West Midlands Darts: Cup Glory, League Dominance, and Maximum Thrills!
The West Midlands darts scene was buzzing with action this past week, featuring exciting cup finals and intense league battles. Northfield Darts Club triumphed in the South West Birmingham Clubs League’s Bob Price Cup, while Alex Homer clinched the Netherton Thursday Night 501 Captains Cup. In the Rowley Monday Night League, Gate Hangs Well lifted the League Cup and Double Tops Micro Bar secured the Plate. League leaders across various divisions continued their impressive runs: Langley Arrows, Langley Pints, and Shirley Misfits maintained their top spots in the Sheldon and District Winter League. Great Barr Social took over Division One in the Four Oaks and District League, with Plough and Arrows leading Division Two. Northfield Darts Club remained undefeated in the Kings Norton League, as did Wakefield Warriors in the Camp Hill League. Old Liberal Club and Swan led their respective divisions in the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League, and High Acres ‘A’ dominated the Silver End Sunday Morning League. The Stourbridge Wednesday Night League saw a tight race with Raven, Chop House, and Old Liberal Club ‘A’ all tied for first. In the ladies’ circuits, Allen’s Bar ‘B’ and Gemma Barrett held onto their leads, while Staffordshire Knot extended its dominance in the West Midlands Men’s Super League. Finally, Jason Lowe secured his second consecutive Amblecote RBL Premier League title, and Junction ‘B’ continued to lead both singles and doubles in the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League. Many players hit impressive maximums (180s) throughout the week, adding to the excitement.
South West Birmingham Clubs League: Cup Final Thrills
The highly anticipated final of the Bob Price Cup saw a dominant performance from Northfield Darts Club. Facing Division One runners-up Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club, Northfield Darts Club secured a resounding 6-1 victory, with A.Faulkner hitting a maximum (180). This win crowned Northfield Darts Club as champions, leaving Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club as worthy runners-up.
In rearranged league fixtures:
- Division One: Bottom-placed Bournbrook achieved a rare 5-2 away win against Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’, marking only their second victory in fourteen games.
- Division Two: Bartley Green F.C beat Cue Club 5-2. Neither result significantly impacted the league standings.
Sheldon and District Winter League: Leaders Consolidate
As week four of the new season concluded, several teams solidified their positions at the top:
Premier League
- Langley Arrows delivered a crushing 9-0 whitewash against RAFA, maintaining their number one spot with a four-leg average lead.
- Sheldon Marlborough Arrows stayed close behind in second after an 8-1 home win over RAFA Arrows.
- Three teams are tied on six points: Raven Arrows (won 6-3), Mackadown Sports and Social Club (won 5-4), and Trident Spears (won 6-3).
- Maximums (180s) were hit by Will Naylor (Raven Arrows), Ben Proctor (Kingshurst Labour Club), and Paul Nixon (Langley Arrows).
Division One
- Langley Pints surged to the top spot with an impressive 8-1 away win at Hollywood Social Club, making it three straight victories. They now hold a slim one-leg average lead over Lyndon Old Boys, whose game was postponed.
- Sheldon Marlborough Ridge continued their perfect start with a 7-2 win at Moseley Rugby Club, featuring a 180 from Dean Harrison.
Division Two
- Shirley Misfits maintained their dominant lead with an 8-1 home win against Hunters Moon, giving them a two-point cushion.
- Raven Flights secured their third consecutive win, beating Trident Flights 6-3, highlighted by a maximum from Charlie Condon.
Four Oaks and District League: New Leaders Emerge
Division One
- Great Barr Social ascended to the top of the division after a strong 7-2 away win at Nomads @ Hollyfields.
- Former leaders Bishop Vesey dropped to fifth after a 5-4 defeat at St Thomas Lions.
- Edington Arrows, St Thomas Lions, and Kingstanding Inn Lions are all level on points with the leaders.
- Notable individual performances included a 160 break from L.Arnold (Bishop Vesey) and a 180 from J.Beet (Nomads @ Hollyfields).
Division Two
- The top three teams remain undefeated after two games. Plough and Arrows lead on average following an 8-1 home win over Misfits.
- Walmley CSC Flights are just two legs behind after their 6-3 home win against Three Tuns.
- Oscott Social Club sits third, securing a 6-3 home win against Sutton Sharks.
Kings Norton League: Northfield Darts Club’s Perfect Run
Northfield Darts Club continued their flawless season, securing a 6-1 home win against Perfection. With a maximum from L.Fowler, they maintained their perfect eighteen points and a two-point lead at the top of the table. Second-placed Bournbrook also won 5-2, with D.Whitcombe hitting a 180 for Pavillions.
