Darts action is heating up across the West Midlands, with leagues seeing fierce competition, nail-biting finishes, and impressive individual performances. From neck-and-neck title races in the Harborne and District League to thrilling cup finals in Sutton and an undefeated run in Netherton, this week delivered a full spectrum of darts drama. Several players hit the coveted 180, showcasing the high level of talent in the region, while one player achieved a spectacular 170 checkout.
Harborne and District League: A Three-Way Tie at the Top
The Harborne and District League is heading for a thrilling conclusion with only six games left. Three teams are currently **level on 42 points**, setting up a dramatic finish:
- Copper Fox ‘R’: Leads the pack with a superior average and a crucial game in hand after a dominant 7-2 home win against Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club.
- Northfield Darts Club: Sits in second, securing an 8-1 away victory over bottom-placed Windsor Complex.
- Smethwick Cricket Club: Also on 42 points, they matched Northfield’s 8-1 win at Thimble Mill.
Just two points behind, **Northfield Conservative Club** is a strong contender, holding 40 points with a game in hand on Smethwick and a better average. The race for the top spot is wide open!
Individual Highlights: Maximums Scored
Two players hit the maximum 180 this week:
- S. Hercules from Bourneville, during their 8-1 home win over Harborne Social.
- D. Windsor of Lion Bar, in their 6-3 home success against Stag and Three Horseshoes.
Sheldon and District Summer League: Group Leaders Hold Strong
As the Sheldon and District Summer League reaches Week 7, leaders across most groups maintained their positions, despite some tight contests and postponements.
Group One
Raven Arrows continues to lead with 10 points after a 6-2 home win against Trident Spears. **Langley Arrows** are a close second with 9 points, also winning 6-2, with **Richard Mills hitting a 180** for the winners.
Group Two
Kingshurst Labour Club holds onto first place with an away 5-3 win over RAFA Arrows. **Sheldon Marlborough Ridge** is just one point behind with a game in hand after their fixture was postponed.
Group Three
Leaders **Lyndon Old Boys** were surprisingly held to a 4-4 home draw by bottom-placed Hunters Moon. **Langley Flights** are two points adrift but have a game in hand, potentially allowing them to take the lead.
Group Four
The top spot saw a shake-up! Former leaders Station Inn dropped to third after a significant 7-1 home loss to **Langley Pints**. **Maggies** now lead on 8 points (with a game in hand), tied with **CBMC-A** who are second on average after a 6-2 win over Raven Flights. **A. Malloy** of Station Inn did hit a 180 despite his team’s loss.
Group Five
Yardley District Amateur Darts Team remains comfortably at the top with 11 points, two clear of **Castle Bromwich Spitfires** who had their game postponed. **Langley Bullets** are third after a 6-2 win.
South West Birmingham Clubs League: Midway Mayhem
The league has reached its halfway point, and competition is intense in both divisions.
Division One
Stirchley United and **Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club** are **tied on 12 points** at the top. Stirchley United edged out Kings Norton 4-3 in a direct clash, a game which also featured a **180 from R. Foxhall** for Kings Norton. **Northfield Darts Club** lost ground, falling four points behind the leaders.
A notable individual performance saw **S. Smith of West Heath CEM** achieve a spectacular **153 game-shot** in his team’s 4-3 victory over Bournbrook.
Division Two
E57 holds a two-point lead after a close 4-3 home win against second-placed Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’. **Cue Club** is four points behind but has two games in hand, making them a strong contender for the lead.
Sutton and District League: Cup Glory
The Sutton and District League celebrated its cup finals this week, with two teams adding silverware to their collections.
- Prestridge Shield Final: Division one champions **Highcroft Hotdogs** defeated Drakes Drum 5-4. **Jordan Alexander** hit a 180 for the champions.
- Roy Bird Cup Final: **Charley’s Flights** claimed the title with a convincing 7-2 victory over Minworth Bulls.
Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League: Cain vs. Cain and a 170 Break!
The individual competition in this league is heating up, with **Steve Cain** facing a challenging week but retaining his lead.
- Despite a mixed week of results (losing 2-1 to John Burdett, winning 3-0 against Ryan Cain, and losing 3-0 to Matthew Cain), **Steve Cain** remains top with 133 points from 61 games.
- Second-placed **Matthew Cain** is closing the gap, now on 125 points from only 48 games, suggesting he could soon overtake Steve.
- **Roxy Bennett** delivered the most stunning moment of the night, recording a **maximum 170 break** in her 3-0 win over George Drennan – an incredibly rare and difficult achievement in darts!
Rowley Monday Night League: Bell’s Unblemished Record
Division One leaders **Bell** maintained their **perfect record** of 28 points from 14 games, even with a postponed fixture. They hold a two-point lead with a game in hand over second-placed Gate Hangs Well.
In Division Two, **Bostin Darts ‘B’** leads with 28 points after a strong 7-2 win. **Double Tops Micro Bar** is second, six points adrift but four clear of third place.
Stourbridge and District Wednesday Night League: Cup Preliminaries
Cup action dominated this week, with teams battling through preliminary rounds.
- League Cup: **Chop House** won 6-1, and **Old Liberal Club ‘A’** secured the biggest win of the round with a dominant 7-0 victory.
- Shadow Cup: Both **Netherton Conservative Club** and **Railway Inn** advanced with 5-2 wins in their respective matches.
Netherton Thursday Night 501 League: The Undefeated Streak Continues
The big question in this league is whether **Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’** can go the entire season undefeated. So far, they have won all 19 of their games, including a 6-3 victory over Bulls Head this week, putting them 15 points clear of fourth place.
Second-placed **Rose and Crown (Wordsley)** are six points behind but have a game in hand after a decisive 9-0 win. Third-placed **Old Liberal Club** sits on 48 points.
Maximums Galore!
A remarkable **five maximum 180s** were scored this week by:
- Kevin Tucker (Gate Hangs Well)
- Steve Tipper (Bulls Head)
- Jonathan Saddington (Netherton Sports and Social Club)
- Dave Cartwright (Furnace)
- Joe Poole (Rose and Crown (Wordsley))
New Gate Inn: Inaugural Knockout Champion Crowned
The very first knockout title at the New Gate Inn was claimed by **Simon Pritchard**, who triumphed with a 5-3 win over Chris Slater in the final.
Wolverhampton Tuesday Night Darts League: Burrell Shield Winners
Division one champions **Junction ‘B’** added another trophy to their cabinet by winning the **Burrell Shield**, defeating Gilbert’s Bar ‘B’ in the final. They had previously overcome Ashmore in the semi-finals.
Other League Updates
Silver End Sunday Morning League
A full round of competitive fixtures saw **Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’** achieve the most decisive victory of the week, winning 8-0 against Old Star ‘B’.
Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League
Players competed fiercely in Week 26, with several dominant performances including **M. Pugh’s 8-0 win** and **S. Baker’s 8-0 victory**.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
