Winter League knockout down to last 8

DARTS DIARY with HOLDEN'S BREWERY

- By ALAN TOWE

WITH the Sheldon and District Winter League fast drawing to an end the latest on the fixture card was the preliminary round of their singles knockout which was played down to the last eight players at four different venues with the last two in each venue going through to the next round.

The event attracted a superb 104 entrants and winning their way through to the quarter-finals were Bobby Nixon, Sam Hicks, Stuart Reeve, Stephen Shepherd, Andy Newman, Danny Chiswell, Neil Parsonage and Tom Garfield.

On the agenda for the Kings Norton League was the preliminary round of their League Cup. There were no real shock results, possibly the 10-8 win for Dingle over Stirchley the only surprise as Stirchley are placed sixth in the league and Dingle tenth. Third-placed Bournebrook had a narrow 11-10 victory over Bourneville who are fourth in the league table and in the other game played Longbridge, who are two places off the foot of the table had a 12-9 win over E57 who are next to bottom of the table. N.Reynolds (E57) chalked up the only maximum of the round.

Heartlands Sugardarts M&E Co Double Top League have got their new season underway with a tremendous 26 players. The league is up to week two and of those 26 starters only seven of them remain undefeated.

The number one spot is currently shared by Clive Austin and Steve Cain who have both played and won three games, dropping just the one leg in the process. Third, fourth and fifth-placed Martin Cooper, John Burdett and Alex Downes have all played and won two fixtures while Matthew Cain and Dylan Bloomer are also undefeated but have only played one fixture so far. Emma Cain, Gemma Whatley, Adam Rogers, Charley Demery, Steve McCormack and Matt Richmond are all seeking their first win of the campaign but there is a long way to go in which to get wins under their belts.