A Look Back In Time - 1st June 2012
Since last going to print West Midlands have completed two more of their scheduled nine fixtures in division one of the Riley’s BDO inter County Championships, two home ties the first against Dorset and second a rearranged game against Staffordshire, that was called off due to inclement weather in March.
Saturday’s games against Dorset had mixed results. The ladies suffered their heaviest defeat of the season so far, a massive 5-1 reversal with Heather Wright the sole winner. Valerie Griffiths and Peri Morris started Dorset’s day with wins over Shellbie Simmons and Kim Fellows before West Midlands only winner took to the oche. Heather had a 3-1 win over Trina Perry and her 16.41 average coupled with the fact that there were no other winners for the home side earned the lady of the match award for the fifth time in seven games.
Dorset then ran away with the match, Donna Mabbatt, Sally Old and Linda Bellingham in turn beating Jacqueline Maiden, Diane Tolley and Lisa Maiden to win 5-1.
It was better news for the men’s ‘B’ team as they recorded their second win of the campaign and their second consecutive 8-4 result. However, the game didn’t get off to the right start as Steven Earley won 3-0 against Simon Meredith to give the visitors the “Earley” lead. Fortunately for the West Midlands their opponents lead didn’t last too long as man of the match Richard Platt levelled the game with a 3-1 win over John Clark. Platt went one up against Clark in 18 darts, Clark winning the second in 19. Platt took the lead again with another 18 darts leg before sealing his 3-1 win with a super eleven darts leg hitting 140, 180 and 135 and checking out on 46. Christopher Stanley then had a similar 3-1 win against Mark Porter to put the hosts into a 2-1 lead. Glen Cullen added his 3-0 win over Graham Knight to the tally and with another 3-1 success from Martin Angell against Dean Morris, West Midlands were looking a little more comfortable at 4-1 up.
Mark Bowden (Dorset) had a 3-1 win over Jonathon Platt to keep his side in the match, but West Midlands three games advantage was restored when Gary Watts beat Thomas Chant in a close 3-2 affair. Taking the score along to 5-3 was Dorset’s Robby Morris, his straight 3-0 win over John Mycock another brief break in the West Midlands charge to victory.
Mark Watkiss made sure that the home team got at least a share of the spoils taking the lead to 6-3 with a 3-0 win over Richard Perry. However, the winning game was left on hold as Kevin Penney pulled one back for Dorset, a 3-1 success in his tie with Avtar Singh. The vital seventh win came in the penultimate encounter, Kevin Jones beating John Bothamley 3-2 and to make it a more convincing 8-4 verdict Paul Price won the last game of the day against Robert Martin 3-1.
Sunday’s games got underway with the overall score all square at 9-9, both teams with everything to play for. Unfortunately the ladies, without a win in their previous six fixtures were unable to put a halt to that run. Gemma Barrett gave them a very promising start when she produced a cracking 3-0 win over Cathryn Campbell. Gemma began with a 17 darts leg including scores of 2x100 plus 140. She then went one better with a 16 darts leg in which she scored 100, 140, 85, 120, 16 and double twenty first dart. She rounded off her win with a 24 darts leg and took the lady of the match award with her 26.37 average.
West Midlands next winner didn’t come until the fourth game after Dorset had gone in front through Julie Boggust and Suzanna Trickett, who beat respective opponents Sarah Thornbury and Claire Hobbs. Jackie Crew pulled one back for the home side when she won 3-0 against Felicia Blay, but the last two games went in Dorset’s favour, Sarah Chick and Carol Llewellyn beating Lisa Astbury and Katherine Jenkins to give the away side a 4-2 win.
The men’s ‘A’ were fresh from a 12-0 win in their away game with Cambridgeshire and confidence riding high. The confidence however took a severe knock when Dorset won the opening three games. Nigel Lamb beat Ian Stanton 4-0, Graham Platt also won 4-0 against John Roberts and completing the trio was Mark Grimes with a 4-1 success over Neil Pointon.
West Midlands in form man Jamie Hughes stopped the rot, a 4-1 win over Tim Clothier with a fine 29.60 average momentarily reduced the arrears before Michael Bowden took the score along to 4-1 with his 4-1 win against Richard Platt.
