The West Midlands just a point off the top
The West Midlands remain hot on the heels of BDO British Inter-Counties Championship Division Two leaders London after keeping up the pace at the top.
The county darters made it five wins from six fixtures with two left to go before the campaign is concluded,
They next travel to Cumbria for their penultimate league tie of the season on the weekend commencing April 2, before a crucial home finale against London starting April 23.
They were at their home base of Gilberts Bar in Willenhall for two days from last Saturday, welcoming Northamptonshire to the venue.
Play got underway with the ladies B pairings and it couldn't have started any worse for the West Midlands, as they were whitewashed 6-0.
Mary Garling showed what was to come in the very first game, top scoring with an average of 22.77 in a 3-0 landslide over Jacqueline Maiden, whose 18.27 was the highest in reply.
The hosts redressed the balance and ate into the deficit through the men's B proceedings, coming out on top 8-4.
Robert Smith excelled for the West Midlands with the highest average of the weekend in the opening game, racking up 31.31 in a 3-0 shut-out of Curly Connelly (24.76).
Five of their eight victories were by whitewash, with Chuck Scott mustering Northamptonshire's best response with 27.52 in a 3-2 last leg defeat of Gareth Watts (23.51).
The West Midlands were on top after prevailing from the ladies A meeting 5-1, leaving the visitors trailing by two going into the men's A clashes.
Sarah Roberts led the way with 26.84 in a 3-0 drubbing of Gail Fulthorpe (21.53), while Rebecca Rose (20.88) pulled the same verdict back against Sarah Roberts (26.84) for Northamptonshire.
The West Midlands could even afford to draw the men's A encounter 6-6, where play was upgraded to a best-of-seven format.
County stalwart Ian Jones racked up an impressivet 29.85 in a 4-2 vanquishing of namesake Chris Jones (29.55) for the hosts.
James Thompson got 28.55 for the biggest winning average for a 4-1 result over Michael Baker (28.92), but it couldn't save the away side.
The West Midlands claimed a 19-17 match victory, gaining three extra points as the winning county. They are now just one behind London.
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