Top Standings (after 9/10 games):
- 1st: Northfield Darts Club (18 points, 9 games played)
- 2nd: Bournbrook (16 points, 9 games played)
- 3rd: Bournville (14 points, 9 games played)
- 4th: Stirchley (14 points, 9 games played)
- 5th: Cock Inn (14 points, 10 games played)
Camp Hill League: Wakefield Warriors Undefeated
Wakefield Warriors maintained their incredible perfect record of eight wins from eight games with a dominant 6-1 home victory over Rosey Mac’s Bar. This impressive run gives them a six-point lead over the chasing pack, which includes Big Bulls Head, GGSB, Moseley Arms, and Wakefield Terriers. Sheldon Marlborough Devils are still searching for their first points of the season.
Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League: Tight Races at the Top
Division One
- Old Liberal Club secured a 6-3 away win at Cabin ‘A’, keeping them at the top on average.
- Chapel House ‘A’ matched their efforts with a 7-2 home win over Baggeridge Social.
- Lamp Tavern, Stump, and Wheatsheaf are all two points behind the top two, each securing victories this week.
Division Two
- Swan leads the division with eight points after a 5-4 home win against Gospel Oak.
- Fountain Inn and Rising Sun are also on eight points, both securing 6-3 home wins.
- Four teams – Jolly Crispin, Mill, White Lion, and Gospel Oak – are on six points, with Rising Sun, Jolly Crispin, Mill, and White Lion having a game in hand.
Silver End Sunday Morning League: High Acres ‘A’ Dominates
Approaching the season’s halfway point, High Acres ‘A’ leads the league with forty-eight points, following a commanding 8-0 home win over Portway. Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ sits second, three points behind but with a game in hand, after their 7-1 away win at Old Star ‘A’.
Netherton Thursday Night 501 League: Captains Cup Crowned
The Captains Cup final saw Alex Homer (Haden Cross) emerge victorious. In the semi-finals, Homer defeated Paul Nicholls (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’) 2-0, while Bobby Carr (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’) beat Chris Hart (Old Liberal Club) 2-1. The final, extended to a best-of-five legs, concluded with Alex Homer winning 3-1 against Bobby Carr.
Rowley Monday Night League: Cup and Plate Winners
The League Cup final saw Gate Hangs Well crowned champions, with J.Benningfield hitting a maximum in their victory over Romsley Cricket Club. The Plate competition was won by Double Tops Micro Bar, who beat Hawthorns Tavern. In a catch-up game, Division One champions Bell secured a 6-3 home win over Wheatsheaf to complete their season fixtures.
Stourbridge Wednesday Night League: Three-Way Tie at the Top
A thrilling three-way tie leads the Stourbridge Wednesday Night League with Raven, Chop House, and Old Liberal Club ‘A’ all on twenty-four points. Raven leads the pack with a game in hand, while Chop House and Old Liberal Club ‘A’ both secured 6-1 home wins this week. Old Liberal Club ‘B’ remains the only team without a point so far.
Black Country Ladies Team Super League: Allen’s Bar ‘B’ Holds On
Allen’s Bar ‘B’ experienced a minor setback, losing 3-2 to second-placed Allen’s Bar ‘A’. Despite the defeat, the ‘B’ team still maintains a comfortable six-point lead at the top, with a game in hand. In the battle of the bottom teams, Allen’s Bar ‘C’ beat Allen’s Bar ‘D’ 5-0.
West Midlands Ladies Super League: Gemma Barrett Leads the Way
Despite a 3-1 loss to Kat McLean, Gemma Barrett holds onto the top spot with thirty-four points from eleven games. Evonne Taylor (thirty-two points from eight games) and Kat McLean (thirty-two points from ten games) are hot on her heels. Hannah Davies secured two 3-0 victories, moving to within one point of McLean.
West Midlands Men’s Super League: Staffordshire Knot Extends Lead
Staffordshire Knot delivered a dominant 5-0 whitewash against Landywood, extending their lead at the top to a substantial seventeen points. Second-placed Kings Head managed a narrow 3-2 home win, as did Dog and Partridge and Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club, who are all part of the chasing pack with a game in hand on the leaders.
Amblecote RBL Premier League: Jason Lowe Secures Back-to-Back Title
Jason Lowe has clinched the Amblecote RBL Premier League title for the second consecutive season, accumulating an impressive 360 points. He finished forty-seven points clear of Paul Wells and Ian Townsend, who both ended on 313 points. Nick Fullwell, with three games remaining, still has a chance to finish as runner-up.
Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League: Junction ‘B’ Dominance
Junction ‘B’ continues to dominate both the singles and doubles leagues. In the singles, they secured a 6-1 home win, maintaining a perfect fourteen points from seven games. Dog and Partridge are also on fourteen points after a 4-3 home win. The doubles league mirrors this, with Junction ‘B’ and Dog and Partridge both unbeaten on fourteen points, Junction ‘B’ holding a slight lead on average.
Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League: Individual Highlights
Individual matches saw strong performances, including a dominant 8-0 win for W.Barratt over Miller Ford and A.Warrender’s 8-0 victory against J.Jones. Other notable results included D.Rich (7-1), O.Garratt (6-2, 7-1), and S.Baker (7-1).
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
