The West Midlands darts scene has been buzzing with intense competition! From nail-biting singles knockouts to the dramatic conclusion of several league seasons, players across the greater Birmingham area have battled for glory. Highlights include C. Day’s thrilling victory in the Sutton and District Singles Knockout, champions being crowned in all five groups of the Sheldon and District Summer League, and Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ clinching the Netherton Thursday Night League Cup. Several other leagues saw fierce battles, with Matthew Cain, Hot Shots, Evonne Taylor, Staffordshire Knot, Jason Lowe, Scott Baker, and Wayne Barratt emerging as top contenders in their respective divisions.
Sutton & District League: Singles Knockout Thrills
The Sutton and District League hosted its highly anticipated Singles Darts Knockout finals at the Walmley Sports and Cricket Club. The competition was fierce, with players battling through the rounds.
Knockout Highlights:
- Quarter-finalists making their exit included B. Cadby (Charley’s Flights), N. Clarke (Bishop Vesey), J. Grainger (Nomads @ Hollyfields), and S. Caswell (Plough and Arrows).
- The semi-finals saw two decisive 2-0 victories: S. Abbott (Bishop Vesey) defeated C. Reilly (Sutton Sports), and C. Day (Rise Club) overcame fellow club player O. Day.
- The grand final was a true spectacle, extended to the best of five legs. C. Day ultimately triumphed with a narrow 3-2 victory over S. Abbott, showcasing incredible skill under pressure.
Notable scores from the knockout included a 146b (a 146 checkout, finishing the leg with 146 points) by C. Reilly and a 160b (a 160 checkout) by S. Caswell.
Sheldon & District Summer League: Champions Emerge
With only a few fixtures left, the Sheldon and District Summer League has already seen its champions determined across all five groups. The season brought plenty of drama, including maximums (180 scores) and impressive wins.
Group Champions Overview:
- Group One: Raven Arrows secured the title with a strong 6-2 home win against Highwood, putting them three points clear of Langley Arrows. Notably, Zac Prince and Will Naylor both hit maximums (180s) for Raven Arrows. The Dog Inn Nomads finished the season without a single win.
- Group Two: Kingshurst Labour Club dominated, sealing their championship with a 7-1 away victory at RAFA. They finished four points ahead of Sheldon Marlborough Arrows. Sam Hicks (RAFA) and Stephen Shepherd (Kingshurst Labour Club) both scored maximums (180s).
- Group Three: Lyndon Old Boys claimed the title with fourteen points after completing all their fixtures, just one point ahead of runners-up Raven.
- Group Four: Langley Pints clinched the championship despite a surprising 4-4 home draw with bottom-placed Raven Flights. Their better average secured the title over Maggies, who finished on equal points.
- Group Five: Yardley District Amateur Darts Team topped the table with sixteen points, securing a 7-1 home win against Langley Bulletts. They finished one point ahead of Castle Bromwich Spitfires.
The season saw several maximums (180s) and high checkouts, including a 105 finish by Dylan Willcock (RAFA Arrows).
Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League: Cain Leads the Pack
The Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League is nearing its conclusion, and every game is proving crucial. Matthew Cain is currently leading the pack with 142 points from 55 games, still having seven more to play. He extended his lead with a 3-0 win (including a maximum) and a 2-1 victory over Sophie Cain.
Matthew holds a fifteen-point advantage over second and third-placed Steve Cain and Martin Cooper. Fourth-placed John Burdett, with 110 points from 51 games, has games in hand and could still climb the rankings.
A notable moment this week was Ramone Stevens’ 160 break (scoring 160 with three darts, typically involving a high treble and a double to finish the leg) in his 3-0 win against Roxy Bennet.
Harborne & District League: Cup Semi-Finals Decided
It was cup semi-finals week in the Harborne and District League, with spots in both the League Cup and Consolation Cup finals up for grabs.
League Cup Semi-Finals:
- League leaders Copper Fox ‘R’ secured their place in the final with a tight 4-3 win against seventh-placed Bournville.
- They will face Northfield Darts Club, who impressively defeated fourth-placed Smethwick Cricket Club 5-2.
Consolation Cup Semi-Finals:
- Northfield Conservative Club advanced to the final with a 5-2 victory over Lion Bar, despite a maximum (180) from P. Hughes for Lion Bar.
- Joining them will be Weoley Castle Pub, who overcame Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club with a 4-3 win.
South West Birmingham Clubs League: Stirchley United and E57 Dominate
Now ten games into their fourteen-match season, the South West Birmingham Clubs League sees strong contenders emerging in both divisions.
Division One:
- Stirchley United leads Division One with sixteen points after a 5-2 away win at West Heath CEM. They are two points ahead of Northfield Darts Club, who also won 5-2.
- K. Webb (Stirchley United) and T. Taylor (Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’) both hit maximums (180s).
- In the pre-match doubles, Northfield Darts Club leads with 119 points.
Division Two:
- E57 maintains a two-point lead at the top of Division Two, despite a 4-3 away loss to Bartley Green FC.
- E57 also leads the Division Two pre-match doubles table with 104 points, a fourteen-point lead over Longbridge Warriors.
