8-0 whitewash to take his points tally from twelve games to 95, eight more than his nearest rival Nick Fullwell who has played eleven games the latest of which saw him go down 5-3 to Benjamin Hollowood but then by the same scoreline beat fourth in the league Gareth Johnston and finish the evening on a high with a 6-2 success over Danny Knight. Following his two great results over the league’s top two players Benjamin Hollowood won his third game of the night against Shane Passey 5-3 to give him a total of 75 points from ten games and a lead of four over Gareth Johnston who after his defeat to Fullwell was then held to a 4-4 draw by Dennis Bull and finished with a 6-2 win over Cheryl Allcock.

Full Results:Week 5:- Benjamin Hollowood 5 Nick Fullwell 3, Shane Price 7 Nick Whitehouse 1, Shane Passey 7 Danny Knight 1, Benjamin Hollowood 4 Rich Bowen 4, Nick Fullwell 5 Gareth Johnston 3, Alex Mason 5 Ashley Ralph 3, Alex Howells 5 Shane Passey 3, Rich Bowen 5 Shane Price 3, Gareth Johnston 4 Dennis Bull 4, Cheryl Allcock 7 Ashley Ralph 1, Benjamin Hollowood 5 Shane Passey 3, Nick Fullwell 6 Danny Knight 2, Nick Whitehouse 7 Alex Mason 1, Gareth Johnston 6 Cheryl Allcock 2, Dennis Bull 4 Alex Howells 4, Rich Bowen 8 Ashley Ralph 0, Shane Price 6 Danny Knight 2.

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Nick Fullwell heads the Ashwood Premier League table but didn’t play in week thirteen, nevertheless he remains top of the league with 152 points from his twenty-four games. Chris Williams kicked off the night with a 4-3 win over fifth in the league Gavin Smith but then slipped to a 5-2 defeat by Reece Colley to see him drop one place in the table to third and six points behind Josh Pickett who lost his opener against Reece Colley 5-2 but quickly recovered to beat Jack Pritchard 6-1 and follow that with a similar 6-1 win over Tony Bennett to put him on the same 152 points as Fullwell but from twenty-eight games.

Full Results:Week 13:- Reece Colley 5 Josh Pickett 2, Mitch Pickett 5 Tony Bennett 2, Ben Watts 5 Carl Hipkiss 2, Reece Colley 7 Paul Pollard 0, Chris Eacock 4 Matt Davies 3, Chris Williams 4 Gavin Smith 3, Dave Simpson 5 Sam Aitkens 2, Cayden Smith 7 John Green 0, Martyn Harper 6 Jack Pritchard 1, Carl Hipkiss 4 Ash Marson 3, Chris Fox 7 Tony Bennett 0, Rob Pierce 6 Jake Robinson 1, Jayden Harper 5 Craig Lowin 2, Chris Manoila 4 Jon Underhill 3, Mark Jones 7 Alan Bate 0, Josh Pickett 6 Jack Pritchard 1, Tom Stockton 6 Wozza Pritchard 1, Andy Vellender 5 Shane Passey 2, Sam Aitkens 7 Mitch Pickett 0, John Green 4 Chris Eacock 3, Reece Colley 5 Chris Williams 2, Shane Passey 5 Matt Davies 2, Wozza Pritchard 4 Jake Robinson 3, Gavin Smith 5 Ben Watts 2, Neil Murphy 5 Mark Jones 2, Jack Pritchard 7 Paul Pollard 0, Ash Marson 5 Tony Bennett 2, Cayden Smith 5 Neil Murphy 2, Chris Fox 5 Jon Underhill 2, Martyn Harper 4 Andy Vellender 3, Rob Pierce 5 Craig Lowin 2, Tom Stockton 5 Chris Manoila 2, Reece Colley 4 Dave Simpson 3, Alan Bate 5 Jayden Harper 2, Josh Pickett 6 Tony Bennett 1.

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Ben Johnson didn’t play in week ten of the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League and as a result loses his top spot in division one to Scott Baker who played two games and won them both 7-1 in turn against Jon Blakemore and Wayne Willis to put him on 74 points from ten games. Johnston drops to second place seven points short of Baker with a game in hand. Ian Stanton moves up three places in the division to third after he beat Jamie Webb 6-2 and although he has a game in hand he is twenty-three short of Baker.

Leader of division two Tony Singh was another player not to play this week but he retains his table topping position with 76 points from ten games and has a lead of four over second in the division Colin Wood who despite losing 6-2 to Neville Quinton holds on to the number two spot with a slender lead of one point over third in the table Baljinder Gill who won his game against Luke Shinton 8-0.

In division three Michele Pritchard was held to a 4-4 draw by Thomas Hollowood and as a result loses pole position in the division to Alan Melling whose 6-2 win against Joe Bartolo takes him top of the table with 87 points from ten games and although he only has one point more than Michele Pritchard he has two games in hand on her.

Full Results:Week 10:- Wayne Willis 4 Steve Lynch 4, Martin Price 7 Paul Price 1, Simon Pritchard 5 Phil Clarke 3, Martin Angell 4 John Simms 4, Jon Blakemore 1 Scott Baker 7, Jamie Webb 2 Ian Stanton 6, Reece Cook Lucas 2 Rushpal Bhogal 6, Martin Price 7 Wayne Willis 1, Scott Baker 7 Wayne Willis 1, Jon Williams 6 Luke Shinton 2, Malcolm Pugh 4 Clark Cook 4, Chris Hill 3 Jason Hough 5, Nathan Jones 0 Baljinder Gill 8, Ben Smith 6 Jason lloyd 2, Neville Quinton 6 Colin Wood 2, Luke Shinton 0 Allan Davies 8, Nathan Jones 1 Chris Hill 7, Jamie Aplin 6 Sandra Beardsmore 2, Gemma Barrett Jenkins 8 Alex Bryant 0, Robert Harris 8 Helen Sims 0, Sara Emma Jones 7 Jacqui Simmons 1, Andy Poole 0 Artur Lubkowski 8, Joe Bartolo 2 Alan Melling 6, Michele Pritchard 4 Thomas Hollowood 4.

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