West Midlands then had their best run in the match, two consecutive wins supplied by Peter Wyse and Ian Jones, who in turn accounted for Richard Gomm and Stephen Penney to bring the home team within one game of their opponents at 4-3. It then looked as though the match would be levelled as Michael Baker went 1-0 up against Tony Dunning, but Dunning fought back
to go 3-1 up. Baker won the next two to force a seventh and deciding leg, but missed double twenty for a 4-3 win, Dunning made no mistakes checking out on the same double twenty to win 4-3 and put his side 5-3 up.
West Midlands number nine was Andy Forrester, who was in top form against Christopher Martin. Forrester won the first leg in 15 darts, he then added a 13 darts leg before Martin won his only leg of the game in 17 darts. Forrester then won the following two legs in 18 darts for a 4-1 win and an award winning average of 31.08.
At 5-4 down with three to play West Midlands were not out of the hunt, although they hadn’t been in the lead at any stage of the game. Any thoughts of a win or even a draw were quickly dismissed as Dale Masterman and Scott Mitchell, with wins against Jake Jones and Danny Coyle gave Dorset a winning 7-4 margin.
The final game went to West Midlands Dean Stewart, a straight 4-0 success over Kevin Smith to put the final score at 7-5 and the overall weekend score at 20-16 to Dorset.
The rearranged fixture against Staffordshire was another home game and one West Midlands were really expected to win as their local rivals were in the unfortunate bottom place in the league table.
The ladies ‘B’ still seeking a win this season were unable to pull one out of the hat again on this occasion, Julie Robinson and Maria Pickering, with wins over Samantha Maiden and Jacqueline Simmons put Staffordshire two up and although Heather Wright halted the visitors run when she beat Stephanie Emberton 3-0, it was only a brief reprieve as Nikki Meadows and Deborah Upton put the game beyond West Midlands reach when they defeated Shellbie Simmons and Claire Hobbs.
Long serving West Midland player Diane Tolley was last on against Stephanie Thompson and it was a case of keeping the best till last as Diane rattled off a 3-0 win and clinched the lady of the match award with her 18.33 average. The final score 4-2 to Staffordshire.
Like the ladies the men’s ‘B’ also went 2-0 down, Steven Shenton and Mark Smallman the victors against Viv Gould and Kevin Jones both losing 3-0. Thanks to wins from Jordan Singh and Jonathon Platt over John Tatters and Robert Henderson the away teams lead was erased, but only for the time it took to play the next game in which Karl Merchant (Staffordshire) beat Avtar Singh 3-1.
Paul Price was West Midlands next winner, a 3-1 win over Frazer Hill taking the running score to 3-3, but yet again, for the third time Staffordshire took the lead, this time it was Jamie Landon with a 3-0 result against Mark Watkiss that edged the away team into the lead. It was then down to Martin Angell to cancel out Staffordshire’s lead, which he did quite efficiently with a 3-0 win over Peter Challinor.
The pattern whereby Staffordshire took the lead and West Midlands cancelled it out continued as Daniel Allsop beat Richard Platt 3-2, but that was where the mould was broken as the last three games all went to the hosts to finish as 7-5 winners. Glen Cullen started the trio of wins with a 3-2 success against Dave Moors, Doug Thompson added his 3-0 win over David Fairlie and Gary Watts completed the hat trick with a 3-2 win over David Richards.
After Susan Sherratt and Sarah Cope had put Staffordshire ladies ‘A’ 2-0 up at the expense of Gemma Barrett and Lisa Astbury, Sarah Thornbury (22.77 lady of the match) and Katherine Jenkins replied with wins over Terry Selman and Michelle Colclough. Joanna Ashby put the away team within an ace of victory when she defeated Kim Fellows 3-0, but a draw was slavaged by Jackie Crew, a 3-1 win in her tie with Colette Duffield putting the result at 3-3.
