West Midlands Darts Scene Explodes: Champions Crowned, Knockouts Conquered!
The darts scene across the greater Birmingham area and wider West Midlands was a whirlwind of activity this week, featuring thrilling individual knockouts, decisive league finales, and ongoing battles for supremacy. From the crowning of new singles champions to the dramatic conclusions of various league groups, players delivered high-stakes action, showcasing incredible skill and competitive spirit. This round-up provides a quick summary of all the key winners and standout performances for those eager to catch up on the region’s vibrant darts world.
Sutton and District League: Singles Knockout Crowned
The Sutton and District League hosted its highly anticipated Singles Darts Knockout finals at the Walmley Sports and Cricket Club, delivering a thrilling display of individual talent.
The quarter-finals saw several strong contenders exit, including B.Cadby (Charley’s Flights), N.Clarke (Bishop Vesey), J.Grainger (Nomads @ Hollyfields), and S.Caswell (Plough and Arrows).
In the semi-finals, both matches concluded with decisive 2-0 victories:
- S.Abbott (Bishop Vesey) defeated C.Reilly (Sutton Sports).
- C.Day (Rise Club) triumphed over fellow Rise Club player O.Day.
The grand final was a nail-biting affair, extended to the best of five legs. C.Day ultimately emerged victorious, securing a narrow 3-2 win against S.Abbott in a truly hard-fought contest.
Sheldon and District Summer League: Champions Emerge Across Five Groups
With only a handful of fixtures remaining, the Sheldon and District Summer League has already seen champions declared across all five of its groups:
- Group One Champions: Raven Arrows secured the title with a dominant 6-2 home win against Highwood, taking their points tally to fourteen. Both Zac Prince and Will Naylor hit impressive maximums (180s) during their decisive game. Second-placed Langley Arrows couldn’t catch them.
- Group Two Champions: Kingshurst Labour Club clinched their title with a final 7-1 victory at RAFA, accumulating sixteen points for the season. Notable performances included maximums from Sam Hicks (RAFA) and Stephen Shepherd (Kingshurst Labour Club).
- Group Three Champions: Lyndon Old Boys finished their fixtures at the top with fourteen points, just one point ahead of runners-up Raven.
- Group Four Champions: Langley Pints surprisingly drew 4-4 at home with bottom-placed Raven Flights, but it was enough to secure the title on average, as they finished on the same thirteen points as second-placed Maggies.
- Group Five Champions: Yardley District Amateur Darts Team finished top with sixteen points after a convincing 7-1 home win over Langley Bulletts, narrowly beating runners-up Castle Bromwich Spitfires by one point.
Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League: Cain Leads Tight Race
The Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League is heading towards a thrilling conclusion. Current leader Matthew Cain has accumulated 142 points from fifty-five games, holding a fifteen-point lead over second and third-placed Steve Cain and Martin Cooper. Matthew also boasts a maximum (180) to his name.
Fourth in the league, John Burdett, could still climb significantly, having played fewer games than those above him. In a notable individual performance, Ramone Stevens recorded a superb 160 break during his 3-0 win against Roxy Bennet.
Harborne and District League: Cup Semi-Finals Drama
It was a crucial week for cup competitions in the Harborne and District League, with intense semi-final clashes:
League Cup Semi-Finals:
- League leaders Copper Fox ‘R’ narrowly defeated seventh-placed Bournville 4-3, securing their spot in the final.
- Northfield Darts Club, currently third in the league, triumphed over fourth-placed Smethwick Cricket Club with a decisive 5-2 victory.
Consolation Cup Semi-Finals:
- Despite a maximum (180) from P.Hughes, Lion Bar lost 5-2 to Northfield Conservative Club.
- Weoley Castle Pub booked their place in the final by winning 4-3 against Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club.
South West Birmingham Clubs League: Stirchley United Dominates Division One
At game ten of its fourteen-match season, the South West Birmingham Clubs League is seeing clear leaders emerge:
Division One:
- Stirchley United leads the way with sixteen points after a 5-2 win at West Heath CEM. K.Webb (Stirchley United) delivered a fantastic 180.
- Second-placed Northfield Darts Club also secured a 5-2 home win.
- Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club lost ground after a 4-3 defeat, despite T.Taylor (Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’) scoring a 180 in that match.
In the pre-match doubles for Division One, Northfield Darts Club holds a strong lead with 119 points.
Division Two:
- E57 tops Division Two, maintaining a two-point lead despite a 4-3 away loss to third-placed Bartley Green FC.
- Second-placed Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’ also lost, falling 5-2 at Kings Norton Arrows.
E57 also leads the Division Two pre-match doubles table with 104 points, a fourteen-point advantage over Longbridge Warriors.
Camp Hill League: Wakefield Warriors Remain Undefeated
After four fixtures in the Camp Hill League, Wakefield Warriors stand out as the only undefeated team among the ten contenders. Their 5-2 home win over Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club brings their total to eight points, giving them a two-point lead.
