Express & Star

The West Midlands are knocked off the top

The West Midlands will see in 2016 on the heels of the league leaders after being knocked off the top of the BDO British Inter-Counties Championship Division Two.

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The county darters suffered their first defeat of the season in Berkshire last weekend, after opening with three wins,

writes Craig Birch.

They next host Worcestershire at Gilberts Bar in Willenhall, Wolverhampton, on the weekend commencing January 16, when third-placed Staffordshire are at home to pace-setters London.

Play began at the Britwell Ex-Servicemen's Club with the women's 'B' affair, where the two teams could be separated in a 3-3 draw.

Sophie Singh got the West Midlands rolling, averaging 23.48 in a 3-0 whitewash of Jackie Walford (19.02). Berkshire's Hayley Watts got 17.68 in another 3-0 shut-out of Wendy Waine (15.16).

Parity again proved to be the order of the day after the men's 'B' standings was all said and done, where a 6-6 stalemate was recorded.

Man of the Match Sam Hamilton opened in style for the visitors, his 29.37 in a 3-1 win over Richard Stride (27.36) the highest of the weekend.

Team-mate Sam Guest also notched 28.72 in a 3-1 victory over Richard Stride (27.36), while John Morris was whitewashed 3-0 despite 28.13 against Berkshire's Luke Woodland (27.83).

A third draw, 3-3 in the women's 'A' clashes, left it all riding on the last line-ups where the fourth-placed hosts would prevail.

Debbie Loon was the star performer for the guests, with 19.80 to see off Priscilla Cummings (18.22) 3-2. Berkshire's Ally Judge got 19.36 in a 3-1 success over Katherine Jenkins (15.27).

An 8-4 collapse in the men's 'A' finale proved costly as the home side recorded a 20-16 match victory, with three added points for the result.

Black Country-born Paul Hogan, formerly of Dudley but now living in Basingstoke, top scored for Berkshire with 27.44 in a 4-1 win over Michael Baker (25.04).

Shaun Carroll mustered the West Midlands' best reply in the best-of-seven format, gleaning 27.61 in a 4-3 downing of Eddie Simmonds (26.92).

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