The men’s ‘A’ began in the same manner as the three teams before them, trailing 2-0. Steve Clews and John Burgess were the Staffordshire players to open up the lead when they beat respective opponents Jake Jones and Danny Coyle and again as in the men’s ‘B’ and ladies ‘A’ games the lead was cancelled out. Obliging for the men’s ‘A’ were Mark Rollinson and Ian Jones, Rollinson beating Martin Homer 4-3 and Jones winning 4-2 against Paul Wright. Ian Jones in 17 and 15 darts went 2-0 up, Wright won the next two legs in 18 darts, but Jones then went within one leg of victory with a 15 darts leg and rounded off his win with a superb 13 darts leg hitting 180, 100, 123, 74 and double twelve giving him an award winning average of 29.81.
From 2-2 Staffordshire never really looked back, Andy Beardmore, Martin Wheawall and James Hughes had win s over Neil Pointon, Peter Wyse and John Roberts to go 5-2 up and although they lost the next two to Michael Baker and Dean Stewart over their Neil Alcock and Edward Brookes, they forged further ahead with wins from Mark Bloor and Steven Mason, Bloor handing out a rare defeat to West Midlands Jamie Hughes who has been in scintillating form this season and Mason beating Martin Angell, both scorelines 4-1.
Taking the final score to 7-5 in Staffordshire’s favour, Andy Forrester (West Midlands) won 4-3 against Trevor Carter.
This result for the West Midlands was really a disaster as it has thrown them well and truly into the relegation zone. Now with 141 points West Midlands are third from bottom of the division one table. Following their win Staffordshire have moved up one place from the foot of the table and are now just one point behind West Midlands. Derbyshire drop into the bottom spot on 137 points.
With just one remaining fixture at the time of going to print any of the bottom five teams could be relegated, Dorset 148, County Durham 144, West Midlands 142, Staffordshire 141, Derbyshire 137. The last weekend should be quite exciting and for some teams very disappointing.
The Ripley Elite Darts Singles League have kicked off their summer season and once again the league has attracted top county, super league and local pub players to what is the area’s biggest singles league. New to the league this season will be former PDC player Dean Allsopp, a top local player who is expected to be an instant candidate for promotion at the end of the
campaign. Clay Cross based Steve Pashley, who has represented Derbyshire over the past few years and should be another new force to reckon with. County player Kelly Dean will be pitting her skills against her male rivals and could cause quite a few upsets.
Other new names to the league are, Tony Jacklin, who has played in the Warwickshire Super League, Andy Brittland from Pinxton has played county and is an ever present super league player. Two top pub players Ben Connell and Steven (Ped) Richards, plus Craig Freeman, Paul Radford, Tyler Bestwick and Gordy Toft, who makes a comeback to the league after a couple of seasons absence.
The full line up for the two divisions are, Premier Division:- Daz Brown, Jo Oldershaw, Reece Spurr, Wayne Howe, Ant Parry, Daz Sinfield, Rick Gray, Dave Fritchley, Gary Fenn, Pete Slater, Dave Allcock, Ian Byard, Aden Kirk, Alan Evans, Martyn Cutbush,Tony Palfreyman, Ash Spencer, Paul Baker, Ian Richardson, Colin Rich, Ash Fisher, Kev Wragg, Wes Smith, Daz Sullivan, Brian Kirk, First Division:- Kelly Dean, Tony Jacklin, Craig Freeman, John Selby, Andy Brittland, Dee Fenn, Steve Darcy, Dave Slater, Mike Ivekich, John Upton, Kyle Machin, Chris Breen, John Bush, Ben Connell, Steve Richards, Lee Stanley, Paul Radford, Tyler Bestwick, Mick Gascoine, Neil Beresford, Steve Pashley, Dean Allsopp, Paul Croson, Andy Selby, Gordon Toft.
Matt “The Lad” Gallett has been hitting the headlines once again, first winning the Riley’s Round Robin Knockout at Riley’s Erdington and the following day winning through to the finals of the Speedy Services UK Open, which will be played in June at Bolton.
In the final of the Erdington knockout Matt defeated Neil Wild, the losing semi finalists being Jason Hough and Chris McFall. The Speedy Services UK Open play off was staged at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall and attracted more than 200 players, with the last eight going through to the televised final. Matt’s opponent in the last sixteen was the player he had beaten in the final the previous day, Neil Wild. The result was a straight 2-0 win for Matt, he plus Darrell Thorpe, Gavin Baker, Michael Musto, Robbie Singleton, Robbie Green, Jake Pennington and Dean Stewart all go through to the grand finals.
