This week in regional darts, the action was intense across multiple leagues and cup competitions. The Highcroft Hotdogs narrowly secured their spot in the Prestridge Shield final with a tight 5-4 victory. Elsewhere, Drakes Drum, Minworth Bulls, and Charley’s Flights also advanced in their respective cup ties. In league play, Northfield Conservative Club (Harborne), Northfield (Kings Norton), Wakefield Warriors (Camp Hill), and Junction ‘B’ (Wolverhampton) continued their dominant runs, while Matthew Cain held his lead in the Heartlands Sugardarts League. The West Midlands Ladies Super League saw a significant shift as Jacqueline Maiden closed the gap on leader Evonne Taylor, promising an exciting finish to the season. Many players delivered spectacular performances, including numerous 180s and high checkouts.
Cup Glory: Hotdogs Lead the Charge!
The semi-finals of two prestigious cup competitions, the Prestridge Shield and the Roy Bird Cup, delivered thrilling contests.
Prestridge Shield Showdowns
- Highcroft Hotdogs vs. Nomads @ Hollyfields: This clash of Division One’s top two teams lived up to its billing as a very close affair. Ultimately, the Highcroft Hotdogs emerged victorious with a narrow 5-4 win, securing their place in the final.
- Rosey Mac’s vs. Drakes Drum: Despite being a bottom-ranked Division One team, Rosey Mac’s faced Drakes Drum, who were three places and eight points ahead. Drakes Drum dominated with a 6-3 win, highlighted by maximum 180s from both J. Lockley and M. Pearce.
Roy Bird Cup Battles
- Minworth Bulls vs. Deer’s Leap: In an all-Division Two fixture, the Minworth Bulls delivered a commanding 7-2 victory, earning their spot in the final.
- Sutton Sports vs. Charley’s Flights: Division One side Charley’s Flights defeated their Division Two opponents, Sutton Sports, 6-3. Notable performances included a maximum 180 from Sutton Sports’ C. Reilly and an impressive 160 break from B. Cady for Charley’s Flights. (A “160 break” means scoring 160 points in a single turn, often as part of a high-scoring finish).
League Action Heats Up Across the Region
Beyond the cup drama, league tables saw continued battles for supremacy and crucial points.
Harborne and District League: Leaders Stumble, Race Tightens
Game week seventeen brought some surprises but no major shifts in the top eight. Northfield Conservative Club, despite leading with thirty points, suffered only their second defeat in seventeen games, losing 5-4 at home to third-placed Northfield Darts Club. This result puts Northfield Darts Club within two points of the leaders with a game in hand. Second-placed Copper Fox ‘R’ also sits on twenty-eight points with two games in hand, making the title race incredibly close. Smethwick Cricket Club moved into fourth with twenty-eight points after a 5-4 win over Copper Fox ‘M’.
Six maximum 180s were recorded this week by:
- M. Collins (Smethwick Cricket Club)
- A. Harvey (Copper Fox ‘M’)
- M. Bennett (Bourneville)
- M. Warr (Weoley Castle WMC)
- A. Busby (Northfield Conservative Club)
- J. Evitts (Northfield Darts Club)
Kings Norton League: Northfield’s Unstoppable Streak Continues
Northfield extended their incredible winning streak to twenty-one consecutive games, securing a 4-3 victory at E57. With forty-two points, they hold a commanding ten-point lead over second-placed Greenlands, who won 6-1 against Longbridge. Bournebrook is hot on Greenlands’ heels, two points behind after their 4-3 home win against Stirchley. Fourth-placed Bourneville, despite being sixteen points adrift, has three games in hand to close the gap.
Individual highlights included maximum 180s from M. Poolton (Dingle) and N. Porter (E57), plus a 160 break from J. Downer (Greenlands).
Sheldon and District Winter League: Arrows Crowned Champions
The Sheldon Shield finals took center stage as the season draws to a close. In the semi-finals:
- Premier League contenders Sheldon Marlborough Arrows defeated RAFA 4-3.
- A major upset saw Division Two side CBMC-A triumph 5-2 over Division One’s Banbury Club.
The final saw Sheldon Marlborough Arrows crowned champions with a decisive 6-1 win over CBMC-A.
Rearranged league fixtures also saw action:
- Division One: Sheldon Marlborough Ridge secured fourth place with a 9-0 whitewash against champions RAFA Arrows. Trident Spears finished third after an 8-1 win. Bottom-placed Station Inn recorded only their third win of the season, beating Yardley Ex Colts 6-3.
- Division Two: A crucial match between leaders Langley Pints and second-placed Maggies ended in a close 5-4 win for Maggies. This leaves Maggies four points behind with two games in hand, while Langley Pints has one game left. Despite the loss, Langley Pints holds a superior average, making them likely champions even if Maggies win out. Mason Webb hit a maximum 180 for Langley Pints.
Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League: Cain Brothers Battle for Top Spot
Matthew Cain solidified his pole position with two crucial 2-1 victories against second-placed Steve Cain and third-placed Ryan Cain, accumulating seventy-six points. Steve Cain, despite a later 3-0 win, dropped to third, six points behind Matthew. Ryan Cain had a tough night, falling to fifth. Martin Cooper climbed to second place, just two points behind Matthew Cain with a game in hand, after three dominant 3-0 wins. John Frost sits in fourth.