Chasing them are GGSB, Big Bulls Wanderers, and Moseley Arms, all on six points. GGSB suffered their first loss (4-3), as did Moseley Arms (5-2). Rosey Mac’s and Sheldon Marlborough Devils are still seeking their first victory.
Rowley Monday Night League: Bell’s Perfect Season Continues
The Rowley Monday Night League is witnessing a remarkable performance from Bell in Division One, who boast a perfect record of eighteen wins from eighteen games. Their latest 6-3 victory at Snooks gives them thirty-six points and a four-point lead.
Division One Highlights:
- Bell’s flawless run continues.
- S.Slim (Wheatsheaf) and J.Gibbs (Albion) both recorded impressive 160 breaks.
- M.Crumpton (Whiteheath Tavern) hit a fantastic maximum (180).
Division Two:
- Bostin Darts ‘B’ leads Division Two with thirty-six points after a 6-3 win.
- Double Tops Micro Bar is six points behind in second place.
- L.Poultney (Coombs Wood) also achieved a 160 break.
Stourbridge and District Monday Night League: Cup Semi-Finalists Decided
The Stourbridge and District Monday Night League held its League Cup quarter-finals, setting the stage for exciting semi-final clashes:
- League leaders Old Liberal Club advanced with a 5-2 win against Five Ways.
- Second-placed Gornal British Legion delivered a stunning 7-0 whitewash against Bird in Hand.
- Third-placed Cross secured a convincing 6-1 victory over Bull and Bladder.
- Mount Pleasant ‘B’ completed the semi-final lineup with a narrow 4-3 win over Raven.
Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League: Four Teams Tied at the Top
Week nine of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League shows an incredibly tight race at the top, with four teams all on fourteen points:
- Raven currently leads the table on average, despite a 5-2 loss at Hollybush.
- Old Liberal Club ‘A’, Stourbridge FC ‘A’, and Ashwood are all level on points, having played one game less than Raven.
Another four teams are close behind, all on twelve points, ensuring the coming weeks will be full of intense competition.
Netherton Thursday Night 501 League: Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ Claims Cup
The final of the League Cup in the Netherton Thursday Night 501 League saw a dominant performance from Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’, who defeated third-placed Old Liberal Club with an emphatic 5-1 victory. Jeff Batham notably scored a maximum (180) for Old Liberal Club.
In a rearranged league fixture, Ashwood hosted Furnace and secured an 8-1 win. Both sides celebrated maximums, with Chris Moreton hitting one for Ashwood and Liam Moore for Furnace.
Black Country Men’s Super League: Hot Shots Maintain Pole Position
After week five, the top four positions in the Black Country Men’s Super League remain unchanged:
- Hot Shots hold onto the lead with a commanding 5-0 home win over Lamp Tavern.
- Cue and Brew is close behind in second, just one point adrift, after also securing a 5-0 home victory.
- Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Double Tops Micro Bar are tied for third with seventeen points each.
West Midlands Ladies Super League: Evonne Taylor Leads With Perfect Record
Just three weeks into the season, the West Midlands Ladies Super League is already showcasing strong individual performances. Evonne Taylor leads the league with a perfect 100% win record, accumulating twelve points from four games. She secured 3-0 wins over Jacqueline Maiden and Lauren Herrington.
Jacqueline Maiden is also on twelve points but from four games, placing her second. Other players with a perfect win record from fewer games include Gemma Barrett, Shellbie Guest, and Kelly Aston-Fletcher.
West Midlands Men’s Super League: Staffordshire Knot Holds Strong
At week thirty, Staffordshire Knot continues to lead the West Midlands Men’s Super League with 153 points from thirty games, following a 4-1 home win over Chase Social.
Second-placed Kings Head narrowed the gap slightly, winning their home tie against third-placed Dog and Partridge 3-2. Kings Head now has 137 points, with Dog and Partridge on 121 points, both teams having a game in hand on the leaders.
Amblecote RBL Premier League: Jason Lowe Dominates Individual Standings
In the individual Amblecote RBL Premier League, leader Jason Lowe has extended his points tally to 339 from forty-nine games. His latest wins included 6-1 over Jon Underhill and Rhys Cox.
Second-placed Ian Townsend trails Lowe by fifty-seven points but has a game in hand. Third-placed Nick Fullwell is just one point behind Townsend, also with games in hand, and secured 6-1 and 5-2 wins in his recent matches.
Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League: Barratt Leads Division Two
The Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League continues to deliver exciting individual competition:
Division One:
- Scott Baker tops Division One with 179 points from twenty-one games, following a 5-3 win over Dave Rich.
- Simon Pritchard is second with 170 points but has played four more games.
Division Two:
- Wayne Barratt leads Division Two comfortably with 200 points from twenty-six games after a 7-1 win.
- Second-placed Matt Ford lost ground, falling eleven points behind Barratt after a 5-3 loss to Dean Showell. Showell is now third and closing in, just four points behind Ford with two games in hand.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