John McCaffrey (Devil’s Club) is a player who always attempts the unusual 170 break by throwing his first dart for the bull. For John this has paid off at least seven times over a couple of years in either the Small Heath league and charity matches. Becky Blakeman is a player who has watched John try for this maximum break and thought she would try it herself.
Playing at home for the Sheldon Marlborough Flights against Colin Walsh representing the Clock Inn, Becky not only attempted the feat but actually achieved it, a 170 break, bull first dart followed by two treble twenties. She went on to win the leg but lost out finally 2-1 to Colin. Becky’s 170 break, plus her teams 5-4 win were the two highlights of the evening.
The Sheldon and District Winter League have completed their league fixtures with only cup finals now to be played off. The domestic issues have all been sorted, Saltley Amateur Gardeners having won the premier division title with 34 points, two more than runners up Old Bill and Bull. Shirley RBL Flights are the division champions, finishing with 34 points, four ahead of their nearest rivals Banbury Club.
George V were unable to finish the season on a winning note as they went down 5-4 away to Maggies, who ended the season in third place. Despite the defeat, only their second in 20 games, George V won the division with a total of 36 points, Willclare Sports and Social took the runners up spot with 32 points.
Greville Arms finished their fixture card with a 6-3 home win over Meadway Sports and Social to lift them off the foot of the table, Ivy Leaf, who lost 7-2 at home to Willclare taking the wooden spoon.
The Netherton Thursday Night League staged their doubles knockout and winning the title with a final 2-1 win against W.Humphreys and R.Smith (Springfield Social)) were Dudley Ex-Serviceman’s duo P.O’Brien and R.Carr. Losing 2-1 to the winners in the last four play off were A.Turley and T.Stockton (Brickmakers ‘B’). The other losing semi finalists were S.Skidmore and M.Harper (Brickmakers ‘A’), who also lost by the odd leg.
Peter Yardley (Midland Darts Centre) is the new singles champion in the Camp Hill League. Yardley lifted the title after beating Mark Wyatt from the Custard House in the final. Losing semi finalists were Mitch O’Donnell (Bordesley Labour Club), who lost to Wyatt and Mark Richards (Scruffy Ringers).
The Four Oaks and District League have been busy with end of season cup finals. Sutton Sports, with a convincing 8-1 scoreline beat Red Lion Flights to win the Coronation Shield, while The Beehive beat Old Oscott Arrows 5-3 to secure the Norman Day Cup title.
The Challenge Cup final was a close affair with Brookvale just getting the 5-4 edge on The Heartlands. The Doubles competition was won by the Nomads pairing M.Archer and W.Mynard, a 3-2 result against M.Wild and M.Ashton (Sutton Sports) in the final.
On the last night of the season the final of the Derek Masters Individual Singles was fought out between The Nomads team mates M.Archer and T.Frost. Archer opened up a 2-1 lead before Frost rallied and took the final two legs for a 3-2 victory.
The Nomads then took on league champions Sutton Sports in the final of the Brian Goodman Cup and completed a successful evening with a 6-3 win.
Division one runners up Old Oscott Arrows took on Bishop Vesey in the Ken Rust Cup final, the former proving to be too strong for their third division opponents winning five of the first six games, D.Sammons, Vesey’s only winner.
The Forest of Arden Winter League staged their singles and mixed doubles competitions. Winner of the men’s singles was J.Jennings (The Crane), while D.Derbyshire (Riley’s Wings) took the ladies title. The mixed doubles final was won by R.Gwylliam and T.Stansfield.
The Tamworth League played off their Charity Open Cup at the Dolphin Inn. The semi final results did not really turn out as expected. League leaders Three Horse Shoes lost 4-1 to fifth in the table Globe Inn, while second placed Old Liberal House went out by the same scoreline to Sports Bar ‘180’, who are fourth in the table.
The final went in order of league position as Sports Bar ‘180’ won 4-2, with Globe Inn runners up. The event raised £36 which together with all other charity monies raised throughout the season will, at the end of the campaign be donated to S.P.I.N. and Stroke Association.
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