The week’s only maximum 180 came from Stuart Bloomer in his 3-0 victory over Clive Austin.
Camp Hill League: Wakefield Warriors Maintain Perfect Record
Wakefield Warriors continued their undefeated run, securing a 5-2 away win against Cotterills Lane EBAHA Club, featuring a maximum 180 from D. Davis. With twenty-two points from eleven games, they hold a four-point lead over second-placed Diggitys Bar, who won 4-3 at home against GGSB. J. Evans and J. Humphries both hit 180s for Diggitys Bar.
South West Birmingham Clubs League: Northfield Darts Club Takes Division One
The league has concluded its fixtures, with Northfield Darts Club claiming the Division One title, finishing with twenty-one points after a 6-2 win over Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’. Stirchley United secured the runner-up spot. Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club won the pre-match Division One doubles title.
In Division Two, West Heath CEM achieved a double victory, winning both the league title (twenty-four points) and the pre-match doubles title (129 points), outperforming E57 and Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’ respectively.
Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League: Quarry Bank Liberal Club Nears Title
With only three fixtures remaining, Quarry Bank Liberal Club is on the brink of securing the title, needing just one more win. Their dominant 9-0 home victory against Stump gives them a six-point lead over second-placed Red Cow ‘1’, who won 7-2. Gornal British Legion is in third place, ten points behind the leaders.
Stourbridge and District Monday Night League: Top Teams Deliver Whitewashes
The top three teams all delivered convincing 7-0 whitewashes this week. Leaders Old Liberal Club (with a 155 finish from S. Tipper) won at home, second-placed Cross won away, and third-placed Gornal British Legion won at home. Old Liberal Club remains undefeated with twenty-two points from eleven games, followed by Cross (twenty points from ten games) and Gornal British Legion (eighteen points from ten games).
Netherton Thursday Night 501 League: Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ Unbeaten
Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ continued their impressive run, extending their undefeated streak to thirteen games with a 7-2 home win against Haden Cross. This gives them a six-point lead over second-placed Rose and Crown (Wordsley), who have a game in hand after their own 7-2 victory. Old Liberal Club is in third, twelve points behind the leaders with two games in hand.
The week saw four maximum 180s hit by:
- Darren Hadlington (Haden Cross)
- Chris Moreton (Rose and Crown (Wordsley))
- Will Cairns (Townsend Social Club)
- Kevin Tucker (Gate Hangs Well)
Amblecote RBL Premier League: Lowe Targets Title Retention
Reigning champion Jason Lowe is firmly on track to retain his title, adding a 6-1 win over Tom Hanson and a 7-0 success against Steve Gillam. He now has 193 points from twenty-six games. Nick Fullwell climbed to second place (171 points) with two 7-0 wins, while Ian Townsend slipped to third (155 points).
Black Country Men’s Super League: Allen’s Bar ‘A’ Holds Top Spot
Allen’s Bar ‘A’ maintained their pole position with a 4-1 home win over Bostin Darts 180 Bar, giving them 122 points. They are just two points ahead of second-placed Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club, who secured a 5-0 home win. Quarry Bank Liberal Club is third with 117 points, having played one more game.
West Midlands Ladies Super League: Maiden Closes on Leader Taylor
Week twenty-seven saw a crucial fixture as Jacqueline Maiden defeated leader Evonne Taylor 3-1. This victory puts Maiden in second place, just two points behind Taylor and six points clear of third-placed Gemma Barrett, who won 3-0. The title race is now wide open.
West Midlands Men’s Super League: Staffordshire Knot Leads Tight Race
Staffordshire Knot kept their title hopes alive with a 3-2 home win against third-placed Dog and Partridge, reaching seventy-two points from fifteen games. They hold a four-point lead over second-placed Kings Head, who also secured a 3-2 home victory.
Rowley Monday Night League: Bell and Bostin Darts ‘B’ Undefeated
Approaching the halfway mark, Bell leads Division One with a perfect nine wins from nine games, including a 7-2 win at Hawthorns Tavern. They are four points clear of second-placed Gate Hangs Well. In Division Two, Bostin Darts ‘B’ also boasts an unbeaten record (nine wins from nine games), maintaining a two-point lead over Double Tops Micro Bar.
Notable 160 breaks were achieved by L. Dabbs (Bell) and I. Vincent (Waterfall).
Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League: Pritchard Leads, Baker Climbs
Simon Pritchard remains at the top of Division One with 101 points despite not playing this week. His closest rival, Chris Manoila, lost ground with an 8-0 defeat to reigning champion Scott Baker, who is steadily climbing the table and is now fourth with eighty-two points and five games in hand. In Division Two, Wayne Barratt leads with 114 points, eight clear of Neville Quinton.
Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League: Junction ‘B’ Dominates Both Leagues
Junction ‘B’ continued their phenomenal run in the singles league, securing their thirty-fourth consecutive win with a 6-1 victory at Three Crowns. They lead by eight points over Dog and Partridge ‘B’. Junction ‘B’ also leads the doubles league with fifty-four points, closely followed by Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’, Golden Lion ‘A’, and New Gate Inn, all on fifty-two points.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