Camp Hill League: Wakefield Warriors Undefeated
After four fixtures in the Camp Hill League, Wakefield Warriors stand out as the only undefeated team. Their 4-0 run, including a 5-2 home win over Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club, gives them eight points and a two-point lead.
GGSB, Big Bulls Wanderers, and Moseley Arms are all on six points. GGSB and Moseley Arms suffered their first defeats this week. Rosey Mac’s and Sheldon Marlborough Devils are still seeking their first win.
Rowley Monday Night League: Bell and Bostin Darts ‘B’ Lead Strong
The Rowley Monday Night League continues to see dominant performances from its leaders.
Division One:
- Bell boasts an incredible record of eighteen wins from eighteen games, accumulating thirty-six points. Their latest 6-3 win at Snooks gives them a four-point lead over second-placed Gate Hangs Well.
- M. Crumpton (Whiteheath Tavern) hit a maximum (180).
Division Two:
- Bostin Darts ‘B’ leads Division Two with thirty-six points after a 6-3 win at Waterfall.
- Double Tops Micro Bar is six points behind in second place.
- S. Slim (Wheatsheaf), J. Gibbs (Albion), and L. Poultney (Coombes Wood) all recorded 160 breaks (scoring 160 with three darts).
Stourbridge & District Monday Night League: Cup Semi-Finalists Confirmed
The League Cup quarter-finals were the focus for the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League this week, setting up exciting semi-final clashes.
League Cup Semi-Finalists:
- Gornal British Legion delivered a resounding 7-0 whitewash against Bird in Hand.
- League leaders Old Liberal Club secured a 5-2 win over Five Ways.
- Cross advanced with a convincing 6-1 victory against Bull and Bladder.
- Mount Pleasant ‘B’ completed the semi-final lineup with a narrow 4-3 win over Raven.
Stourbridge & District Wednesday Night League: Four-Way Tie at the Top
Week nine of the Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League presents a fascinating scenario with four teams all tied at the top on fourteen points.
Raven, having played nine games, leads on average despite a 5-2 loss to Hollybush. Close behind are Old Liberal Club ‘A’, Stourbridge FC ‘A’, and Ashwood, all with eight games played and recent wins.
Another four teams are hot on their heels, each with twelve points: Chop House, Stourbridge FC Youth, Swan, and Beech Tree Miners.
Netherton Thursday Night 501 League: Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ Lifts the Cup
The League Cup final in the Netherton Thursday Night 501 League saw a decisive victory for Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’, who convincingly defeated third-placed Old Liberal Club 5-1.
Jeff Batham of Old Liberal Club recorded a maximum (180) during the final.
In a rearranged league fixture, Ashwood secured an 8-1 win against Furnace, with Chris Moreton (Ashwood) and Liam Moore (Furnace) both hitting maximums (180s).
Black Country Men’s Super League: Hot Shots Maintain Lead
Week five of the Black Country Men’s Super League brought no changes to the top four positions.
- Hot Shots remain in pole position with a dominant 5-0 home win over Lamp Tavern.
- Cue and Brew are just one point behind, also securing a 5-0 home victory against Townsend Social.
- Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club and Double Tops Micro Bar are tied for third and fourth, both on seventeen points.
West Midlands Ladies Super League: Evonne Taylor Leads Early On
Just three weeks into the West Midlands Ladies Super League, five players still boast a 100% win record.
- Evonne Taylor is at the top with twelve points from multiple 3-0 wins, including victories over Jacqueline Maiden and Lauren Herrington.
- Jacqueline Maiden is also on twelve points but from four games, securing second place after a 3-1 win against Jade Wellings.
- Claire Hobbs dropped to third after a 3-0 defeat by Tara Fullwood.
- Gemma Barrett, Shellbie Guest, and Kelly Aston-Fletcher are all on eight points from two games, showing strong early form.
West Midlands Men’s Super League: Staffordshire Knot Holds Strong
Staffordshire Knot continues to lead the West Midlands Men’s Super League, maintaining their top spot with 153 points from thirty games after a 4-3 home win over Chase Social.
Second-placed Kings Head lost a little ground, only managing a 3-2 home win against third-placed Dog and Partridge. Kings Head now has 137 points, with Dog and Partridge on 121 points. Both chasing teams have a game in hand.
Amblecote RBL Premier League: Jason Lowe Extends Lead
In the Amblecote RBL Premier League, leader Jason Lowe has extended his points tally to an impressive 339 from forty-nine games, thanks to 6-1 wins over Jon Underhill and Rhys Cox.
Second-placed Ian Townsend, with a game in hand, trails Lowe by 57 points after beating Matt Davies 5-2 and Andy Vellender 6-1. Third-placed Nick Fullwell is one point behind Townsend, also with games in hand.
Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League: Baker and Barratt on Top
The Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League continues with strong performances in both divisions.
Division One:
- Scott Baker leads 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 is comfortably ahead in Division Two with 200 points from twenty-six games, after a 7-1 win against Alfie Warrender.
- Second-placed Matt Ford lost ground, falling eleven points behind Barratt after a 5-3 defeat to Dean Showell, who is now just four points behind Ford with two games in hand.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
